Thank you for the lovely poem. I love the juxtapositions of major and minor, the sweeping range from personal to global… The sacred reminder/rehearter that doing nothing is doing something essential. I too am a poet, and a professional poetry curator and editor, and I know beautiful poetry when I find it. Happily subscribed!
As to learning to do nothing peacefully, yes, I am actually getting quite good at it! The first time I learned this was when I was 37 and pregnant with baby number two and I was forced to go on bedrest for four months. At the time I had been feeling like I was burning a candle at both ends and all along the edges too, and saying to the universe that I wished I had more time to just relax and do nothing. Be careful what you ask for, right?
So the first two weeks, I was laying there in bed, in a home we had just purchased, boxes had not yet even all been unpacked, and I felt very sorry for myself and spent weeks making lists. The monkey mind just would not shut the F up!
List of casseroles people could make. List of people I could contact for help. List of books I wanted to read. People I wanted to write letters to. Movies I wanted to watch. Ways to keep my toddler busy so I could stay horizontal. Lists of lists!
Then one day, as I was gazing out the window watching raindrops roll down the pane, I suddenly let go of it all … and surrendered.
I found the gift.
I found my yin.
I embraced, and allowed myself to be embraced by, the softness, the sweetness, of just being.
And it’s a good thing too because I am someone who has chronic illnesses that come and go and have had to spend quite a lot of time bedbound or housebound. So, yeah, I would say I’ve gotten quite good at doing nothing!
Perhaps it helps that I have been a meditation teacher in various settings from Kaiser Permanente, teaching mindfulness and East West meditation for busy people to shamanic, angelic, yogic meditation in spiritual awakening courses and retreats.
Nowadays, I mostly write and edit—other people‘s content and my own, thousands of poems—this in it itself is for me a meditation, too, doing something with plenty of breaks to do nothing.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, it touched me deeply. So, there is hope that one day I might learn how to find peace, too ;-) I'm glad our paths have crossed here on Substack.
I (we?) Occasionally get an idea and try to stuff the experience or art into that idea even if they aren't the same shape. But I still hear//read the musical binary. Major being the lively key and minor the depressive. I didn't take it as literal as your endnote implies. Regardless. I liked it. And will have to read it several more times
beautiful! i have the same problem, luckily i have been able to rid myself of phone addiction but my own non stop talking? i’d tire myself out with the sound of my own voice! one time i tried not to talk and i burst into tears instead! our minds and bodies are so strange.
thanks for sharing your struggles, I can relate so much. I once wrote a note: “Poems are the only thoughts in my head that don’t sound like noise to me.”
I can ignore my phone a good chunk of time, but doing nothing is hard! I think maybe we need to honour the small quiet moments more. They are nothing minor!
Thank you for the lovely poem. I love the juxtapositions of major and minor, the sweeping range from personal to global… The sacred reminder/rehearter that doing nothing is doing something essential. I too am a poet, and a professional poetry curator and editor, and I know beautiful poetry when I find it. Happily subscribed!
As to learning to do nothing peacefully, yes, I am actually getting quite good at it! The first time I learned this was when I was 37 and pregnant with baby number two and I was forced to go on bedrest for four months. At the time I had been feeling like I was burning a candle at both ends and all along the edges too, and saying to the universe that I wished I had more time to just relax and do nothing. Be careful what you ask for, right?
So the first two weeks, I was laying there in bed, in a home we had just purchased, boxes had not yet even all been unpacked, and I felt very sorry for myself and spent weeks making lists. The monkey mind just would not shut the F up!
List of casseroles people could make. List of people I could contact for help. List of books I wanted to read. People I wanted to write letters to. Movies I wanted to watch. Ways to keep my toddler busy so I could stay horizontal. Lists of lists!
Then one day, as I was gazing out the window watching raindrops roll down the pane, I suddenly let go of it all … and surrendered.
I found the gift.
I found my yin.
I embraced, and allowed myself to be embraced by, the softness, the sweetness, of just being.
And it’s a good thing too because I am someone who has chronic illnesses that come and go and have had to spend quite a lot of time bedbound or housebound. So, yeah, I would say I’ve gotten quite good at doing nothing!
Perhaps it helps that I have been a meditation teacher in various settings from Kaiser Permanente, teaching mindfulness and East West meditation for busy people to shamanic, angelic, yogic meditation in spiritual awakening courses and retreats.
Nowadays, I mostly write and edit—other people‘s content and my own, thousands of poems—this in it itself is for me a meditation, too, doing something with plenty of breaks to do nothing.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, it touched me deeply. So, there is hope that one day I might learn how to find peace, too ;-) I'm glad our paths have crossed here on Substack.
AbSOULutely!
wow, i love this, especially the imagery of stars “flinching”.
Thank you for your kind feedback!
Thus is beautiful! Love the juxtaposition
Thank you, Richard
Love "...flowers frown upon us" great twist.
Thank you, Rachel! I had a big smile on my face when this line popped up in my head :) glad you enjoyed the twist
Be proud. Easy to write of the happy blooming flowers all pretty, perfect, pastel. I like when words surprise me. Can't wait to read more.
I (we?) Occasionally get an idea and try to stuff the experience or art into that idea even if they aren't the same shape. But I still hear//read the musical binary. Major being the lively key and minor the depressive. I didn't take it as literal as your endnote implies. Regardless. I liked it. And will have to read it several more times
That's awesome, I am into music, but had not thought about that angle while writing. Thanks for adding this perspective, I love it.
I haven't read yet. But by the title I suspect it will be a symphony of silence and celebration, words written, mouthed without sound.
Thanks for leaving a comment even before reading. I’m curious to hear your thoughts once you had time to take a look at the poem :) Have a great day!
I like the imagery you created in the first and second stanzas
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this poem and for providing feedback.
The phone stays facedown! That’s my favorite Poetic line of the day!
Here’s one I wrote today, but it’s not as gentle …
enter at your own sense of interest and state of mind
https://foxbleedstudios.substack.com/p/choke-out-samaritans?r=jmimw
Thank you, it's my favorite line, too :);
loved this! i feel the same about doing nothing, thank you for putting it into words <3
Thank you for reading along!
beautiful! i have the same problem, luckily i have been able to rid myself of phone addiction but my own non stop talking? i’d tire myself out with the sound of my own voice! one time i tried not to talk and i burst into tears instead! our minds and bodies are so strange.
thanks for sharing your struggles, I can relate so much. I once wrote a note: “Poems are the only thoughts in my head that don’t sound like noise to me.”
ooh that’s nice! yeah its great way to slow things down i like that and will remember it!
🤗
Love this! The title is brilliant and this poem is beautiful. I’ll write it down in my journal to keep it close ❤️
Ohh thank you so much for your kind words. I think you’re the first reader to ever put a poem of mine in their journal. This made my day!
I can ignore my phone a good chunk of time, but doing nothing is hard! I think maybe we need to honour the small quiet moments more. They are nothing minor!
I enjoyed your poem. So easy to slip into.
We definitely should :) Thank you so much for your kind words. I am happy to hear the poem resonated.