Attention
where does attention lead you?
attention leads to curiosity curiosity to connection connection to beauty and beauty unfolds the soul attention unfolds my soul— expanding it, expanding me creating a landing space a loom of light where the fibers of being are woven into the cloth of belonging. _written November 8th 2023
I’m cheating a bit in posting the poem above as it was actually the first poem I posted on Substack. But I made a few edits and it continues to be a refrain in my head, so I wanted to share it with you again. Also, this is a busy week with papers and projects due in my grad program, so I’m taking a break from editing more recent work.
I also debated posting what feels like a poem that is seemingly out of touch and silent in regards to all the hate and chaos of the last few weeks. But for me, it is precisely the way we pay attention to the lives and circumstances of our fellow humans that cultivates empathy and a sense of conviction to take action in any way we can. And it is paying attention to the insistent push for life in nature that can sustain us on the journey.
This poem was partly inspired by Naomi Shihab Nye’s brilliant poem Valentine for Earnest Mann. This funny, clever, and insightful poem was a significant guidepost in my journey to becoming a poet. I love the way that Naomi understands that significance and meaning is to be found wherever we are willing to look. And if we find meaning wherever we look with attention, why not write a poem about what we find? Where does attention lead you?
The question about writing poems about attention and beauty during atrocity is so important, maybe because it reveals another kind of terrorism that comes from war and violence. It’s unspeakably worse to be bombed and starved and separated from loved ones, but we can’t discount the loss that comes from feeling like we can only speak of the darkness. When I worked on the border leaving water for folks crossing and giving medical aid, sometimes I’d meet someone literally walking through the desert, motivating each next step by staring at something beautiful way up ahead. Sometimes they’d talk about things I couldn’t even see. I think your poem helps teach/remind people to notice like that maybe?
"a loom of light where the
fibers of being are woven
into the cloth of belonging."
These lines are exquisite! This is such a lovely poem.