Welcome to OpenLinkNight folks! This is your opportunity to link 1 poem of your choice as this is no prompt-day. For those who missed the Mr Linky deadline the past week or this Tuesday’s poetics about “Comfort Smells“, this is also your opportunity to share your poem. Also, our Haibun Monday about “Murmuration” is also open the whole week. Thanks to our guest hosts, Qbit and Gina, for doing a wonderful job.
Here is a beautiful poem by Naomi Shihab Nye: “Kindness”
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.
See you at the poetry trail. ~Grace~
Grace said:
Hello everyone! Welcome to OpenLinkNight!!! I hope you enjoyed the video and poem I selected today. If only words can come that easily.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello, that poem was amazing… I thought about kindness the other day, and there is so much artificial sugarcoating that is not real kindness… Love how it’s tied to sorrow, which makes sense to me.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello all.. I wrote a new poem quite late this evening, trying my ways by making lists.
Grace said:
Looking forward to reading it in a bit Bjorn.
kim881 said:
Hello Grace and all dVerse Poets! Thank you for hosting with the wonderful kindness poem, which I came across a couple of years ago when I was part of a poetry of kindness workshop in Norwich.
Grace said:
The message is still relevant and beautiful isn’t it. Thanks for joining in Kim.
charliezero1.wordpress.com said:
Hello! dVerse…How are you today? Hope all is well. 🙂
Grace said:
Hello Charlie! Good to see you joining us. I will read your poem in a bit.
petrujviljoen said:
Thanks for hosting Grace. My internet connection is somewhat unstable these days but will do the rounds as best I can.
Grace said:
See you in the poetry trail.
sanaarizvi said:
Thank you for hosting us Grace 🙂 will be around today and tomorrow to read and comment ❤️
Grace said:
Thanks for joining us Sanaa!
Lona Gynt said:
That is a poem for the bulletin board Grace. Wonderful Selection. Thank you
Grace said:
Welcome Lona. A relevant message.
anmol(alias HA) said:
Oh, this kindness comes with a deep sense and awareness of one’s own accountability to the atrocities in this world — the sadness being the other deepest thing is such an evocative sentiment. Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful and thought-provoking verse.
Looking forward to reading different verses of myriad hues and emotions. 🙂
Grace said:
I love the contrast of that reflection HA ~ See you in the poetry trail ~
Dorianna Ric (paint-it-poetry) said:
it has been said that those who suffered much imparts the most fertile empathy’ I think that goes along with the message the poem expresses…only through great suffering can one comprehend the expression of kindness. Thank you for sharing.
Grace said:
Yes, I believe that is the message. Appreciate your comment.
Laura Bloomsbury said:
heart ache is often the way to kindness – lovely thought for today and these lines from Nye’s poem are so memorable
“only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread,”
Grace said:
Powerful lines Laura, thanks for joining us.
Vivian Zems said:
A breath-taking poem. A great pick!
Grace said:
Thank you Vivian. Great to see you in the poetry trail.
Gina said:
this is very good Grace, thank you for sharing and awakening our thoughts and hearts
Grace said:
Welcome Gina. I enjoy reading and selecting poems for OLN. Have a good weekend.
Gina said:
you had me reading more on her and watching a few more videos, wow she is utterly inspiring. I really relate to the ones she talks about her father and his legacy to them. wonderful weekend to you too Grace.
Beverly Crawford said:
Oh my, the sample poem you’ve chosen is so incredibly beautiful I’ll have trouble summoning courage to write one myself!
Grace said:
Write anyway Bev about anything. This is OLN. Thanks for the appreciation.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Evening Poets! Thanks, Grace, for pubtending OLN tonight! See you all on the poetry trail! 🙂
Grace said:
Thanks for joining us Frank!
ladynyo said:
Hi Everyone! Great poem on kindness…something lacking in the world.
Grace said:
Hi Jane. We all need a gentle remainder every now and then.
V.J. Knutson said:
Good poem, Grace. Thanks for hosting. Chill coming in here. Good night to tuck in and read poems.
Grace said:
Yes, good time to read. I also catch up during the weekend. Happy weekend.
V.J. Knutson said:
You too, Grace.
lynn__ said:
Wonderful choice of poetry, Grace! Good to hear Naomi’s story too. My poem is nothing of kindness tonight …I wrote it a few days ago, after reading a dark sonnet by Bjorn. Hope to read others over weekend 🙂
Grace said:
Thanks for joining us Lynn!
lynn__ said:
my pleasure 🙂
Abigail Gronway said:
You found a treasure in this one, Grace. The poem was splendid on its own, but it meant that much more after listening to the speaker.
Grace said:
Poetry reading for me is more powerful as the poet is able to communicate all the nuances of her writing to the listern. Have a good weekend.
Abigail Gronway said:
Thanks. You too!
Just Barry said:
After a day like today here in the tragically socially-regressing USA, I really needed to read, hear, and experience this poem you’re shared. Thanks for sharing this, Grace.
Grace said:
Welcome Barry! Have a good weekend.
Ali Grimshaw said:
Grace, thank you for sharing this poem. Isn’t it amazing how some poems can be read and reread over the years and provide us with words that quench our thirst for inspiration. I missed sharing this week but will still enjoy reading the poems others posted. May peace and kindness touch your day.