Those of you who read my blog know that I am a poetry lover. I appreciate poetry in all formats--rhymed, unrhymed, haiku, song lyrics, experimental--the list is endless. As long as the emotions expressed are pure, that's all that matters to me. And there is something about poetry that brings out pure, raw emotion, in a way that no other form of writing quite manages to do, in my humble opinion.
This poem by Clarissa Pinkola Estés provides food for thought in an increasingly crazy world. I love the imagery--souls that are lit can light other souls that are struggling. Beautiful and kind thoughts......
You Were Made For This
Ours is not the task of fixing the
entire world all at once, but of
stretching out to mend the part
of the world that is within our
reach.
entire world all at once, but of
stretching out to mend the part
of the world that is within our
reach.
Any small, calm thing that one
soul can do to help another soul,
to assist some portion of this
poor suffering world, will help
immensely.
It is not given to us to know
which acts or by whom, will cause
the critical mass to tip toward an
enduring good.
What is needed for dramatic
change is an accumulation of
acts, adding, adding to, adding
more, continuing.
We know that it does not take
everyone on Earth to bring
justice and peace, but only a
small, determined group who will
not give up during the first,
second, or hundredth gale.
One of the most calming and
powerful actions you can do to
intervene in a stormy world is
to stand up and show your soul.
Soul on deck shines like gold in
dark times. The light of the soul
throws sparks, can send up
flares, builds signal fires, causes
proper matters to catch fire.
To display the lantern of soul in
shadowy times like these, to be
fierce and to show mercy toward
others; both are acts of immense
bravery and greatest necessity.
Struggling souls catch light from
other souls who are fully lit and
willing to show it. If you would
help to calm the tumult, this is
one of the strongest things you
can do.
There will always be times when
you feel discouraged. I too have
felt despair many times in my life,
but I do not keep a chair for it.
I will not entertain it. It is not
allowed to eat from my plate.
In that spirit, I hope you will
write this on your wall:
"When a great ship is in
harbor and moored,
it is safe,
there can be no doubt.
But that is not what
great ships are built for."
🌊 Clarissa Pinkola Estés
