Clarity
I step into the River of Life,
carrying my heavy, unspoken questions.
My stirred up thoughts
cloud the water.
When I am still for long enough,
the thoughts settle,
the water clears
and glimmering minnows
gather at my feet.
Once again,
I am reminded
of the truth
that has always run through me.
I throw my questions
high into the air
where they catch the sunlight
and rain down into the water like diamonds.
They are swept away in the unending current.
By Maria Brady-Smith
Photo by Mike Smith
Happy Sunday morning! Writing helps me figure things out. Many mornings, I wake up full of anxiety. I write and write and eventually, peace comes. This is the way I pray. Sometimes, a walk in the woods does it for me. This week, sitting by the river felt like a miracle. I hope that you find your own peace this week, your own clarifying River of Life.
Good morning Maria–you’ve done it again. Made me pause on a Sunday, which next to Monday is the most stressful day of the week because I have a column facing me–what to write about this week, what I’ve written–it isn’t good enough, what will people think, am I being too honest, round and round the thoughts whirl, but then I read your poem of the week and I settle, and with reading my thoughts do too.
The stones in the river metaphor in “Clarity” is lovely and meaningful and as I read it I envisioned the sound of a rushing creek, and a pool of water, the plink of the stones, and the settling you’ve written about.
As you know, I’m always chasing spirituality, trying to latch onto it like a brass ring. I feel this spirituality in reading your poetry. Thank you, dear friend
Aw. Thank you, Chris. So glad you liked it! I understand that stress. It seems like every time you finish writing something (a poem, a column), you think you will not be able to write anything good again. It is hard to wait for the next idea and the worst is when you start wondering how people will like it. Glad we are friends and can support each other! Love you!
love it. Thanks