A definition of middle
A poem
Article voiceover
Today is my 40th birthday. My wish is that this manifesto on the middle, or the specific word I pondered as I wrote, “midlife”, resonates with you as deeply as these words have resonated with me.
A definition of middle
Mind me, middle is where I slumber when mere melancholy manacles my mind. In the middle of nowhere. Lost in the middle of the forest. Stuck in the middle. At midnight. Midpoint. Midway. Midstream. Midlife. Mid mush mingles the manse of my mouth. Middle, equidistant from everything, everything expands and when walls walk how can I measure a middle how can I claim to command a center where I stand the whole story. Pure possibility accelerates alongside, sweeps me from this small spot to enter an echo of what walked before and will walk today, continuous creation of light made dust made stars, eternal energy expanding even me. Mind me.
Thank you for reading! If you are so inclined, leave a comment about what stirs in you while you read. I look forward to whatever dialogue happens here, and within a week I will be following up with a Reflection post on how this poem emerged into being.
Brian
Happy Birthday, Brian, and thank you for giving us this poem. Once upon a time, when I crossed the middle, I sometimes thought I was lost and unnerved about moving forward, but then our daughter was born shortly before the Christmas that followed, and I discovered a whole new world full of heart and gladness that I'd never known before. Thanks for reminding me of that time.
Brian, in your poem, I see you living on an energetic spiral of Time. Always expanding and growing, trying to control what deep down you know can only be experienced and savored. The wonder of it is what makes life so strange and beautiful. What a wild ride we are on as humans! I hope you'll be very kind to yourself and savor this new era. Like all the stanzas that have come before, this is such an essential part of your life's Poem.
Middle, equidistant from everything,
everything expands
and when walls walk
how can I measure a middle
how can I claim to command
a center where I stand the whole story.
Happy Birthday to you, Brian.
May this new year of Life be your most satisfying and creative year ever!