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WHO SHUSHED YOUR SHOUTS by Anita Brown

Are you living a life worthy of your calling, your dharma?

To be alive, to fully break free in your life, we must release heartache, grief, disappointment, and pain on a regular basis.  In order to show-up each day filled with joy+gratitude there must be space created for that thankfulness— moving out the sighs, cries, shouts and even whispers that may be stuck inside.  Your dream has a voice!!  But our voices have been dimmed by unreleased anguish.  It is so important to practice mindfulness exercises like yoga and meditation, art and journaling as they create space. As awareness of genuine, human feelings arise we can fully feel them and trust this too shall pass.

I often pray “Make me a channel of your peace”— yes a CHANNEL readied for abundant life-force, prana, chi to flow through me, moving me toward sacred service. This poem was inspired by the sighs and tears I release on my mat, and then watching nature release without fanfare. May we all be left with open-hearted compassion for the pain we see in this world.

Who Shushed Your Shouts?
by Anita Brown

who shushed your shouts?
where are your sighs stuffed?
might they be lodged
in locked chamber
anticipating the day of their groaning

lamenting leaves
fluttered on boughs
discerning
the benefits of
coming unhinged,
drifting upward

glance around --
the scarlet oaks' leafed limbs
flurry in their freedom
lyrically unfettered
gusted by wind on moonlit ride

not cinched to sentiment
upon where to settle,
only flitting 
on air beneath
like a ballad breath
whooshing

stoic lantern
nearly still, in its long-suffering
caused an outrage
in the wood

just joggle!!
let the inner tempest
loose you

whistle your murmurs
howl your deplorable lamenting

you have shouts
that require visceral absolution !!
release them to the silvery wind
carried  afar
on the current of life

what awaited 
after the shouts and the sighs
made their goodbyes 
was a marvelous
strain
a flurry drifting, 
vibrating o'er
the reed

emptied of drivel
what remained? 
a hymn-like prayer-
notes innately
caressing 
flowing
flowering
a symphonic
aria smile
bubbling  up,
effervescent

Anita Brown is a content mother of two teenagers and wife of 20 years, both of which she is grateful for every day. She began writing poetry in the fall of 2012 after a mini-breakdown cracked open her heart and allowed this newly found gift to shine through. Many months later, she is realizing the truth in the saying that ‘breakdown equals spiritual awakening’ as she is pleasantly shocked at how much more peace she has in her spirit and how that is reflected in her life.  Anita loves yoga, dancing, traveling, cooking, walking her golden Sierra, and quiet evenings at home. She especially enjoys teaching meditation to under-served communities and listening to others as they express the same joy at the transformation occurring from such simple but regular practice.


~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~

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