unraveled,
she became completely
undone.
the difference this time:
she allowed herself to be
compassionately
witnessed,
and that
made all
the difference. 🙏
introvert
Penetration
What does it take
to penetrate
the walls you make
for protection’s sake?
How do I get
to you
into you
through you?
What am I to do?
I come,
you run;
I confide,
you hide;
I offer space,
you then hesitate.
What does it take
to penetrate
your mind
your heart
your body
your soul?
How to release
some of that control
to which you hold
as if it is gold?
A body so tight,
a mind attuned to fight
or flight.
Yet, underneath,
I see a spirit
seeking an invite,
desperate for a way out.
When you are ready
to let me in,
to be the feminine
to my masculine,
I’ll come running.
When you are
no longer so scared,
I’ll be there.
When your mighty walls
finally
crumble and fall,
I offer myself
at our beck and call.
Stone Beach
A new treat,
this here, Stone Beach.
Butterflies,
Dragonflies.
With a gentle sweet high,
I am kissing
the brilliant
baby blue sky.
Seagulls,
Marigolds.
I am embraced by the sea’s
gentle pull.
Driftwood,
Seashells.
I fall deeply into
water’s seductive spell.
Inhaling deeply,
I take in the air’s
musky salinity,
mix it with Earth’s grassy femininity.
Senses heightened,
I hear the waves,
my ancestors guiding me
from the grave.
I feel the wind
nibble my skin,
tempering
the sun’s bite and sting.
A Spirit
to me
suddenly
begins to sing.
Inspiration heralding
the birth of another offspring.
Sun Salutations
Dawn of a new day-
hooray!
Awake!
Give thanks!
Pray!
As within,
so without.
Morning meditations
strengthen thy House.
No perceived stress felt.
Mind, heart, body –
all aligned,
all in exquisite rest.
Work flows smoothly.
Everything moves so easily.
All that is seen is beauty,
even in this, the
big
busy
City.
No cacophony,
just sweet melodies.
No hurry,
only curiosity.
Frowns turned upside down;
smiles abound.
Gratitude, shared and found.
I see you, you see me.
Namaste,
we are a family!
No self-recrimination,
no regrets;
only admission
one did one’s best.
And so,
the stage is set
for when
dusk is met.
Peaceful sleep
will thee meet
with this day complete.
D.a.m.a.g.e.d
A childhood scar
from way back and afar,
suddenly delivered
on a plate
as if by fate
brought on
while in a heated state
with One’s Beloved Mate,
confidante,
friend.
Herein,
a blessed opportunity,
with careful attention
and mindful compassion,
to gently approach
the Little Girl
Within.
The One
etched
deep
in the Soul;
the one
that awaits
to be acknowledged
and finally
consoled.
So as,
to make
rich fodder
of the
unconscious
damage
now exposed
and told.
Slow-
I tend to go slow,
ever slightly dipping a toe.
Rarely rolling full out,
rather feeling…asking:
is it all right
or am I tight?
Doing the due diligence,
leaning heavily on Universal Intelligence.
Looking for flow;
getting to the Know;
hearing the Soul.
Letting it marinate,
low heat, slow pace-
this Taurus’ way.
From without,
them trying to me re-arrange,
and cast shadows of deep doubt.
They say:
“Way too slow, G.
You need to heed–
gotta move, gotta now go!
Don’t you know
life’s too short-
here one minute,
the next, poof, abort.”
Yeah, but…
I am me.
Please let it be.
Don’t need more anxiety.
The Birth will come…
eventually,
organically,
when fully ready.
To each, their own.
We sing our unique songs-
some short & fast,
others slow & long.
No right, no wrong.
The life of a Cosmopolitan Sardine
I feel trapped
like a caged rat
no room to read
let alone breathe
little in the way of personal space
with strangers, nearly face-to-face
signal problems and delays
prolong the agony and the pain
very few smiles
many more scowls
odors jarringly unfamiliar
compete with daring young dancers
to the senses, viciously assault
without so much a second thought
hey, this is New York
ain’t nobody give a f***!
suck it up, yo’!
don’t you know
this is the price paid
the sacrifice made
for the privilege
of residing
in this space-
beyond congested, yes,
but also
the first, the Greatest
City on Earth!
you make it here
Sinatra swears
you make it anywhere
just be aware
that it’ll cost ya
claustrophobe ya
relentlessly contain ya
hot or cold
young or old
this is how
the N to the Y to the C
rolls…
Home is…
…where the Heart resides
…where the Soul flies
…where Love prevails
…where authentic connectedness cures all (or most) of what ails
…where one’s Spirit is finally free and can exhale
…where all pretense and the burdensome masks give way
…where your Tribe comes out to play
…where one’s many Songs are sung
…where creativity simply for its own sake is not so far-flung
…where Life is a little smoother around the edge
…where thoughts don’t constantly veer frighteningly toward The Ledge
Home is…
…the Peace that surpasses all understanding
…the Path Not yet Taken
…the constant Prayer seemingly unanswered
…the blissful state of feeling favored
…the real Me birthed and seen
…the Mystery, revealed
…the yellow-brick Road less Traveled
…the ultimate Goal unraveled
Six words – Scene Three
The great Ernest Hemingway is said to have drafted the following six-word story:
“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
Inspired by Hemingway, the following six-word story comes through me in this Moment:
“stifled creativity: perennial abyss, life-altering maceration.“
Introversion, Independence & Interdependence
According to the dictionary independence (no dependence) is synonymous with self-government, self-rule, separation, self-determination, autonomy, freedom, and liberty.
We celebrate independence.
Yet, there is a popular old saying that no one is an island, meaning we are human and, thus, by very definition and design, social beings who are dependent on each other.
There are songs that emphatically assert that “…people who need people are the luckiest people in the world” and “it’s a small world after all.”
As both an introvert and the eldest daughter of a very strong woman, I often struggle with these assertions of interdependence. Which should I strive to be – independent or interdependent? Can one be effectively independent and interdependent?
My mother – with only the best intentions in mind – raised her three daughters to be just as strong as she is, which meant staunchly independent. “Let yourself never ever be put down by relying on a man,” my impressionable sisters and I were taught in both word and actions from very early on. Interdependence was never discussed; not sure mom even knew such a word existed! A woman was either independent or weak – period, no middle ground. This information I absorbed and, while it has served me well in many respects, as I mature I can clearly see the damage it has wrought in personal relationships.
For introverts, much as we love good company in relatively small doses, relating can be overwhelmingly taxing physically, emotionally, and intellectually. As such, an introvert requires separation from others to re-fuel. We can literally wither away without enough space and independence. Yet, too much of this “good” thing independence can leave the introvert vulnerable to depression and profound feelings of isolation.
I am seeing now the ego, limits and dangers of independence/self-determination and the reality, vulnerability and expansiveness of interdependence. I am learning that very little in life is black and white. As I gray, so does life!
burgeoninc 