Loss

Loss overwhelms the soul.

A matriarch ageing,

A patriarch gone,

Sanctuary eroding.

How relentless is time.

Tearing at stability.

Can hope be found,

In amongst the rubble?

Change

Knowing enough is enough,

Begins with believing you are enough.

*

When fertile ground becomes barren,

Pastures are spent,

What was full has emptied;

*

Freezing in place is unsound!

Find a peace in movement.

*

Ride out the regret,

Face down the sadness,

Accept that all things change;

*

Turn from victimhood,

Find a hero’s grace.

Sadness

Pervading sadness

Not thrilling but compelling

Way easily lost

Comforting melancholy

Erodes will spends energy

For Ronovans Monday challenge where key words are sad and thrill.

Ruminating

Ruminating

Often it comes

Attempts at self mastery

The Wise can settle

Into the cacophony within

Grasp released

Annihilation ambition put down

In favour of restful awareness

Watching…

Anxiety’s apprehension

Recognising….

Melancholy’s malaise

Realising…

Doubt’s discomfort

Knowing their transience

How they dissolve when left alone

How they grow and morph when probed

Yes I am pondering

Why I secretly covet misery

Fearful of peace

if you have an hour this fine buddhist Teacher is worth it.

Balance

Joy is uplifting,

Melancholy submerges,

Joy is elusive,

Melancholy’s pervasive,

Seeking to tip the balance!

This is my attempt at Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday, as you know, if you read my blog, I definitely enjoy a Haiku, but Tanka is new to me.

Why not have a go yourself? Tanka is a 31 syllable poem that can be one continuous line or, as I have done, 5 lines with a syllable count running 5,7,5,7,7.

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com

Melancholy’s Pit

Tetchiness hiding deep sadness,

Nearly overwhelmed.

Melancholy’s pit came close.

But I saw its approach!

It was tempting to jump in.

Its monochrome space,

Is comforting, safe.

But its bleak views,

and the hard climb out,

Stayed my leap.

_{This week has been a struggle as my mind has been melancholy. I have been gripped before like this and found myself in the ‘pit’, which basically meant putting my existence on pause, which is not as pleasant as it sounds. I have learnt to see the pit approaching and do all I can not to dive in. As it is better, in the long run, to struggle through topside. Than to have to break the miserable thought cycle and muster the energy to climb out. But if you are in the pit right now, I understand and I promise you are not alone.}

This Brené Brown video on empathy vs sympathy is excellent guidance. Not just when handling someone you care about’s sadness, but also in checking how your internal dialogue is treating you.

Chaotic Thought

Chaotic thought,

Buffets my mind.

I fear I’m caught,

In a mental bind.

–

Been here before,

And know what to do.

But motivations sore,

My inspiration flew.

–

Creeping toward,

Melancholy’s trap.

Where my reward,

Is anxiety’s flap.

–

All I can do,

Is patiently wait.

For cheer to brew,

And not be too late!

Mind Storm

Thoughts gust and billow,

The sails of consciousness.

Tearing down equanimity,

Whipping up despondency.

Mind is tossed and turned.

Finding no fine calmness,

No quiet act of divinity;

Can settle and let it be.

Yearning for the solace,

Lost in squall’s madness.

Cyclone’s destructive proclivity,

to disturb a sense of decency.

Then the worst is over, leaving

persistent rains of sadness.

Mind’s cyclone bows to gravity,

& battered, but lucid you see.

It was simply passing weather

The awesome greatness,

Of melancholy’s audacity,

Obsolete to patience’s key

Ragtag Daily Prompt – 2nd April 2021 – Patience

Future’s Beckoning

Future’s beckoning,

Time’s reckoning.

Melancholy threatens,

Peace deadened.

Conquering fear,

Living right here.

Finishing tasks,

Doing what’s asked.

Vanquish despondency,

Averting tragedy.

Becoming complete,

Understated, discrete.