The Willow Guides My Way

Oct 6, 2013

—

In China,
Kuan Yin (who represents compassion),
is sometimes portrayed holding a willow branch
symbolizing her capacity to bend
in the face of the most fierce storms
and winds of life
without being broken.

I was lost, but now am found,
was fear, but now am love —
from sunrise to compassion,
the willow guides my way.

Sunlit days and starlit nights,
seasons change from green to gold.
Blackbirds perching row on row
await the winter’s chill.

Worrier to warrior,
completeness is my quest.
With each breath out I die,
breathing in, I’m born again.

I was lost, but now I’m found,
was fear, but now I’m love —
from sunrise to compassion,
the willow guides my way.

Comments

13 responses to “The Willow Guides My Way”

Kaudresi

October 24, 2013

You speak to me!

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1. Dennis Cardiff
  
  October 24, 2013
  
  Thank you. I have read your posts. They speak to my soul. I understand your addiction. ~ Dennis
  
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  1. Kaudresi
    
    October 24, 2013
    
    And I understand your pain.
    Sometimes we need to listen to other people and realize that we are not alone in our struggles.
    
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Lunaculi

October 7, 2013

I really am amazed by how you can string together short lines into nice-rhyming (sounding) poetry. You are the first poet I’ve seen employing this style.

To all us be strength to stand through the seasons. ~ Lune

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1. dcardiff
  
  October 8, 2013
  
  Thanks for your kind words, Lune. I enjoyed reading your blog. ~ Dennis
  
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FeatherMoon

October 6, 2013

I believe…
Thank you for this moment ~ Linda

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1. dcardiff
  
  October 10, 2013
  
  Hi Linda, I’m very pleased to share it with you. ~ Dennis
  
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Bob

October 6, 2013

the willow is one of life’s greatest virtues worth relearning again and again…love the metaphor…bob

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1. dcardiff
  
  October 8, 2013
  
  Thanks, Bob. I agree, being able to take a metaphorical step back, to consider all possibilities, before plunging into action, is indeed prudent. ~ Dennis
  
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barbarafranken

October 6, 2013

Such powerful words… thank you… Thankyou too for coming to my blog… IAM going to enjoy following your journey too…. Barbara

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1. dcardiff
  
  October 8, 2013
  
  Hi Barbara thanks for your kind words. Your blog is fantastic. I plan to spend a lot of time there reading your posts and following your links. I was especially impressed with your words:
  
  “We are all individually unique and interconnected… I’d love to create an expanded friendship ring here on wordpress and beyond… sharing each other’s innate wisdom as we journey on…”
  
  What a great idea! ~ Dennis
  
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platinumdonmccoy

October 6, 2013

‘worrier to warrior’…Totally love that line.

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1. dcardiff
  
  October 8, 2013
  
  Thanks for your kind words. I enjoyed your post “‘Ember to Remember.” ~ Dennis
  
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