Walt Whitman understood that sometimes people need a sense of complete unity with the Universe, even us 150 years after his time. In one of Whitman’s epic poems, “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” the first section addresses us: “And you that shall cross from shore to shore years hence are more to me, and more in my meditations, that you might suppose.” He thought of us as he watched the crowds of people on that ferry. How awesome that he understood the interconnectedness of all — past, present, and future! He sought connections because he knew at times he was not so close to others. He sees people at one point as “curious,” odd, different, but then in the next instance calls on his heart to reestablish significance. In the second section of the poem, he sees the unity of nature and man-made constructs, joined through the energy that ties all things together. Just listen: “The impalpable sustenance of me from all things at all hours of the day, / The simple, compact, well-joined scheme, myself disintegrated, every one disintegrated yet part of the scheme…The others that are to follow me, the ties between me and them, / The certainty of others, the life, love, sight, hearing of others.” In this section Whitman refers to people watching the shipping activities, seeing the islands, and enjoying the rush of the tide and glow of the sunset, establishing relationships between these elements and bringing it all back again to us: “Fifty years hence, others will see them as they cross, …A hundred years hence, or ever so many hundred years hence, others will see them…It avails not, time nor place — distance avails not, / I am with you, you men and women of a generation, or ever so many generations hence…” Eternal connections based on our abilities to perceive eternal spirit in all things — a grand, unified scheme! If we are down and despairing because we seem alone and disconnected, we can know this whole universe is here for us, even the buildings of the city: “You have waited, you always wait, you dumb, beautiful ministers…” If we understand this scheme, we can reject the rationalization of ego that would say, “No, you are alone. None of this belongs to you!” Shut up, Ego. I will respond with Walt about life all around us: “We receive you with free sense at last…we plant you permanently within us…we love you — there is perfection in you also, / You furnish your parts toward eternity, / Great or small, you furnish your parts toward the soul.” Look around you. It’s all here for us, all you can sense. Eternal Spirit is in everything around us to nourish our souls! We are here, Whitman was here, for one another! “What is more subtle than this which ties me to the woman or man that looks in my face? / Which fuses me into you now, and pours my meaning into you? / We understand then, do we not?” I hope so!
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If the title caught your eye, please hang in there to the end of this. Begin by thoughtfully reading Walt Whitman’s short poem, “A Noiseless, Patient Spider.” A noiseless, patient spider, I mark’d, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated; Mark’d how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding, It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself; Ever unreeling them — ever tirelessly speeding them. And you, O my Soul, where you stand, Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space, Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, — seeking the spheres, to connect them; Till the bridge you will need, be form’d — till the ductile anchor hold; Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul. This poem exemplifies the Romantic writers’ ideal of understanding how aspects of nature reflect the human condition, whether individually or societally. This poem is one of Whitman’s “spots of time” to which William Wordsworth referred. Whitman observed a spider and just thought about what it said to him concerning life. In that simple little spider, Whitman saw a metaphor for us, human souls seeking connections. We all need connections to make meaning of life, to be assured that we are significant, that we are loved, and that we matter. Thinking about spiders and webs, I have seen some that are amazing geometrical designs and some haphazard ones. What does this say about our attempts to make connections? Such thoughts depend on many dynamics: personal mood, societal events, life experience, memories, sensory images. I would encourage you to engage in an experiment. Think about something that is on your heart: positive, negative, questions, plans — whatever. Then, just go outside, go on a walk, sit in your yard, or on a park bench — anywhere outside where you can experience some aspect of nature. Focus on one natural element, whether it’s a tree or a leaf, a deer or a herd of cows, clouds or rocks. You choose. Have some way to record your thoughts, whatever they are, about these questions: What is on my heart? What element of nature am I focusing on? How do I relate that to the heart matter I brought outside? What response will I have to the matter now? (Could be almost anything!) It’s a good therapy, and a positive one. It might inspire getting creative or fixing a relationship or making new friends or embarking in a new career or… What does your heart say to you? When Whitman saw the spider, he wrote a poem. Maybe he felt lonely and knew he had to make an effort, any effort, to connect to his world. Here’s to lessons from Nature! The focus on poetry this month gives us opportunity to think about our relationships — to everything. Yesterday, I gave Coleridge’s quote that “Poetry is the best words in the best order.” Today, I would like to consider a smidgen of William Wordsworth’s ideas from the “Book Twelfth” in The Prelude. He says, “I had known…/ Visitings of imaginative power…/ and again In Nature’s presence stood, as now I stand, / A sensitive being, a ‘creative’ soul. / There are in our existence spots of time, / That with distinct pre-eminence retain / renovating virtue, whence…/ our minds are nourished and invisibly repaired… .” Paying attention to Nature awakens imagination and creativity. Then, he says that these “spots of time” in our mind of special memories