Ah so much feeling in this one, Brian! Our friend, Mary Oliver said: “Attention without feeling is only a report.” She would appreciate, as I do, the way you’re writing from *inside* the experience and not merely making a poem about it. It’s generous of you to open the Memory space up to all readers. May it bring many new eyes to your work.
I love the original poem and I love these reflections on it. Very helpful and resonant for my own practice of poetry and being, especially this sentence and the paragraph that follows: "When I try to describe what makes a poem a 'good' poem, what I usually land on is an aspect of spaciousness." This: "... it allows a reader to find themselves in the poem ..." I don't have anything to add, but I think I agree, and I'll be thinking more about this.
"A description is just a description, but the poet takes the description and uses it to create a visual in a way that goes beyond a photo by placing the reader directly into the object being described. Once the reader arrives in the setting, what that place does for the reader is highly personalized."
^If there ever needs to be a description of what poetry is/does, then it is this! Amazing, Brian.
And oh man, yes on the whole pointing thing and Having No Head. The first time Sam H went through that on Waking Up, I was confused and somewhat uncomfortable. But that first moment of *snap* when you realise/see (if that can be described as such, without breaking the very thing one is trynig to do) was quite extraordinary. I remember I was on the beach, sat in the sun, meditating to Sam's instructions when that happened.
Thanks for the affirmation Nathan. It’s awesome to have someone to chat about the waking up world with. It’s such a great tool! Do you have a favorite teacher on the app?
I do like Oliver Birkmans time management for mortals series. I keep listening to it because it resonates with me and then I forget everything.
My fav meditation teachers are Adyashanti and Henry Shukman (love his Original Love series)…though I haven’t used the newest Shukman series yet, or the recent Adyashanti sessions. It’s amazing how many options there are.
Ah so much feeling in this one, Brian! Our friend, Mary Oliver said: “Attention without feeling is only a report.” She would appreciate, as I do, the way you’re writing from *inside* the experience and not merely making a poem about it. It’s generous of you to open the Memory space up to all readers. May it bring many new eyes to your work.
Thanks Ann. That’s a great line, one I didn’t know!
The quiet room you share here is a universe of layered perception, I think.
It was your preamble that led me in, feeling the warmth of the fire and what feels like a wave of silence aimed at the dawning day.
Thank you Patris! I’m glad it invited you in…🔥
I love the original poem and I love these reflections on it. Very helpful and resonant for my own practice of poetry and being, especially this sentence and the paragraph that follows: "When I try to describe what makes a poem a 'good' poem, what I usually land on is an aspect of spaciousness." This: "... it allows a reader to find themselves in the poem ..." I don't have anything to add, but I think I agree, and I'll be thinking more about this.
Thanks Jonathan. I’m glad you connected with that💫
"A description is just a description, but the poet takes the description and uses it to create a visual in a way that goes beyond a photo by placing the reader directly into the object being described. Once the reader arrives in the setting, what that place does for the reader is highly personalized."
^If there ever needs to be a description of what poetry is/does, then it is this! Amazing, Brian.
And oh man, yes on the whole pointing thing and Having No Head. The first time Sam H went through that on Waking Up, I was confused and somewhat uncomfortable. But that first moment of *snap* when you realise/see (if that can be described as such, without breaking the very thing one is trynig to do) was quite extraordinary. I remember I was on the beach, sat in the sun, meditating to Sam's instructions when that happened.
Thanks for the affirmation Nathan. It’s awesome to have someone to chat about the waking up world with. It’s such a great tool! Do you have a favorite teacher on the app?
I'd be hard pressed not to say Sam himself.
I've enjoyed lots of the people, though. Recently listened to Oliver Burkman and thought he was great.
You?
I do like Oliver Birkmans time management for mortals series. I keep listening to it because it resonates with me and then I forget everything.
My fav meditation teachers are Adyashanti and Henry Shukman (love his Original Love series)…though I haven’t used the newest Shukman series yet, or the recent Adyashanti sessions. It’s amazing how many options there are.
Yeah so many options. Shukman is great.
I haven't tried any Adyashanti yet.
Thanks!