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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
Please respect my copyright.
If you quote, credit this page.
© 2019 Susan L. Chast
"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.
ReplyDeleteAh yes the world longs for such live and committment to purposeful living
ReplyDeleteA stirring write Susan. Happy Wednesday
Much💞love
Being a part of something bigger, yes. Thank you for a reminder.
ReplyDeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteA paradox indeed ... and one to embrace.
ReplyDeleteBrotherhood and respect for each other is indeed a longing this human race needs to gather.
ReplyDeletefree of longing, at last
ReplyDeletehappy, 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!
Susan,
ReplyDeleteIt 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...
This is an amazing, thoughtful poem, Susan. Get rid of the longing.
ReplyDelete