In honor of spring, renewal and setting intentional space for soulful reflection —here are 5 poems that are timeless explorations on experiencing life soulfully, thoughtfully, and wholeheartedly.
A Brave and Startling Truth – Maya Angelou
“When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.”
https://www.poeticous.com/maya-angelou/a-brave-and-startling-truth
Angels of the Get Through – Andrea Gibson
“Don’t ever let anyone tell you, you are too much
Or it has been too long
Whatever keeps a stutterer from stuttering when he sings a song,
you are made of that thing
That unbreakable note
That photograph of you at five years old,
the year you ran away from school,
because you wanted to go home.
You are almost there.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVZEVfInB_E
Energy Budget – Toni Jones
“I have more mental real estate when I release people
I bonded with
Through my Trauma self
And not through my Healing Self;
Yet I am deeply grateful for the healing gifts
To help me see my worth.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OB-6V0_QZ8
Come Closer – Anis Mojgani
“I am like you
I too at times am filled with so much fear, so much fear, but like a hallway must find the strength to walk through it.
Walk through this with me.
Through this church of blood, bone, and muscle, that is ours
There is a door knob glowing like chance before you.
Grab it, turn and pull, step through, back straight, chin up, eyes open, hearts loud.
Walk through this with me.”
http://www.theholybiscuit.org/mixing-bowl-come-closer-by-anis-mojgani/
- Ode to Broken Things – Pablo Nerudo
“Let’s put all our treasures together
— the clocks, plates, cups cracked by the cold —
into a sack and carry them
to the sea
and let our possessions sink
into one alarming breaker
that sounds like a river.
May whatever breaks
be reconstructed by the sea
with the long labor of its tides.”
https://improvisedlife.com/2014/03/19/dept-impermanence/
If you’re looking for a mindful practice, listening to or reading these poems and then journaling on your reflections and take aways. Give yourself a couple of days before returning the these reflections and then set some intentions about how to maintain space for creativity and connection in the upcoming days, weeks and even month.
Stay well, wonderful & weird!
Delia