Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
[From the poem “Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye]
I love the whole of this poem so much that I have
it on the wall, where I see it daily, reading it almost as much. In many ways I
think only Now am I truly coming to know what kindness CAN BE. I think mayBE
always I have stood aside, even stepped back, away from kindness. Now that is
NOT how I am. And NOT who I try to BE.
I have thought about each
line of this poem. I’ve noticed how the imagery resonates inside me each time,
like a Polaroid picture comes to Life, slowly, little bit by little bit.
Guard well within
yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to
lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. [George Sand]
Yet another aspect of the meanings of Kindness. There is the
assumption that Kindness is [and always has been] Right Here, inside of myself.
I wonder at that, considering my reluctance and wrongthinking about what it “looks
like” when I am kind.
So Now I practise, giving, losing, letting go, and receiving
without hesitation, regret, and especially meanness.
I love you, Currie
3 comments:
Kindness is one of my favorite poems. Thanks for reminding me.
I just had to look up the entire poem to read. Thanks so much for sharing it and bringing it to light for me. I think I just may have to print it out and tape it to my wall also. Perhaps over the copy of the "Pain Scale " from the doctor I have there now.
I went to read Kindness, too.
I know of what he speaks. I can't ever let myself forget it. Time and ease can try to erase. There is a blanket of common pain and suffering and sorrow that covers us all...or that lies beneath our feet when we learn to rise above it. Never far away. Never apart from us. That knowledge...those dark nights of the soul...should forever cause us to want to reach out and comfort others...to breathe healing love as much as we can muster. It should overflow from our very pores. How often we forget.
Did you ever read God On The Bus over in my stories blog? Just curious.
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