Wednesday, November 9
“That our loyalty to one another and our loyalty to our work
not be set in false conflict.”
Just now I read a grieving email from a former student who has become a peer, soul friend. Here’s what I wrote her: “I am walking around in my imagination for a morning prayer and for words to write today’s post. My grief comes most from the women who live with me at close range, no matter the miles. I want to write these next words to each of you today: This day I love you, I respect you, I renew my hope for you.”
Two brave poets come to mind: Warsan Shire and Denise Levertov. Best to read these words out loud, with pauses . . . and breathe in and out at each pause.
Have a blest day,
john sj
Post # 1
Today’s Post – “Prayer for Revolutionary Love”
That a woman not ask a man to leave meaningful work to follow her
That a man not ask a woman to leave meaningful work to follow him.
That no one try to put Eros in bondage
But that no one put a cudgel in the hands of Eros.
That our loyalty to one another and our loyalty to our work
not be set in false conflict.
That our love for each other give us love for each other’s work
That our love for each other’s work give us love for one another.
That our love for each other’s work give us love for one another.
That our love for each other give us love for each other’s work.
That our love for each other, if need be,
give way to absence. And the unknown.
That we endure absence, if need be,
without losing our love for each other.
Without closing our doors to the unknown.
Denise Levertov
https://sites.udmercy.edu/poetry/2015/05/22/may-22-revolutionary-love/
Post # 1 “what they did yesterday afternoon”
they set my aunts house on fire
i cried the way women on tv do
folding at the middle
like a five pound note.
i called the boy who use to love me
tried to ‘okay’ my voice
i said hello
he said warsan, what’s wrong, what’s happened?
i’ve been praying,
and these are what my prayers look like;
dear god
i come from two countries
one is thirsty
the other is on fire
both need water.
later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered
where does it hurt?
it answered
everywhere
everywhere
everywhere.
Warsan Shire
https://sites.udmercy.edu/poetry/2016/09/30/sept-30-where-does-it-hurt-warsan-shire/