Rosemary from Poets and Storytellers United asked us to consider Untitled 19, a poem by Rajani Radhakrishnan
The poem is gorgeous and I was guided by the beautiful lines
'let your poem gather itself
its empty spaces'
I let my poem gather but read today that we were asked whether we think it's best to speak up or stay silent on difficult issues
I am more of a practical person. I discuss difficult things with my Dutch friends as this is natural in Dutch culture. I learned that it is hard to change a person's opinion.
I realised we have little impact on many things. But I will stand up if I can.
My motto is that you can't change the world but you can try to change it for one person at a time.
This didn't work out for some people. In that case, it taught me patience, understanding of complex issues, and setting boundaries. I am not quite there yet. But somehow my poem ties in with this. Because if you develop and change, you will have a better impact.
I think this also balances life out to tie in with 'What's going on?' :)
Amor Fati
Love of fate
As the petals of life unfurl
I walk a resilient rope
Each strand, a thread of destiny
Balancing between despair and delight
I welcome every kind of weather
The sun’s warm embrace
A storm that once threatened to drown me
When life’s trials surround me
Am I to brave these bursts of turbulence
or surrender to the fear that pierces my peace?
Should I seek shelter in safer spaces
or trust the path that fate has laid?
Life listens to the sacred whispers of the rain;
You cannot always change your fate,
but eventually, fate changes you
This is the gentle art of blossoming.
A lovely poem, Marja. I apologise if there was confusion; easy to forget how subjective the reading of any poem can be! Your notes carry much wisdom, I think.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your notes- it is hard to change opinions and to figure out boundaries with complex problems.. and yet I like that acknowledgement and acceptance can be the gentle art of blossoming... it is how we mature and make choices, yes!
ReplyDelete"the gentle art of blossoming" you describe so well!
ReplyDelete"I walk a resilient rope
Each strand, a thread of destiny
Balancing between despair and delight"
There are degrees, of course. Still the stark contrast in the balance speaks to me.
Dear Marja,
ReplyDeletethese are now TWO great and interesting poems that I had to read more carefully and several times and let them sink in. In my opinion, Rajani Radhakrishnan's poem is a very clear call to backbone and to express one's own opinion. Your statement on the question of whether it is better to speak about difficult topics or to remain silent coincides with mine. Even as a small child, this was part of my nature. One of my memories from that time: I went to kindergarten, I was 5 years old. I watched a small child tell the teacher that he had to go to the toilet. The kindergarten teacher said no. I asked her if I could go to the toilet (and I remember that it was a test) - she said yes (because in her eyes I was old enough for it.) I found that so unfair that I told my mother and subsequently refused to go to kindergarten any more... and I have never forgotten the situation. (The kindergarten teacher may have had reasons, but even then justice was the most important thing for me.)
By the way, I found a meme on the blogger Valerie Jael that I think fits here very well.
https://bastelmania-craftattack.blogspot.com/2024/09/friday-post_12.html
You can find it under the text "Read it again and again. And then again."
...
"Should I seek shelter in safer spaces
or trust the path that fate has laid?"
Sometimes it may be unavoidable to seek shelter in safer spaces if we want to suvive - but I think, like me, in most cases you are the type of person who trusts the path that fate has laid...
And again you find lines that show how important it is to have achieved a certain "maturity of years":
"but eventually, fate changes you
This is the gentle art of blossoming."
Hugs, all the best and have a pleasant weekend, Traude
Well Rostrose I hope you are still that remarkable little five year old child. Marja is very lucky to have you as a friend.....Rall
DeleteIndeed, growth is personal and subject to fate. Your words had me thinking that the balance between despair and delight is so precise that sometimes we fall off into new destinies.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much life wisdom in your poem. I especially admire the closing stanza as, when we cant change our circumstances, our path is forged by how we respond to them. I love "the gentle art of blossoming." I am so glad you linked your poem at What's Going on!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem, Marja. I especially liked these lines:
ReplyDelete"You cannot always change your fate,
but eventually, fate changes you
This is the gentle art of blossoming."
So true, and hopefully as one changes, one will discover the balance!
So glad to see you at "What's Going On?"
There is a lot to be said conversing, not to change anyone's opinion, but simply to understand.
ReplyDeleteI like reading about Dutch culture!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful - such delicate words describing such a profound process - I am glad you found poetry too - Jae
ReplyDelete"the gentle art of blossoming" is a great takeaway from your poem Marja. The word 'gentle' has so much power within. Nice to see you at 'What's Going On'.
ReplyDelete"You cannot always change your fate,
ReplyDeletebut eventually, fate changes you"
So very true.
Am I to brave these bursts of turbulence
ReplyDeleteor surrender to the fear that pierces my peace?
Should I seek shelter in safer spaces
or trust the path that fate has laid?
These are very interesting pertinent philosophical questions with no easy answers. It depends on the composite of the individual. Each will deal with the situation as they see fit.Good poem....Rall
Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe love of fate can be readily applied to oneself. It's sometimes difficult to comprehend the fate of others though.
ReplyDeleteHi Marja - an excellent post to let us read ... thank you ... so thought provoking and yes so challenging for us all in times such as these - with thoughts - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi Marja, nice to meet you! Thanks for visiting my blog! Your poetry is beautiful! Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteA beautiful poem.....life listens to the sacred whispers of the rain.....but eventually fate changes you......there is so much wisdom in your poem Marja.
ReplyDelete