Poetry Friday is held at My Juicy Little Universe. Thanks, Heidi.
This is so needed. Kindness is my new mantra.
Kindness
Before you know what kindness really is you must lose things, feel the future dissolve in a moment like salt in a weakened broth. What you held in your hand, what you counted and carefully saved, all this must go so you know how desolate the landscape can be between the regions of kindness. How you ride and ride thinking the bus will never stop, the passengers eating maize and chicken will stare out the window forever. Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho lies dead by the side of the road. You must see how this could be you, how he too was someone who journeyed through the night with plans and the simple breath that kept him alive. Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing. You must wake up with sorrow. You must speak to it till your voice catches the thread of all sorrows and you see the size of the cloth. Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore, only kindness that ties your shoes and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread, only kindness that raises its head from the crowd of the world to say It is I you have been looking for, and then goes with you everywhere like a shadow or a friend.
From Words Under the Words: Selected Poems. Copyright © 1995 by Naomi Shihab Nye. From Poets.org
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I think the same could be said for hope. Until you know the awful depths of sadness and despair, and clutch for that lifeline of hope, you cannot really know it. Kindness and hope.
I know this by Naomi Nye, and do love it. She knows what is best, doesn’t she? I am hopeful that kindness will abide with us and overcome the hate that is being handed out like it’s an answer. Thanks, Jone.
This poem surprises me every single time I read it, like I’m reading a new poem entirely. I guess that’s what makes a classic. Thanks, Jone. And I will sign up for a postcard. The blue circle one looks very interesting….
Those in power can’t know that Indian in the white poncho as themselves. I can see myself there too easily. That’s why I’m a poet not a politician. Great post.
Kindness is a wonderful mantra. And yes, I am ready for my postcard. Yay! xo
Kindness expressed is a beautiful thing. Yes, I’d love one of those postcards, too.
Be sure to click on the link for the postcard.
I’ve experienced that connection between loss and kindness. Beautiful poem.
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