(I am re-posting this poem, as it is one of the themes of a women’s retreat this weekend
offered by MJ Bindu Delekta at Sacred Circle of Yoga. Click HERE for more information.)
Wherever you are, find a trail.
The sky is not falling for the cedar tree.
The Heron’s infinite blue world has not changed.
The marsh shows no signs
of Wall Street volatility.
Trees and grasses
are golden with the sun.
The ocean and sky still join
like lovers
here, now, and
on the horizon too.
The swan, content,
faces a gentle breeze.
The cormorant dives, resurfaces,
belly once again filled.
Follow that trail.
Find the bench, or stone
that waits for you there.
We must walk away sometimes
from the carnival of the world
to sit still and remember
what it is that holds us;
what, in us, is held.
~Ingrid Goff-Maidoff
(pictures are from the Nauset Marsh Trailin Eastham, MA near Brewster, where I went on retreat this weekend.)
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I keep reading that all our problems are just our thoughts, and your poem clarifies that. To the swan, grasses, etc., it’s meaningless what is going on with banks and stocks and whatnot. And inevitably it will be meaningless for us also and we’ll pass right through it. Gotta keep perspective! Thanks for reminding me.
And I guess I should have gone for that walk with you to the beach — the photos are gorgeous! Lori
I love your line, “walking away from the carnival of this world.” You gave words to what has been unsaid within me. That energetically so much of the greater world feels like a carnival atmosphere-so much glitter, noise, confusion, attention grabbing. It takes courage to walk away from it and say ‘No thank you–not now–not today. Today, I am going to sit in the stillness and allow it to teach me.’ Blessings upon you for this lovely post…
i stumbled on your site and have been mesimerised for the past hour. i rejoice with and for you. may your happiness increase and may my joy for you increase. thank you. thank you.
Dearest Ingrid,
I, too, love the notion of stepping away from the carnival of life. I thank you for this metaphor. So often that is what life in the big wide world really feels like to me. And it IS so good to step away, into nature, or into the universe that is ourselves. To tend to the holy within. I love the poem and hope you have a wonderful retreat weekend. Wish I could be there!