I did a quick share of this on Facebook this morning, but seeing as how it remained in my mind and on my heart throughout the day, I realized I had more to say about it.
First of all, I’ve been loving the poems of John Roedel since I discovered him during the pandemic. His words have touched me deeply over the years, and today’s poem was no different.
I’ve been reflecting on how this poem has a very “both/and” perspective — something that is so lacking in the world right now. The ability to acknowledge how things are, but at the same time, refusing to let the craziness overwhelm us or cast us down into despair. It’s definitely a delicate balancing act.
Anyway, the more I think about it, the more it seems to me that — in times like these — being kind and gentle, and going easy on ourselves and others, is a powerful and radical act.
Enjoy the poem.
there’s no handbook
for any of this
there are no hard and
fast rules for times
like these
~ you’re doing the best you can
holding things together
while the world falls apart
in this age of fear and fret
you don’t need to be perfect;
you just need to be gentle
~ with yourself and everyone else
because that’s all you
can really control, isn’t it?
yes, things might unravel a
bit more before this is
all done
~you might come undone as well
and it’s okay if
you do
because
while the world
is resetting
it’s router
we can take turns
deciding who gets
to cry on the couch
we can take turns becoming
a balm for one another
we can take turns yelling
up into the silent sky
we can take turns
having insomnia
we can take turns being
confessionals for one another
we can take turns brushing
the tears off of each other’s face
we can take turns inviting
the butterflies to swarm us
my love,
don’t worry about getting
all of this right
you won’t
don’t worry about making
mistakes
you will
~ you’re doing the best you can
and
remember
there is only one great commandment for
enduring a year like this one
~ and that commandment is this:
go easy,
my love,
go easy
~ john roedel
(art by the wonderful Tricia Robinson Art)