when Nature spoke to us can be a catalyst, a means to feed and even repair our minds. I hope that this month in particular we will give some time to allow ourselves to enjoy that power of Nature expressed in poetry. The following poem is one of my “spots of time.” The Universe Has Eyes Two mute witnesses, Intensely bright witnesses, Give ample testimony on this dusky late winter evening -- No vestige of winter on this day — 70 degrees at 7:30 p.m., No vestige but the position of Jupiter and Venus. Their soothsaying this Ides of March Announces not the death of Julius but rather The eruption of life renewed; vigor Is near, yet they, the planets, are far, So far that they know not their prophecy Is already fulfilled, here at 38th Parallel N. For the insistent trill of the little peeper, For the longing call of the flamboyant male cardinal, For the pretty, varied song of the spirited, sassy mockingbird, For the soft, throaty coo of the mourning dove -- All lend assent that life springs forth Once again, strengthened by the winter’s end, All participating, each one, In that verdant, luxurious Rebirth. The mute but brilliant reflecting planets, Now set so close, Wink down on me, Wink the satisfaction of the Universe. Questions and Thoughts How do I fit into the pattern of the re-creation of Spring? How do I choose to use that pattern of nature, based on who I am and what I want? In what other ways do I choose to learn from nature and the order of the universe? What other spots of time do I have in my memory from nature? What simple, pure, utter delight I experienced reflecting on this evening scene! Yes, I write poetry and believe, as did the Romantics, that nature has much to teach us. So, here, in honor of National Poetry Month, I present one of my poems. The questions and thoughts at the end of each poem represent the responses that I had immediately upon finishing it. (By the way, the catkins are the brown things growing on the branches in the picture. They are the male counterpart to the female cones, I think!) Blessing the Pines Now in early spring the pine trees Bear the evidence of future abundance, Hope, hope bound in the tawny male catkins Dotting every terminal branch and twig. The pines affirm their life, their fate, Accepting and displaying their past -- Branches missing, boughs bent, trunks divided -- Declaring their future intent -- Central trunk stretching higher, Rooty nerves digging ever downward, outward to nourish that stretch to Glory, while grounded and feeding to fuel the propagation -- Reveling in the present, the now, of this green, gleaming spring morning All under a deep azure sky, Absorbing the golden glow of the rising sun, And populated with crow and mockingbird and robin and dove, Cawing, singing, calling, cooing, All blessing the Life of the Pines. Thoughts and Questions How will I, like the pines, focus on the present to bear some work of benefit while displaying the effects of the past — broken branches, scars, and all imperfections — and while intending future growth? How cognizant am I of the necessity of being healthily rooted? What forms and sources of nourishment do I take to fuel all that I am and wish to be? How do I bless the life of others as the birds in the tree do? What does my life offer to others, and how does this help me in the realization of self-identity? How do others bless me, and how do I interact with and accept that blessing? I learned something awesome that I didn’t know yesterday, something that a student shared with me. The infrared band of the electromagnetic spectrum was discovered in 1800. The really cool thing is that Herschel, who discovered it, was testing the temperature of the visible spectrum of the colors of the rainbow as sunlight was refracted through a glass prism. He put a thermometer just outside the red band, and he was shocked at the temp spike. Discovery! I happen to believe that the vibrations that comprise each visible color are resident in each of us, which is the basis of the yoga belief in our seven energy centers called chakras, each one corresponding to a color of the rainbow. Somewhat technical here, but I want you to get the point I’m going to make. I think that when we know Self and determine a life purpose, then that purpose acts like our personal prism, refracting the light of our hearts and souls so that all may see. Those colors and qualities associated with each one can be made visible to others by our daily actions — if we are moving along the lines of our life purpose. Then, though, there is something more. Those vibrations that are not visible send out vibrations characteristic of an energy that is infused and suffused through everything we do. When people say things like “She’s always so caring,” “He always has the right words,” “She loves everything she does.” Those statements describe an almost indefinable, overall characteristic that is the spirit that drives daily actions. It’s a thing of joy, and others notice it. Louis Armstrong even sang about this concept of our vibrational selves. Yep, he did! “The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky, / Are also on the faces of people going by.” I love seeing the multi-colored, vibrational depths of those around me. Sometimes, though, they don’t see the possibilities for themselves. I saw it in my students when in I taught, and I am thrilled when I see how some of them are refracting the light of their beautiful hearts. If you haven’t discovered the prism of your life purpose yet, no worries. It’s not hard; just let the light of your heart define it for you. “And I think to myself / What a wonderful world.” |
Questions to consider:How many times have you asked yourself or simply thought about the following questions?
Who am I, really? What is my truth? How do my actions reveal what I really feel and believe? What would I do with my life if I could do anything? What is my passion? Why am I here? How can I discover answers to any of these questions? If you have considered any of these questions, I hope that my experiences and writing will give you some guidance. Please read my blog and comment and share your thoughts. I would love to hear from you! Archives
December 2019
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