The Poetry of Ordinary Days

Microseason No. 11, March 25-29

Those of us who notice the microseasons live a Poetic Life.

By this, I don’t mean that we live a perfect, charmed life.

I mean that we’re Awake in the fullest sense, because poets are continually open to both beauty and sorrow at the same time. That is the gift that humans have been given since the beginning: each of us can choose to move in a poetic way throughout our days.

When I’m walking in the forest, paying close attention to my five senses, I’m a hunter-gatherer on the lookout for beauty. Sometimes it’s expected— like the young ferns I saw today.

Fiddleheads doing their slow dance with the morning sun.

Other times, I’m walking the exact same trail and am completely awestruck by the rare sight of a newborn Swallowtail butterfly drying its wings before attempting to fly.

I love the little pleats in her brand-new wings.

When you get into the rhythm of seeing the tiny poetic seasons, it will become a creative habit, and you will be living a Poetic Life.

Challenges and sorrows will surely come, but you’ll come to see that even the difficult days are ripe and full of juice. Poet Jane Hirshfield reminds us that “our human task” is precisely this: to acknowledge “the fullness of things.”

Keep open to sorrow and beauty at the same time. Simultaneousness. Everything is poetic. “Keep some sadness and brokenness in your heart,” says Pema Chodran. It’s what keeps your heart tender and human. Pretty soon, you may start to see beauty everywhere, in everything.

See the lichen, an ancient collection of cooperative plants, growing on the old iron gate at the cemetery; notice how the old woody vine persists despite its impossible conditions. Life always finds a way. Even when there is no cure, there can always be caring, healing, and love. Nursing has taught me that lesson many times.

Cemetery and The Poet’s Walk are on the grounds of historic Ayr Mont in Hillsborough, NC.

Please don’t miss your human time on earth.

While you are living, look around and see what else is alive!

I hope you find some poetry in every microseason.