Tag Archives: empty

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The Reed Flute’s Song

“Language and music are possible only because we’re empty, hollow, and separated from the source. All language is a longing for home.” ~ Coleman Barks

The Reed Flute’s Song

Stay where you are

inside such a pure, hollow note. ~ Rumi

The last few years, perhaps because of Covid and the enforced isolation, each time I say good-bye when family leaves after a visit, I am filled with sadness. The scale of the sadness is in direct proportion to the joy I just shared while we were visiting. There are no words to convey the depth of my feeling. There are no words to hold all the love I wish to pour onto my loved ones. Although I have just spent a wonderful afternoon or evening with my children, or siblings, or cousins, I immediately long for more time with them once the door is closed and they are on their way. Is this even close to the longing Rumi is expressing?

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Social Isolation

(internet photo)

Today it’s difficult for me to remain optimistic. It’s our granddaughter’s birthday and to add insult to injury, the gift we ordered online to be delivered before this special day, has not yet arrived. I don’t want to have the day pass empty handed from us so I have written her a humble story and illustrated it to the best of my ability. Singing “Happy Birthday” over the phone with her triggered my tears… I guess it’s a small price to pay if we can remain healthy.

I wish everyone strength and fortitude to get through this. May we all remain healthy!

Reading some poetry by Jimmy Pappas, a New Hampshire poet, inspired the following:

Social Isolation

We cannot
tell

if it is time
for

Friday night wine
or

Sunday
prayers.

Let us
bow our heads.
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Confection Connection

Innocent beginning
ice cream and lollipops
sticky confections
melted hearts and hands together
Legitimate purchases
to calm an angry mood
or cheer a sad heart

Lines began to blur
with requests coming more often
Willing participants
unwilling to say no

A shift began to occur
as the needs grew greater
sweet toffee
meant to soothe
became tacky
clinging
pulling down

Something to get by
just this once
turned into another
and another

emotions hollow
empty
deeply saddened
instead of uplifted

Relationship disintegrated
right before eyes
cotton candy decomposed
with teardrops of disbelief

Craving connection
a time to share and bond
but all the sweetness
decayed a delicate cord
The link
connecting two hearts
lost

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Shattered

Wine glass shatters
stem and goblet severed
illusions of relationship
exposed

Sharp jagged edges revealed
captivating expensive bouquet covered
robust promises
forgotten
hidden
left to languish
unable to balance with delicate notes
of expectation

Scatted shards lay on the table
lay on the floor
as once you laid with me
fragments of our hopes and dreams
loosened from a grasp
now splintered pieces

What once was
no longer is

A stark realization

How appropriate the glass was empty
no red stain on the precious carpet
blank white
pure contrast to tainted desires
no tears
no drops
to mourn the loss

Resignation
a simple break
to open eyes
how fragile words have become
how brittle emotions

Hidden cracks
now fully visible