Self Portrait

[GliderGuider]

It doesn't interest me if there is one God
or many gods.
I want to know if you belong or feel
abandoned.
If you know despair or can see it in others.
I want to know
if you are prepared to live in the world
with its harsh need
to change you. If you can look back
with firm eyes
saying this is where I stand. I want to know
if you know
how to melt into that fierce heat of living
falling toward
the center of your longing. I want to know
if you are willing
to live, day by day, with the consequence of love
and the bitter
unwanted passion of your sure defeat.

I have heard, in that fierce embrace, even
the gods speak of God.

-- David Whyte
from Fire in the Earth
©1992 Many Rivers Press

[yankeepants]

1. Wow!

Thanks for posting. That is powerful.

[GliderGuider]

2. That poem feels like it was written about my first wife.

I recently posted her story here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12206807

The poem describes how she lived to absolute perfection.

[yankeepants]

3. I read your tribute to Janice

I am in awe of a person with such a vast acceptance, tolerance and intolerace of the ways that people work within religious constructs.

I am also reminded of a relationship that I had with an absolutely wonderful man but I knew it was not right for me and consequently not for him (although he did not accept that at the time). We were at a gathering and I struck up a conversation with a wonderful woman who was there and introduced her to my then boyfriend. We had a great conversation and as I got up to go into the next room I looked back and knew that they were meant to be together. It was the most wonderful feeling of calm that came over me.

They have been married for many years now and have raised a daughter and are truly happy.

Thanks for sharing that part of your life.

[GliderGuider]

4. And thank you for sharing that part of yours.

Aren't those moments - when you just know - amazing?

[yankeepants]

6. If only I could reach that point where

every moment was one of those moments instead of self doubt and questioning. ahh sigh. Isn't that the whole journey?

[patrice]

5. Wah guru!!