THE RADIANCE OF CHANGE by Sarah Carlson

The Radiance of Change

*

As the currents of my being

become more fully free,

more often I have prolonged

 moments of dropping into 

my own validity.

Time and time again

congestion caused by 

bygone perplexities unwinds

and allows for novelty

and liberation.

Rooted in rightness,

this involves a purposeful 

willingness to let go.

I can’t change what was,

only my reactions to what 

is right in front of me.

Recognizing the possibility 

of old patterns pulling me astray,

I can choose to rely upon

bedrock of excavated truths

to discover a new way through.

Lovingly, tenderly

I wrap my arms around 

all I’ve been,

all I am,

and all I have left to be.

I encourage the freedom of unfettering,

nurture the power of presence and

embrace the radiance of change.

There is beauty in me

right here, right now.

More and more I feel safe 

to let it reflect and refract

into the light of day.

Photography by Larissa Beniaminova

Sarah Carlson has many pieces to her whole, as most of us do. Those pieces include: mother, teacher, daughter, friend, widow, sister, skier, bicyclist, hiker, coach, drummer, and poet. Sarah lives in the western foothills of Maine where opportunities to make connections amid the splendor of the rivers, lakes and mountains are plentiful. She began writing and combining her poetry with photographs of her experiences in the natural world as part of healing from the sudden loss of her husband, Barry. More of her poetry can be seen on her blog here. Her book, The Radiance of Change, (found here) can be purchased on line through the independent bookstore in her hometown of Farmington, Maine. 

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