if there was no change
what would we aspire for
if there was joy, only joy
would we know it, hold it?
in the impermanence
consciousness thrives and grows
into it we all come, equally
out of it we have to escape
in the motion of life
permanent can't come into being
if it did, you and I would be
merely & meaninglessly existing
~~~~~~~~~~~
It is more of a note to myself. On my birthday today, I needed to remind myself that the changes I am trying to making in my life, are for the better. I don't want to exist in same old rut. Not anymore. Gifting myself a poem, is a good way to start it. I know it is not one of my best. But so what? Even Keats produced trash at times!
32 comments:
The "impermanence" of life is what makes it worth living .. if there was all joy and no sorrow, we could not enjoy it.
The different between living and existing is ..indeed .. the impermanence, for therein lies our equality.
Oh gee .. yes, this was thought provoking.
great job with both prompts. this is so existential! and happy birthday!!
Happy Birthday!
A poem is the perfect gift for yourself!
Change is totally necessary to keep us stimulated!
Many happy returns of the Day. Perfect gift for yourself.
Happy Birthday.
So much of eastern philosophy explained in those words.
Deep truth invested in your poetry... Happy Birthday, to you!
Thanks for sharing such a deep poem on this day - Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday, Gautami!
I've often meditated on this same topic. Something that has come to me lately about it, though, is that we're selling that state of pure joy short. We can't know what it's like, and so we sort of slough it off with 'well if we didn't have______, we'd not know ____. I think that might be a subtle mind game?
Let's just say pure joy was our natural state. Then what?
Many thanks for this exquisite poem.
Trash?
Isn't that something that you throw away?
This work has substance and meaning!
So very true. Happy birthday!!
first...happy birthday!!!
& on the words...certainly not trash, but rather very wise. we cannot know joy unless we know sorrow.
A very wise poem to give to us all on your birthday. Happy Birthday! It's still the 22nd here. :)
Happy Birthday! Thanks for sharing with us this note to yourself. Impermanence makes every moment vital, pressing, exciting.
Happy Birthday Gautami!!!
I think I see where you're coming from in the poem - perhaps the motion of life is time which is always changing...
Have you read Wallace Stevens's "Sunday Morning?" "Death is the mother of beauty."
Another thought provoking poem. Happy Birthday or Parabens a voce, as we say here in Mozambique.
Very interesting. Happy belated birthday!
Your poem has a very powerful message...and Happy Belated Birthday!
'in the impermanence
consciousness thrives and grows'
People often yearn to be delivered from all of this growth and change, but truly - that would be a sleepwalking existence.
Happy Birthday, Gautami! You're one of the bright sparks in my life.
A message to ponder Guatami.
It is through the impermanence we learn what is the Real.
May your special day be a joyful one.
I like this, it set me to thinking right away.
First, yes, wouldn't it be terrible to exist meaninglessly?
And then, now what? Well, if we are only passing through then we have to come out.
Great. (I know, I don't often think straight but I do think.)
..
"if there was joy, only joy
would we know it, hold it?"
hmmm... I am not so sure we nee an opposite to acknowledge the opposite. maybe this is true here in this world but i am not so sure it is a general rule.
This is so true, so deep, so real. It reminds me of several of my favorite things, such as a novella turned novel "Against the Fall of Night"/"The City and the Stars" by Arthur C. Clark in which the lengthening of the human lifespan to thousands of years nearly kills the creative spirit of mankind.
Very well done. I enjoyed this.
How was ya 31st birthday?
happy birthday! :D
I LOVE IT! WONDERFUL WORK- AS USUAL. :)
if there was joy, only joy
would we know it, hold it?
That's beautiful. And so true. The sentiment here is something I often have to remind myself of.
And happy belated birthday, Gautami!
Teasers to your blog! Nice idea!
g, happy belated bday!!!... ch-ch-changes yes plz...
Happy belated birthday! Funny coincidence. You know. Tomorrow.
Happy belated birthday!
i like what you write, gautami.
what a nice gift, a wonderful poem, to give yourself. . . Helen Keller wrote we could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world. I guess the polar opposite to life's impermanence would be boundless indifference. . . we have this need to make beauty now, for now, may be all we ever have.
I enjoy your poetry. Thank you for giving me the chance to read it.
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