I catch her reflection in the looking glass and see an inner glow, true beauty that stems from all she stands for
Each strand of hair on her crown is strength, an heirloom from a long lineage of gentle warriors
Her mind is open hands welcoming and extending, a community to anyone in need
I’ve heard people ask, “Who is she?” It’s the confidence and grace in every step she takes
An African queen — she needs no introduction, for every interaction is a lasting impression
She’s never been a firecracker the dynasty thrives on her soft and strong, that’s her timeless charm
When I gaze upon her regal face I see a mischievous glint, defiance, challenging whoever said youth is a memory
Remember her beauty lies in what she comes to be, self-awareness standing face to face with challenges and victories.
Author Photo by Irina Kolomijets
PS. If you read my newsletter, you know the story of how I ended up at the ER and hospitalized two weeks ago. This poem is a response to my suggestion of writing a love letter to yourself. And of course, you know all women are queens. 🙂
If you’re not a subscriber I ask, when was the last time you treated yourself with compassion? Go write yourself a love letter! ♥
To state the obvious, It’s April! A month to celebrate poetry and its role in our society. What better way than to highlight its benefits? Some of those benefits are poetry’s ability to provide a means of expression, inspire empathy and understanding, offer comfort and solace, to name just a few.
Poetry and Community
Another benefit is poetry’s ability to foster a sense of belonging. In a world where many people feel isolated and disconnected, poetry can serve as a powerful tool to bring people together. Because poetry is a great outlet for our emotions and communicating our vulnerabilities. Hence, it can help us connect and strengthen relations with others. It can create a sense of community.
When I speak of poetry’s ability to foster a sense of belonging, I speak from my experience. As anyone with two homes can attest, there’s always an element of in-betweeness. The feeling of being neither here nor there, and being outside of culture. Oh yes, dual nationality can create issues around social and cultural identity! Poetry serves as my anchor when I feel like an unfastened boat in deep waters.
Spectators at a Poetry Festival
Can any other art form provide the same benefit? Certainly. In fact, communities are formed based on all kinds of commonalities that have nothing to do with art.
But I’m focusing on poetry as this unique but universal invisible thread that can help us connect with one another. We can find ourselves in some wonderful and empathetic communities, where we feel seen, heard, and supported. Mind you, I said communities not poetry communities!
Poetry and the Public
That’s why I don’t understand people who treat poetry like a yacht club. When poetry’s origin dates back to oral history. When poetry was passed through oral stories, song and performance within communities and in public spaces. And where subjectivity of a few did not dictate a poem’s popularity, but the public, the fans.
The many levels of gatekeeping, cliques and snobbery within the poetry community / communities is a topic for another day. But I’d like to know, when did poets start writing for other poets, instead of the public? When poetry goes way back before people could write? It’s no wonder poetry is deemed not of service to the public.
Well, dear reader, if you do anything this month, make some time for poetry. To feel the sense of openness and interconnectedness. Remember, it doesn’t have to come in a fancy wrapping, but speak to your heart.
The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper” ~ W.B. Yeats
This time last year, I had no idea what I wanted to plant. It’s so clear when looking back at this post, Sweet is Spring, I wrote then about spring’s arrival. This year, though, I know exactly what I want to cultivate; beauty. I just don’t have enough energy yet for sowing. But what better time than now to start preparing the soil!
What kind of beauty I’m after?
I’m a big champion for pure beauty and art for art’s sake. The aesthetic value of literature, dance, visual art and so on, which is subjective by the way. But what I’m interested in exploring further is the magic found in the mundane. Beauty that goes beyond the visual, and beyond the surface, to reveal something deeper.
Why pursue everyday beauty, of all things?
The word “everyday” sounds so pedestrian, doesn’t it! But as the wise say, beauty is the beginning of everything. Think about the beauty of the clean air we breathe, water and food to nourish our bodies, warm embraces of the sun, shelter against harsh weather, to just name a few. Now, think of a world with none of these! How beautiful is it?
A huge part of our daily lives is mundane. We can’t always go on excursions to experience beauty that makes us feel like part of something bigger than ourselves. Yet, we can find magic from human interactions, cherishing memories, celebrating little things and so on. In fact, embracing everyday beauty can sometimes fill us with a sense of awe. Think about random acts of kindness from strangers or to honour a loved one!
An imperfect favourite throwback photo of my deceased friend and me…
In August 2021, I started Project Finding Beauty. I didn’t know how sustaining this seemingly frivolous act of finding everyday beauty would become. Challenges didn’t go away. In fact, they multiplied. But appreciating even the smallest things in life helped shift my mindset.
Writing in collaboration
That’s why (after much deliberation) I’m putting more effort into finding beauty. And this time, I’m writing in collaboration with a friend; an exciting endeavour. 🙂 Since my friend and I engage in a lot of email exchange, we thought why not encourage each other to continue searching for everyday magic.
Writing Desk (not mine)
An epistle is a letter in a form of prose or poetry to a particular person or group. And it’s exactly the form we plan to explore. I will occasionally share some of my epistles here on the blog, as I did with On Rekindling a Sense of Awe. But a newsletter will be a container for most, and sometimes responses from my friend, who is on an indefinite blogging hiatus.
Why the epistle or epistolary form?
“The epistolary form was (and is) so kind to a poet who needs to talk.” ~ CM Burroughs
I want to clarify that, for me, seeking beauty is not about disregarding or being indifferent to reality. It’s also not about shying away from tough conversations, as you’ll notice. But about having honest conversations about things that make us human, seeing beauty in everything. Or if we can’t, at least, accept things we cannot control. I’m also reclaiming the joy of my childhood, letter writing, in keeping with my one word vision, play, for 2023.
The Newsletter
Newsletter Header Image
My greatest hope with this newsletter is to encourage an appreciation of everyday beauty, genuine conversations about things that make us human, and the nurturing of relationships. You’d like this kind of encouragement or to just follow along? Sign up for Project Finding Beauty: Epistles to a Friend!
I know your inbox is sacred, and that’s why you’ll hear from me fortnightly. When you sign up, you can claim a FREE downloadable resource with prompts to feed your senses, between letters. Hope to see you inside.
