Today Adrienne introduced her Rain practice with a poem "Guest House" by Rumi.
Bev drew the writing prompt
certainty in tatters, our voices return
from this poem "Lesson" by Pat Sutherland:
Lesson
by Pat Sutherland
A snowless winter, but Arctic winds
whistled throat-searing coughs
through our letterbox;
we whooped and barked
singly and in unison
buoyed up only by the certainty
of healing Spring.
Sure enough, relief came with the crocuses;
our voices returned; we put a noxious
season behind us, seeing ahead
sunlit outings, picnics,
holidays.
But just as roadside hawthorn hazed with green
and blackthorn blossom lit the school fence,
just as our world was opening
we had to close our doors.
Nature has bloomed this spring
as never before
while Death, laughing at the irony,
rampages through sunlit air
gleaning a baleful harvest.
We are chastened, fearing the future,
our old assurance shaken
our certainties in tatters
the bedrock of our beliefs
cracked asunder.
We will live tentatively, grateful,
hoping to do better.
Certainty in Tatters, Our Voices Return
by Jo Saunders
Feelings eroded
confidence gone
I lurked in my bed
connection fled,
isolated, an island,
a sea of hostility
and judgment around,
Or so it seemed.
I had been so sure,
arrogant in my rectitude, my entitlement.
Certainty in Tatters.
A woman cries out, weeping.
Others comfort.
One by one our voices return.
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And now for some of
YOUR WRITING:
Poem: Does it fit?
Jo Beth Gray
Abundance of coats and jackets
But nothing quite exact for the weather
Water repellent but not waterproof
A problem for walking the streets in winter
Expectant of heavy rainfall, freezing
Can’t fashion and function mix
Certainly something is in tatters
Identifying with the poor on our streets
How can our conscience keep sane
When we have choice of 5,6,10
Rich beyond measure
Uncomfortable in the coziness
While others have one coat, torn
A certain uncertainty
by Bonbon
You’ve been a year of the great unknown
You came charging at me with a force like I’ve never felt before
New people & places, new homes and situations
Ive often felt my old certainty in tatters
I awake each day and I know the first thing I do is smile - and the warmth of life rushes through my whole body
Im so thankful for another new day to try again
I put myself out into that uncertain world that feels so new and overwhelming to me
My gorgeous furry companion and me go a wandering
He sniffs and hunts and scampers from one leaf to the next ……..and me! Well I chat to to all and anyone I meet
To discover a new certainty that’s there is more good than bad in my brand new world
A joy in the chatter of history lessons, given with pride and passion for this old industrial village.
It’s my introduction to its great past and the chance to keep it alive.
The welcome is warm and the smiles are wide, I find myself just being me in the here and now
Laughter is loud and spontaneous when met with the only traffic congestion of the slow moving swans and ducks in my path
Happiness is to stop and watch
And I have a moment, a realisation!…….the certainty that …….I am now Home……...
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Thanks to you all ...
... for your heartening feedback as always!
Catrice: So true, Bev.
Kay: wonderful just what I needed to nourish thankyou adrienne
Kate P: Very helpful, thank you.
Catrice: 💜
Bev: certainty in tatters, our voices return
Catrice: To accept all is mutable**** (Lovely!)
Catrice: Cath, such composed call for peace and wholeness .
Kath: thank you all for your comments. I feel I am not alone
Catrice: 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Catrice: Very touching Maggie
Catrice: Powerful, Kay!
Catrice: Bye Leslie! Good to see you! 💜
Bex: gaiawisdom.org Kathleen Rude
Bex: based on the Work that Reconnects Joanna Macy
Kate P: Thank you so much Bev, Adrienne and everybody. Very nourishing and inspiring. I have to go but I hope to see you next week. xxx
Kay: thankyou thankyou thankyou
Bex: Thanks so much everyone X
Jo: Thanks all xx
Bonbon: Thank you everyone . Amazing session. The RAIN practice is one of my favourites and it so powerful….. for the first time I focused on me. Love to you all xxx\