I had the great pleasure of meeting Naomi and sharing a pitcher of lemonade at her home in San Antonio. The entire time I was reminded that even well-known people are capable of great hospitality and authenticity. Yes, she is a wonderful human being -- the kind that inspires me to be the best version of myself that is possible.
My father died this month...I knew it was coming though still it was a big lose. I didn't go see the last year of his life...I knew he was getting worse and worse. I talked to him on the phone and we got to say our I love you's. He was so much of a strong man to see him grow weak and fragile was so devastating to me....he had diabetes and Alzheimers and those played nasty tricks with him as death approached. I cry a lot because I look like him and in reality, knowing his soul is gone is painful to me but he was so proud of me I know....his passing I know lead him out of pain, but gosh I will miss him, there's not a day that passes that I don't mourn...but all I can say is that I know he will be alright and God hold him until I can get there. I know he's resting easy and this poem is true, you have to lose something precious to know.
This is Nini and Gucci Rubina and Shahid from Lahore. So good to hear your poem kindness It reminds me of you when we met in the 70 s while you were traveling to Pakistan. Shall follow all your poems. Love and best wishes
Thank you Naomi for this testament to love. We read this poem in our community grief rituals- where we touch the thread of all sorrows and experience kindness is the medicine of the times. Thank you Naomi, your kindness is felt in these words.
I am going to read this poem in a contest!!!! I'm so excited because this poem is really super!!! I immediately decided to read this one from 6, but all poems were really great!!!
"Before you know what kindness really is, you must lose things, Feel the future dissolve in a moment, like salt in a weakened broth." This poem could well be our national epitaph as we contend with an Insurrection, that values bigotry and greed more than kindness and our very humanity.
Yesterday my grandfather died of cancer. I didn't go see him when I came to know of his suffering. I did not go see him when he was hospitalised. I did not go see him when he had his first surgery. I did not go see him when he cried he couldn't eat properly. I did not go see him when stopped eating. I did not go when he stopped talking. I did go see him yesterday, for the first time in ten years, when he had stopped breathing. He was lying on his water bed, cold, dead. Why? Why did not I go see him when he was alive? He was a good man. Like good men, he took very good care of his family. Loved them, provided for them. Then why did not I go see him once, even just once, in his plight. Why the wait till death?? I was full of resentment over life. The shame of being gay mainly stopped me. Shame of being gay. Nothing else perhaps. And the resentment from being shamed..... His skin was cold and his back when I helped them lift him into the ice box was sweaty. A tear did not escape my damned eyes. Lifeless I had become in front of my dead grandfather. When someone so close to you dies, you have to mourn. There is nothing else that you can do. But mourn. Here I am mourning his passing away, in her poem. Trying my fucking hardest to lift my soul through the cruelty of my resentment. 😢
Oh dear one, may you exhibit kindness to yourself, the kindness you wish you exhibited for your grandfather. May you know your deep Belovedness from the midst of your sorrow.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Naomi and sharing a pitcher of lemonade at her home in San Antonio.
The entire time I was reminded that even well-known people are capable of great hospitality and authenticity.
Yes, she is a wonderful human being -- the kind that inspires me to be the best version of myself that is possible.
I start every day with this poem. Every day I understand a little more about kindness. Every day I'm a slightly better, kinder person. Thank you!
This is beyond brilliant, and should be attached to the definition of kindness everywhere.
My father died this month...I knew it was coming though still it was a big lose. I didn't go see the last year of his life...I knew he was getting worse and worse. I talked to him on the phone and we got to say our I love you's. He was so much of a strong man to see him grow weak and fragile was so devastating to me....he had diabetes and Alzheimers and those played nasty tricks with him as death approached. I cry a lot because I look like him and in reality, knowing his soul is gone is painful to me but he was so proud of me I know....his passing I know lead him out of pain, but gosh I will miss him, there's not a day that passes that I don't mourn...but all I can say is that I know he will be alright and God hold him until I can get there. I know he's resting easy and this poem is true, you have to lose something precious to know.
This is Nini and Gucci
Rubina and Shahid from Lahore.
So good to hear your poem kindness
It reminds me of you when we met in the 70 s while you were traveling to Pakistan.
Shall follow all your poems.
Love and best wishes
Thank you Naomi for this testament to love. We read this poem in our community grief rituals- where we touch the thread of all sorrows and experience kindness is the medicine of the times. Thank you Naomi, your kindness is felt in these words.
I am going to read this poem in a contest!!!! I'm so excited because this poem is really super!!! I immediately decided to read this one from 6, but all poems were really great!!!
Breathtaking words that lives in the tenderness of the heart. I love this poem. Thank you Naomi Shihab Nye
Debt
S
What a beautiful poem. 🙏💗
😭💚 Thank you Naomi. 🙏🏽
A perfect poem!
Gets me every time
It's so good!
Thank you
so beautiful
I like poems more now!
Sublime.
"Before you know what kindness really is, you must lose things,
Feel the future dissolve in a moment, like salt in a weakened broth."
This poem could well be our national epitaph as we contend with an Insurrection, that values bigotry and greed more than kindness and our very humanity.
Yesterday my grandfather died of cancer. I didn't go see him when I came to know of his suffering. I did not go see him when he was hospitalised. I did not go see him when he had his first surgery. I did not go see him when he cried he couldn't eat properly. I did not go see him when stopped eating. I did not go when he stopped talking. I did go see him yesterday, for the first time in ten years, when he had stopped breathing. He was lying on his water bed, cold, dead. Why? Why did not I go see him when he was alive? He was a good man. Like good men, he took very good care of his family. Loved them, provided for them. Then why did not I go see him once, even just once, in his plight. Why the wait till death?? I was full of resentment over life. The shame of being gay mainly stopped me. Shame of being gay. Nothing else perhaps. And the resentment from being shamed..... His skin was cold and his back when I helped them lift him into the ice box was sweaty. A tear did not escape my damned eyes. Lifeless I had become in front of my dead grandfather. When someone so close to you dies, you have to mourn. There is nothing else that you can do. But mourn. Here I am mourning his passing away, in her poem. Trying my fucking hardest to lift my soul through the cruelty of my resentment. 😢
Don't think about that anymore,you can change nothing
Oh dear one, may you exhibit kindness to yourself, the kindness you wish you exhibited for your grandfather. May you know your deep Belovedness from the midst of your sorrow.
Try to be kind to yourself. Learn to forgive yourself. You were probably very afraid.
Maybe you were not 'supposed' to be there. Maybe your last moment with him was sometime earlier...….the moment you parted paths...…….
Wait. Did he not like you being gay? How it that related to why you didn't go? If you want to try to explain...
👏
"gaze at bread"? My copy reads, "mail letters and purchase bread" ??
Poets often rework poems and have different versions of the same poem 😊
Nice
This.
Behold, 7 dislikes
Hmm
Nice