THE ROAD AHEAD by Diane Bell

As the Coronavirus pandemic grips the world and we find ourselves “stuck” at home, I hope that these words I’ve written will soothe people’s fears and plant the seeds for a new normal when this is over.

The Road Ahead

We are not stuck, friends

We are moving forward

But more slowly now

Carefully

Cautiously

Thoughtfully

Pausing at times

To rest

And consider

The best way forward

Being mindful

Of our direction

And of the others

On the journey

With us

We are no longer

Racing

Recklessly

Striving

Ruthlessly

Grasping

There is stillness now

There is even peace

Beneath the fear

Calm

Equanimity

A knowing born of faith

That a season has ended

And a new one

Begun

It’s the beginning

Of a new day

We’re on a

New path

There’s no turning back

To where we were

Before

Our map unfolds

A little more

Each day

We’re in this together

Hand in hand

Each step

Guided by grace

With Love in the lead

This time

Leaving no one

Behind

~Diane Bell

4/5/2020

Diane Bell is a writer living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest of the United States. She writes poetry to connect with the world around her and with the Divine within her. Her first collection of poetry, “Empowerment Through Love”, was published in late 2016. In addition, her poetry has been published in several anthologies, including “The Light Within”, “Finding Our Wings”, and “Best of Spiritual Writers Network 2014”. For more of her writing, visit her Facebook page "Empowerment Through Love".

*For submission guidelines, click here.*

Comments

IMAGINE A WOMAN by Patricia Lynn Reilly

This poem invites you to look upon yourself with loving kindness… Gazing at your own true reflection, you will discover that everything you have longed for “out there” is already within you! I invite you to love your creativity fiercely. Faithfully plant seeds, allowing under-the-ground dormant seasons, nurturing your creative garden with love and gratitude. In the fullness of time, the green growing things thrust forth from the ground. It's a faithful, trustworthy process. AND it takes time and patience. Blessed is the fruit of your creative womb! I invite you to trust your vision of the world and express it. With wonder and delight, paint a picture, create a dance, write a book, and make up a song. To give expression to your creative impulses is as natural as your breathing. Create in your own language, imagery, and movement. Follow no script. Do not be limited by the customary way things have been expressed. Your creative intuition is original. Ga...

STILL I RISE by Maya Angelou

Six years ago, I had the privilege of listening to Maya Angelou speak live on the value of poetry at the University of Florida. I share these reflections with you again today, in honor of her birthday. I was relieved to get one of the last seats available for this rare event, having arrived at five for Maya Angelou ’s free speech at eight. The historically long line began with people settled into beach chairs in winter coats busying themselves on tablets, or eating sandwiches for dinner. As helicopters hovered above and newscasters below, I felt the excitement of realizing that thousands of people were gathering together to hear an eighty four year old black woman recite her poetry! Maya Angelou speaking at University of Florida on Feb. 27, 2013 When the curtain rose -after an overflow of hundreds were sent away- we lucky ones on the inside greeted Maya with a standing ovation, as she smiled sweetly, beginning her talk using metaphors from nature. Maya asked...

MIRABAI'S POETRY by Caitanya Dasi

Much of the mystic love poetry from India revolves around musical and theatrical expressions that portray the loving relationship between the soul and God… One such celebrated relationship was that between princess Mirabai and her divine beloved, Krishna. Born in the sixteenth century into a noble Rajput family, Mirabai married into a family that did not take fondly to her devotion to God. Consequently, she went from royalty to mendicant, and decorated her spiritual path with poetic songs. I first heard of the great poet, Mirabai in the early 1970’s while I was living and studying bhakti yoga at the Hare Krishna temple in Los Angeles, California. As I had a background in the performance arts Mirabai’s life instantly spoke to me. Her fusion of spiritual sentiments with song resonated with my passion for music, drama, dance, and the devotional path to loving God. In 1968 I serendipitously met a devotee by the name of Mirabai, who taught me that the perfectio...

Journey of the Heart

Search This Blog