Jolly poem which just came to mind...

[WRITE]

When first my way to fair I took
  Few pence in purse had I,
And long I used to stand and look
  At things I could not buy.

Now times are altered: if I care
  To buy a thing, I can;
The pence are here and here's the fair,
  But where's the lost young man?

--- To think that two and two are four
  And neither five nor three
The heart of man has long been sore
  And long 'tis like to be.

It's by Housman 'The Shropshire Lad'. I used to think I had lived in Shropshire in another life, it was like I recognised the land there!

My father used to say all the time

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

He didn't do it, but he did say it a lot...

Hope everyone is having a good weekend and whatever your circumstances or faith or current emotional state tomorrow's another day!

Chinese proverb:

"Tell me, though I may forget;

show me, that I may remember;

involve me, then I'll understand."

Enough prosaic rambling....time for dinner .

~W

[Leah]

Hi Write,

Love the jolly poem that you shared with us all yesterday.

Thank you for taking the time to write it and post it for us.

I especially love 'The Shropshire Lad'

I too have posted " The Serenity Prayer " here on board as it is one of my favorites, my Aunt gave it to me as a child.

The Chinese Proverb is new to me, so personally, I am grateful for that, it is seemingly gentle and certainly wise.

Leah x




Edit:     Thought came to me after I posted, wouldn't it be lovely to build on this thread, adding our favorite poems, or poems that we come across, to share and encourage one another.

Could be our "Poem and Encouragement" page ...... just a little thought.

[WRITE]

yes, we've had poetry threads before, some nice stuff came up.

I think there is a need to place beauty and inspiration in our lives every day.

This is Hildegard von Bingen's Responsary for virgins:

Most noble
evergreen with your roots
in the sun:
you shine in the cloudless
sky of a sphere no earthly
eminence can grasp,
enfolded in the clasp
of ministries divine.

You blush like the dawn,
you burn like a flame
of the sun.

So many people have walked this earth briefly and touched it a little with their many paths...helps keep my little life in perspective!

[isittoolate]

Tommy Termite found some wood.
He tasted it and found it good.
And that is why Auntie May
Fell through the parlour floor today!


~~~~taking a bow~~~
Izzy

[Leah]

This is a motivational poem, that I feel, gently nudges me to step out towards my new dreams and hopes ...

MY COMFORT ZONE
By Author Unknown

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn't fail.
The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn't matter that I wasn't doing much.
I said I didn't care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn't let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you're in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!

[Leah]

Love this poem at this time of year, today as the sun shines, the daffodils in my garden are seemingly smiling and waving ~ Spring is here!

Leah x


 
"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"
   
 
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed---and gazed---but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.


William Wordsworth

[Hopalong]

This is not a poem but a reading we had at a meeting last night that I thought I'd share with the board. Love, Hops

-by Thich Nhat Hanh

Reverence for Life, the First Precept

When we see suffering, compassion is born in us.

It is important for us to stay in touch with the suffering of the world. We need to nourish that awareness through many means--sounds, images, direct contact, visits, and so on--in order to keep compassion alive in us. But we must be careful not to take in too much. Any remedy must be taken in the proper dosage. We need to stay in touch with suffering only to the extent that we will not forget, so that compassion will flow within us and be a source of energy for our actions. If we use anger at injustice as the source for our energy, we may do something harmful, something that we will later regret. According to Buddhism, compassion is the only source of energy that is useful and safe. With compassion, your energy is born from insight; it is not blind energy.

[dandylife]

Wow, Hopalong that is just what I needed to read!

An antidote to 'The Secret', too! (The Secret teaches to look away, do not dwell on poverty or that which you do not want in your life).

Compassion is something that needs to be nourished, yes, yes!

Thanks so much for this.

Dandylife