27 November 2019

The Moses Paradox



File:Moses and the burning bush MET DP825141.jpg
source


If I say aloud what I most long for,
striving for any other purpose would
seem wasteful. So hush. Shh. We'll say no more
about it. Talking leads to thoughts and deeds.

Rather, let's strive to have no more longing,
Let's even quit longing to be useful,
and to know our true paths. Yes, let's achieve
a full letting go in meditation.

Free to be a me-plant next to a you
who are a plant, too, part of a tree line,
mingling our toes and arms on fire-free hills
where our purpose is to hold the form.

And here's the rub: free of longing, at last
happy, we now hear leadings telling us to
show up and save a child, to step kindly
toward peace, to grow food and call out hate.

More mysterious still, these leadings match
our silenced longings—they overtake us.
We can't escape. But now we know higher
powers than our own wills are leading us.

And striving for any other purpose
would be wasteful. Longing to answer
fills each of us with strength, the roots planted
fill us with strength. Planted, we may now speak.



For Sumana's prompt Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Longing
which opens at 6am Central time.


My blog poems are rough drafts.
   Please respect my copyright. 
 If you quote, credit this page.
     © 2019 Susan L. Chast



9 comments:

  1. "Rather, let's strive to have no more longing," The one and only path to peace within and outside. " Longing to answer YES / fills each of us with strength," So love this.

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  2. Ah yes the world longs for such live and committment to purposeful living
    A stirring write Susan. Happy Wednesday

    Much💞love

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  3. Being a part of something bigger, yes. Thank you for a reminder.

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  4. I LOVE this poem, especially your closing stanza. As our worldly longings fade, we grow grateful and content, "now we know higher powers ...are leading us." Yes!

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  5. A paradox indeed ... and one to embrace.

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  6. Brotherhood and respect for each other is indeed a longing this human race needs to gather.

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  7. free of longing, at last
    happy, we now hear leadings telling us to
    show up ...

    This central moment feels key, key to feeling where you're led - to show up or to wait in preparation for action!

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  8. Susan,
    It would be truly wonderful, to have a world free from continual longing. If only life could be lived in the manner of the aspirations, written into your poem, what a more pleasant existence we might all have.
    In the meantime, I fear that longing will continue, especially that of the the silent kind...

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  9. This is an amazing, thoughtful poem, Susan. Get rid of the longing.

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