Tags
art, entelechy, human consciousness, identity, Philosophy, poetry, Sohan Qadri, spirituality, writing
That age-old question “who am I?” haunts us from birth. We sense we are more than what we seem to be, more than the sum of our parts, more than this thread of life that spans so short a distance.
Sometimes a felt-sense of that “something more” emerges in consciousness with a ring of clarity–then fades just as quickly. Sometimes if we are quick or lucky or persistent, we capture what we sensed in a word or image, a poem or song.
What we capture is always an echo of what we’re trying to get at, a finger pointing to the moon, not the thing itself.
The following poem is trying to capture that “something more.” I titled it “entelechy” which is a philosophical term that denotes both the perfect essence of an object or person, and that which propels it toward self-fulfillment. This is the closest I could come in finding a word to capture what I was after.
Entelechy
I am spare
I am clean uncluttered space
I am a fine line curving inward and out
I am a high sweet note wrung from the still air
I am a cup of cool water drawn from the clear stream
I am bone bleached and bare, tossed upon a windswept shore
Taste and see
I am spare
In some ways, this poem is like a prayer. When I am confused, or out of sorts, or besides myself, I turn to it to remind me of that something more or something deeper that I am at heart. Meditating upon these images brings me home to myself.
I am not sure if the poem will mean anything to anyone but me, but I wanted to share it here.
The artwork by Sohan Qadri that precedes these words captures for me, so beautifully, that same essence. I wrote another post about his artwork and what it means to me here.
I enjoyed the poem. Thank you for sharing =)
So glad you enjoyed.
I can deeply relate to you poem Deborah and completely understand how it is a prayer. The art work is very fitting and beautiful as well.
I’m not surprised you relate to this. I imagine the art you do provides similar responses.
The problem I have of trying to define what and or who I am, is that I am limited by the duality that we have been imbued with in this culture. Yes I have the ability to be able to realize that I am in that place, but that is the exception and not the rule.
We have become so accustomed to our dissocation, any time we are not in that place it feels uncomfortable.
Thanks for the beautiful poem.
Ah, the duality! So much easier to grapple with who I am when I’m alone and mediating or writing. But when I go about my daily chores and interact with others (and listen to the whole Gov. Christie debacle about the bridge mess) I begin to lose sight of that. Still, it’s there, and I can return to it, and that is a comfort to me when I get pulled out of shape or running in circles. Sometimes it’s just a matter of stopping and breathing. Sometimes more is needed.
Wow. Your poem conjured in my mind a picture of myself burdened down by all the clutter that threatens to try and define who I AM. I am NOT the sum of my possessions or relationships or thoughts, or the parts of my physical body, etc.
In the word ‘spare’ you opened for me an entire universe! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you! You caught it exactly. That sense of sparseness, myself pared down from all that is not me, is what inspired the poem. And in trying to claim that sparseness, be it, the other images came to mind. It’s so wonderful to connect with readers this way
Poetry has the power to open the heart somehow, and can bring understanding at times about some things that prose just falls short of, I think. Keep breaking through those barriers, Deborah! 🙂
Lovely poem!!! Yep, fell right into a pool of calmness as my brain dictated your poem to me. Thank you for sharing. Love your blog! 😀
That’s music to me ears. Thank you!
Very nice poem! I can see where it would be like a prayer. I really liked this line: “I am bone bleached and bare, tossed upon a windswept shore”.
Thank you for sharing this with us!
Thank you, Chrys.
Reblogged this on dliwcanis.
So lovely, Deborah.
this most definitely reads as a Mantra, with beautiful centering imagery.
I hadn’t thought of that–a mantra–but you are right. Thank you.
The thread of life………..yes! How we are all connected to the world & the universe. I love the thread that connects “space…curves…air..water…wind..”…I can taste salt.
Nice. I like that. You make those connections so clear. Thank you.
Beautiful poem Deborah… 🙂
What I find most rich and compelling about this poem/prayer, Deborah, is your invitation…”Taste and see”….beautiful!
Thank you. That warms my heart.
Beautiful poem, Deb. Since I know you as a cousin and dear.loved one, I get in your universe for a fleeting moment and sense how you feel. You’re an
amazing writer.
Thank you, dear cousin, love you.
Lovely poem, Deborah. I never heard of the word, entelechy. Both remind me of these two poems by Mary Oliver, and one by William Stafford, which I just added to this post: https://theuncarvedblog.com/2019/03/13/the-nurturing-effect-of-rainwater-in-mary-olivers-poems-lingering-in-happiness-at-blackwater-pond/