It emerged as I woke up in the middle of the
night and was inspired to go sit outside beneath the black sky and crash of the
ocean. Beneath the thick of that night sky, I was awed by the beautiful scents
and sounds of the beach- their gifts all the more heightened and clear, because
of the dark.
These words are a reflection on how our
relationship with nature informs our own sense of belonging in this world. It is
impossible to sit by the scope of the ocean and not feel small and amazed by
its greatness: I am reminded of how large the world is and how little I am. And
yet, I am given a place here. Just like the tides and the seas and the grains
of sand- just like each one of us- I have been given a place here at this
particular point in time, which continues to reaffirm my own sense of belonging
to this world.
Nature has many sacred gifts to offer us, when
we take the time to listen and open ourselves up to receiving them. On this
particular night, under a blanket of shadow and stars, I was reminded that our
presence here- this opportunity to be part of this gorgeous world and partake
in the offering of life- is perhaps Life's greatest grace.
Grace of Night
by BethAnne Kapansky Wright
I
would let it
wash
over me-
this
grace of night.
Even
when it wakes
me
and asks me to
come
sit in shadow
and
starlight and
remember,
this
darkness
too, is
what
it means
to
be human.
I
would let it
flow
through me-
this
grace of tide.
Even
as it pulls
then
retreats…
reminding
me
life
is an ever
changing
waltz
of
ebb and flow.
I
would let it
surround
me-
this
grace of sea.
Even
as she storms
with
magnificent
swells, I know my
swells, I know my
place
and know:
There
are forces
larger
than I here.
It
is okay to rest
in
their presence.
I
would let it
be
part of me-
this
grace of life.
Even
as I sit awed,
under
the humbling
gaze
of raven sky,
in
all my ineptitudes
and
beauty of being,
I
have been given
a
place here.
I
belong to this
time and space.
time and space.
BethAnne Kapansky: I am a Clinical Psychologist enjoying life from my tiny corner of Anchorage, Alaska. I love writing personal essays, composing quirky poetry, and creating whimsical art. I can often be found on top of the nearest mountain or running through the trails of my beloved woods with my little white dog who has the legs of a gazelle and mighty heart of a lion. My work has been published in The Elephant Journal and When Women Waken and used in collaboration with a local dance company to create performance art. I am inspired by nature, rainbows, cake, hearts, the power of women, the thousand faces of love, and the beautiful journey of becoming more fully human. I can be found on Facebook or on my blog: Sunshine in Winter, here.
~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!~
Such precious, potent belonging threads your words together. Thank you, BethAnne.
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