The Perfect Mindful Poem

I was trying to find the “perfect mindful poem” for today. I looked through the works of Rumi, who I learned is well renowned, though I know little else. I was looking through a poetry website called the Poetry Foundation, hoping to find something that spoke to me, made me feel inspired or full of awe at the world around me. I spent at least an hour or so over the course of the day doing this.

I write this now after realizing the idea is really to be mindful of my experience seeking a “perfect” poem. What do I think a perfect poem is?

I notice my thoughts changing about what poetry even is. I realize it’s been so long since I read a poem, that the structure and content are unexpected and unfamiliar. I’m remembering the struggle to read through a poem, in it’s non-intuitive structure and wording. I think back to childhood, when I was slow to learn to read, and I wonder if others have an easier time reading poetry. I notice I expect myself to feel more about each poem. I notice myself giving up easily, part way through reading a poem….

The experience above is mindfulness. Just noticing what there is.

 

Of course, after writing most of this post, I found the image I posted above with a quote by Rumi — I found something profound after all.

And here is a poem for you. What do you notice as you read it?:

“I want to see you.

Know your voice.

Recognize you when you

first come ’round the corner.

Sense your scent when I come

into a room you’ve just left.

Know the lift of your heel,

the glide of your foot.

Become familiar with the way

you purse your lips

then let them part,

just the slightest bit,

when I lean in to your space

and kiss you.

I want to know the joy

of how you whisper

‘more.’”

— Rumi (link)

image credit