Awww--I hope that you recover your energy again soon Ape. (((hug))).
How about me throwing in something a bit bizarre and controversial? I'm up for a meaty discussion, if you are Ape (and anyone else who might care to join in...) Here is another poem that I wrote yesterday... It arises from what I've been learning in my life over the past year. It may seem a bit strange, but I invite you to think about it and comment on what you think it means. Although it is personal, I think that it has universal relevance. I will happily add an explanation later, but for now I'll just 'throw it out there.'
Yin and Yang
Come Yin and Yang
Come sit beside me
One to the left
And one to the right of me
The one so boisterous
The other subdued
Lend me your wisdom
Virtue and vice
Two ends of a spectrum
Where does the balance fit?
You’re not black and white
But a thousand shades of grey
What seems good at a glance
May turn sour in extreme
The best becomes worst
When the scale is tipped.
Imagination
Is a wondrous thing
But see, Yin and Yang
It can get out of hand
Delusions of grandeur
Distractions sublime
Or paranoid fears
Prowl the edges of the mind
Hold my hands Yin and Yang
Keep me centred in ‘now’
Looking forward in hope
And wide eyed with wonder
Feet planted in the real
Arms outstretched
To what might be
Sanely balanced
Between Earth and Heaven
So, what about
Caution
Where should I sit?
Closer to Yin, or closer to Yang?
In the centre you say?
But I feel insecure
Let me slide towards Yin
Let me check if it’s right
I won’t waste time
And it won’t cost a lot
It looks safer here
Well-worn, familiar spot
‘Take a risk’ Yang cajoles
Lighten up, let it go
Don’t worry so much
Live it up, stay out late
Have a drink, laugh out loud
Who cares about calories?
Don’t check the locks
Throw out the junk
You don’t need it you know
And what about
Honesty?
Is it always a virtue?
How does it stretch
Between Yin and Yang?
I’m real as can be
Too real Yin says
I don’t care to know you that well
Don’t dump all your sorrows
And share all your joys
Don’t outline your foibles
And detail your day
So how do you feel Yang?
Oh, you’re not going to say?
It’s private
And who can you trust?
You know what I think
You know how I feel
My vulnerability is an affront.
And here is a corker—
Patience!
You’d think it could never go wrong
Long-suffering says Yang
Is sacrifice sweet
Upon the alter
Of unconditional love.
Yet patience, says Yin
Gives cowardice a break
A chance to avoid all the strife
And indulgence enables
The selfish to reign
What then, does patience gain?
One more question I’ll ponder
Please give me advice
At least Yang might lend me an ear
Generosity
To give without counting
How tainted this virtue might be
Can one be too generous I wonder?
Can one spoil the greedy with love?
And those who give freely to others
Might indulge themselves just as much
Excusing their errors
And pampering their weakness
No discipline staving their need
Yin is too busy to answer
He’s stuffing his face with a bun
Dear Yang, I’m so glad you indulge me
This discussion has really been fun.
Keep holding my hands
(Yin—You’re sticky!)
Don’t let me slide hither and yon
No matter how lovely the virtue
I see it can twist into ‘wrong’
So let me find balance between you
Step back from the cloud of my need
And see all my motives more clearly
Act wisely
And not in extremes
