Poetry Thursday: Daily by Naomi Shihab Nye

These shriveled seeds we plant,
corn kernel, dried bean,
poke into loosened soil,
cover over with measured fingertips

These T-shirts we fold into
perfect white squares

These tortillas we slice and fry to crisp strips
This rich egg scrambled in a gray clay bowl

This bed whose covers I straighten
smoothing edges till blue quilt fits brown blanket
and nothing hangs out

This envelope I address
so the name balances like a cloud
in the center of sky

This page I type and retype
This table I dust till the scarred wood shines
This bundle of clothes I wash and hang and wash again
like flags we share, a country so close
no one needs to name it

The days are nouns: touch them
The hands are churches that worship the world

~Naomi Shihab Nye

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(Photo pulse, originally uploaded by amma_maw.)

Comments

[Regina Clare Jane]

This was beautiful, Carla. I am sorry you are going through such a heavy time right now- many blessings for you...

[Kimberley McGill]

This poem, with its beautiful everyday images, will stay with me - sometimes we forget the vulnerability and beauty of our everyday.

I'm new to PT - but I wish you well as you face your struggles.

[Kimberley McGill]

I overlooked saying something about the photo: it will stay with me as well. It evokes the same kind of beauty and vulnerability.

[Crafty Green poet]

This is a beautiful meditative poem from a poet new to me. Thanks for sharing and sorry you're going through a bad time...

[Jennifer]

Dear Carla,
you bring hope and peace with your lovely meditative blog. Glad you are listening to your heart's wisdom about the retreat with Lisa.

I still think of Taos with wonder.
Thanks for the Hafiz poem, and for linking to Poetry Thursday.
best,
jenn

[Michael Brewer]

I had the pleasure of meeting Naomi Shihab Nye last week at the Airport in St. Louis, Missouri. We had a wonderful conversation later when I drove Naomi Nye to her speaking engagement in Columbia, Missouri. I was so impressed with her that I have now purchased several of her books to read. She is a lovely women with such wonderful ideas and so full of life. I would encourage anyone to read her words of love, peace, and hope for all of God's children.