This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
(Rumi, Translated by Coleman Banks)
I especially like the line about sorrows cleaning us out for a new delight.
Similarly, Flannery O’Connor has an interesting thought about grace:
Human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and the change is painful.
(From Richard Gionnone’s Introduction to Flannery O’Connor: Spiritual Writings, edited by Robert Ellsberg)
In other words…
Pain is inevitable, like change is inevitable. Why resist it?
Probably because we’re living our lives like we’re on some survival show. What if someone told us we don’t have to worry about survival any more? That every ounce of pain and disappointment we get is for our benefit, if we allow it to be so?
from now
and to then
you know what it is
trying to pay for it
you’ll be disappointed again
and now
i love the way the light
can play on your face
i love to put my hand there
feeling everything
i love to listen for your breath
when it flies with mine
I say you are beautiful
and I will pay what is owed
when i die this time
and then
place two pennies upon my eyes
to hide and keep my soul’s living treasure
sew-up ten thorns in my mouth with ten stitches
for ten true times and ten times forgiven
lay a piece of green sea glass over my heart
with its new spark of light everlasting
from now
and to then
you know what it is
I don’t think much can be more beautiful than the last 3 lines.
Skyhead: I have no idea how to critique poetry (my roommate is a poet though, so maybe by the time our lease is up…). That said, I really like yours. Especially the part about the pennies on the eyes. Best to you, NJ