Giving Thanks to Poetry

I feel lucky to live in the digital age, where unlimited information lies at my fingertips. For a research junkie like myself, it’s heaven.  But often, I feel overwhelmed by the enveloping tsunami of information. Reading often feels reduced to skimming, to wolfing down bytes of data.

To counteract, I’m trying to bring poetry back into my life.  After all, you can’t skim poetry.  I’m fighting the cult of busy through trying to underschedule our family life on the weekends, to simplify when possible, and to create space for poetry.

Poetry asks something from us.  It demands our focus and presence.  Our mind, soul and heart.  And in exchange, poetry gives us so much: joy, insight, beauty, understanding, connection, fulfillment.

Reading poetry is active.  In fact, the origin of the word poetry is “to make or compose”. It’s making meaning, finding beauty and grace in the messy chaos of life.

I have dreams of living a more artistic life, of picking up an instrument, taking some dance classes, even writing a book.  But I realize that right now my music is singing with my kids. It’s lullabies at bedtime. Spontaneous dance parties after dinner.  My poetry is bedtime stories. It’s watching them grow, and the unexpected moments of grace and wonder that can sometimes take my breath away.  And of course the occasional favorite poem.

What’s the poetry in your life?

In the overflowing busyness of life, of work, laundry, making dinners and lunches, of the drop-offs and pick-ups, I’m committing to holding space for poetry. And in the spirit of the season, I’m thankful for poetry, for savoring life and finding meaning in small moments.

In closing, I’d like to share a poem from Ann Betz, a new poet I recently discovered (and one of my coaching instructors):

A Pause

what I want for you?

a pause

the thing you are too busy for

is – forgive me – what I think

you just might need

 

I only sense this

because there have been

so many times

I’ve kept going myself

despite deep weariness

despite a broken heart

despite the tiny voice inside

crying, ‘this is not my life’

 

what I want for you?

the courageous pause

that changes

everything.