Feeling dial!

May6

Why do I always feel so much?
Why can’t I be numb once in a while?
Why can’t I shut down my heart?
To the pain and sorrow that’s around?

Not feeling is not the answer
Feeling numb does not make sense!
But feeling less may be OK
I think I need a feelings dial!

But a machine I am not
A dial I don’t have on me now!
I am who I am, and
I have to accept it, like it or not!

I must accept who I am
Accept the strengths and the flaws
This world is not made
For perfect people
But for those who will strive

Strive to be better
Strive to serve
Strive to learn
And not give up
In the face of calamity
In the throws of pain
When the going gets tough
When the walls come up!

So I’ll bear the burden
Of this earthly life
With its tears of sorrow
It’s laughter and fun
I’ll feel what I’ll feel
I’ll accept it all
Don’t have much choice
So said a friend of mine!

Lida Berghuis
August 23rd, 2007

The rose

May5

She is a rose
A red rose!
She is fragrant
And fragile
She is sophisticated
She is fine!

Seeing her cheers me up!
Her smile, her warmth, her generous heart!
She is a beautiful red rose
Delicate, yet bold and sublime!

But be careful
She has thorns
To protect herself
From danger and harm
You need to hold her just so
You need to be gentle and kind

And if you do
She brightens your world
My friend, Lupita, the red rose!

Lida Berghuis
May 4th, 2010

Beauty

May4

Wondrous beauty
Glorious perfection
“The soul of man
Is the sun by which his body
Is illumined!”*

Beauty is not skin deep
After all
Beauty is the reflection of the soul
In our eyes!

When I look at a beautiful collage
A beautiful face
Or a beautiful design
What I see is the soul of the artist
The sunshine of her thoughts

When I admire a work of art
A delicious meal
A fancy design
What I enjoy is the beauty
That is manifested
In the work of art

Beauty uplifts
Beauty inspires
Beauty brings joy and delight

Beauty the reflection of the soul
In the work of art

Lida Berghuis
2006

*Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from
the Writings of Baha’u’llah p. 153-155

Connection!

May4

Have you had this experience
Where you meet someone
And you feel comfortable with them at once?

It’s like two pieces of the puzzle that fit
Or the hand that fits in the glove

It’s hard to put your finger on
What makes the connection feel so right

But it’s there and there is no doubt
You feel it again the second time

You feel you can talk for hours
And you feel this is someone you can trust

It’s as if they understand you
And you can tell them what’s on your mind

And when you have talked for a while
You feel happy and light

Now, this does not happen that often
We meet people all the time

But once in a little while
Such a person we come across

Lida Berghuis
November 24th, 2005

Wings of dreams

May3

IMG_4311

On the wings of dreams
I fly away
In the silence of the night
I listen with my heart

The voice of my grandfather beckons me
He is giving gifts to all
When it’’s my turn, he comes to me
And places a few gold coins in my palm
I was expecting only one
But with gold coins
My hands are filled up

Another evening my dad I see
In this magical world of dreams
I have heard he has passed away
And I have just arrived at the scene
Sorry to have missed his last moments
Wishing I had been there with him

But suddenly he opens his eyes
And smiles a radiant smile
He then holds my hands in his
Like he had done so many times
So happy to see him one last time
So happy to be by his side
I know he won’’t be with me for long
From his cage he’’s ready to fly

I ask him to help me
When things get hard
He assures me he’’ll be there for me

On him I can surely count

My dreams, a solace in my life
My dreams, like a second life

Without them my life incomplete
Without them I am half of me!

Lida Berghuis
December 16th, 2009

Second half!

May1

First half
Memories of Mazda
Dabirestane Daneshgah*
Visiting my aunt’s home
In Shiraz
Playing piano
Starting to write

First half
Moving the Canada
Prince of Wales high school
Sept Isles
Meeting Albert
Four years of patience
And of trials

Getting married
One year in Holland
Back to Canada
Two years in Texas
To Ontario

Natalie, Natasha and Nicholas
Sleepless nights
Learning on the job

First steps
First words
First day at pre-school
Kindergarten
Grade one
Time begins to fly

Back to teaching
Back to art
Mesmerized by collage

Awakening to poetry
First shaky steps
And so begins
A second journey
The second half
A rebirth of sorts

Tests and trials
Come my way
Each time
I try to learn
Each time
I hope it’s the last
Not expecting
A relapse!

Sometimes I see
The wisdom
What I thought
Was punishment
Has had its rewards
My senses have woken up
And I have something to write about

Lida Berghuis
April 28th, 2010

*My high school

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The magical throw

Apr29

The softest ‘throw’ I have ever felt
Was passed to me last night
When I was feeling sad and low

My energy was drained
I was feeling down
I was drowning in a sea of sadness and sorrow

I put it on my legs and felt the warmth
I touched its soft wool and felt seduced

What was this most luxurious material I asked
Goat hair from Russia knitted by women
The answer came back!

I felt it again
It caressed my sad heart
There was a magic in this material

Heather told me that this was
Her special throw
Whenever she felt sad or low
She covered herself in its luxurious warmth
And started feeling better at once

Now, I believe in magic
That comes from love
This magical throw
Made me feel warm and strong

I didn’t want to part with it
But I did
I was feeling stronger and it was time
To leave

But I will remember this magical throw
How it touched me and warmed my soul!

Lida Berghuis
February 5th, 2004
After a visit to Hudson!

Healed by poetry

Apr27

Poetry heals
How you say?
The same way music uplifts you!
The same way a piece of art intrigues you!
The same way a song speaks to you!
The same way a story moves you!

Poetry
Is communion with the ‘Divine’
Poetry is sacred
That’s what I’ve been taught

Rumi, Hafiz, Tahirih
Nourish my soul with magical words
Words like diamonds, priceless and pure
Words like rain, wash my pain away

Poetry heals
Poetry guides
Poetry teaches
What needs to be taught

And when I hear a poem I need to hear
It shakes me to my foundation
Truth is revealed
Growth occurs
Someone has touched my soul!

Poetry
The instrument of the Divine
Complex issues
Are laid out

Poetry colours my world with different hues
Poetry guides me and helps me cope
Words have always accompanied me
Now, this is the shape they’re in

Lida Berghuis
April 26th, 2010

Angels on earth

Apr27

Some people radiate a positive energy
I’m happy when they are around
The warmth of their spirit can be felt
They Shine like a brilliant light

There is a twinkle in their eyes
A spring in their step
There is a warmth in their touch
That melts my heart

There is a sweetness in their voice
That can’t be described
There is a tenderness in their heart
That can make me cry

These are the angels that walk the earth
These are the souls that touch my heart

Lida Berghuis
October 3rd, 2006

The thread of words

Apr26

With the thread of words
I sew my heart to yours
Words convey the love
Deep within my soul

We all express love
In different ways
Expression of love through words
Is my way!

By nature shy
And somewhat reserved
Writing is how I express
myself

Writing is easier than
Saying things
But it still requires
Compassion and courage

Lida Berghuis
July 2nd 2004