Is this a world of joy or a world of sorrow?
Sorrows for sure!
Because our human condition necessitates it
Without the fire of trials we can’t be purified!
Joy also!
Because too much sorrow would drown us
In its continuous downpour
Joy is a necessity
A respite
A healing balm
An oasis in the desert of life
Sorrows have their purpose though
They will be the bringers of joy
In time, sorrow begets joy, eternal joy!
Lida Berghuis
August 23rd, 2014
My spontaneity
His planning ability
My fiery nature
His cool water ways
My excitement and laughter
His calm and composure
My ability to get lost
His ability to know the way
His wit and charm
My laughter and delight
His vision of the future
My admiration
His ability to grow and transform
My amazement and wonder
His genuine nature
My happiness
My strengths, his strength
Complement each other
My half, his half
Make a whole
My love, his love
Create magic!
The impossible becomes possible
The closed door opens
My suffering, his suffering
Intertwined
His patience
Like none other I have seen
Blessed to have found
His love
Blessed to serve with him!
Lida Berghuis
August 4th, 2014
Busy times…
Trying to keep my cool
Even when there are a hundred things
On my to-do list
I won’t forget that somewhere on the list
Close to the top
Is taking care of myself
And doing something that recharges my batteries
Brings me joy
Centres me!
Sometimes we think if we run faster
We will get farther
But in reality
To go farther, we need to slow down
This slowing down
Reflecting sometimes
Relaxing and recuperating sometimes
Prevents accidents
Prevents injuries
And in the long run
We will cover a greater distance
More happily!
July 22nd, 2014
Fragile,and art is my shield
It saves me in the battles of life
I still get bloodied and bruised
But have the strength to carry on
When the world and its mundane things
Its troubles and toils
Try to bring me down
I seek refuge in art
When the physical world becomes like a cage
Art is the hand that opens the door
My spirit can then roam in the ethereal world
It can be refreshed and renewed
Poetry, music, the beauty of art
Connect my soul to the spiritual world
Where joy abounds
Where it’s peaceful!
A brilliant smile on my face
Only if I felt like that inside
Too hard to share my pain with others
I put on a happy front
Acting happy, feeling sad
Acting like everything is fine
What you see on the surface
Does not reflect what’s inside
Acting happy, feeling sad
Cannot share the turmoil within
Too much to explain
What would I say?
It’s easier just to smile
Acting happy, feeling sad
An actress in my own life
But the script was not written for me
I’m writing it as I go along
Acting happy, feeling sad
Feeling unauthentic and unreal
Tired of putting on a show
There is no joy in this smile!
Lida Berghuis
*This poem was written a while back when I felt down.
It can apply to other situations in which we hide
our true feelings from others.
Play time is necessary for creativity to thrive!
And what’s play time?
Time spent on things we want to do
Rather than things we should do!
Things that bring us pleasure
Make us laugh
Make us relax!
A walk in the park
Reading a good book
Having a cup of coffee with a friend
Some art activity we enjoy
A day at the spa
Or going for a massage
Playing cards
This kind of down-time
Energizing time
Time to nurture our inner child
Time to have fun
Time to do what we want
Is necessary if we want to produce
And be useful and helpful to others
The rest of the time
We need to recharge our batteries
In order to function well
And recharging our batteries involves
Doing activities that bring us joy and delight!
Lida Berghuis
January 9th, 2014
Why is the path to true love
Fraught with dangers, thorny paths, and mountains high?
Why do we have to suffer so much
Even when we find the one we love?
Why is the world of emotion so complicated?
Why cant we design a computer program for love?
Make a spread sheet of pros and cons
A logical way to judge what our heart desires
Why aren’t computers smart enough
To help us with this complicated equation called love?
Why do pain and joy intertwine
In this crazy thing called love?
Why can’t we just live as monks and nuns
That way we wouldnt have to worry about love!
There is a yearning in our hearts
We need love
True love is like water
To the thirsty one
We are drawn to the lucid spring of love
Even as a thirsty one wondering in the desert of life
Once we see the face of the beloved
Its imprinted in our hearts
All the reasoning in the world
Is unable to change our mind
Love does blind us
To the loved ones faults
Others will tell us this or that
But we are not sure what planet they are from!
Our heart longs to be with our loved one
Our heart only sees the beautiful qualities
Of the one we love
We would swim an ocean or desert cross
Without a thought
Without a doubt!
The people who love us try to tell us
To be careful not to drown, not to fall!
Sometimes we listen, sometimes we don’t
Love is blind, after all!
But true love stands the test of time
This love doesnt die because of trials
One can lose battles, but one wins the war
To be united with the loved one
This thing called love
For which blood has been shed time after time
This magical force
Is one we can’t live without
The path never easy
But worth the fight!
Without love
Life would not be worthwhile!
Lida Berghuis
February 2nd 2004
Sitting downstairs
I hear the pitter patter of little feet
Walking around
Pitter patter pitter patter
I must be quick
Pitter patter pitter patter
The morning is here
Pitter patter pitter patter
Lets wake dad up
Pitter patter pitter patter
It’s time to start
Pitter patter pitter patter
He comes down the stairs
Pitter patter pitter patter
Now, I can see his face
A bright little face
With a beautiful smile
That lights up the room
And warms my heart
The pitter patter
Has come to a stop
I ask for a hug
And his arms open wide
He envelopes me
In those little arms
He gives me a kiss
That melts my heart
These are the joys
Of having a child
These are the pleasures
Of being a mom!
Lida Berghuis
Sept. 18th, 2003
I inhale as I experience life
I exhale when I write
I inhale when I read
When I listen to other people
I exhale when I write
Writing, something my well-being depends on
Not writing, something I can’t think of
I inhale sadness, joyfulness, confusion, frustration
I exhale when I write
I inhale as I learn the lessons of life
I exhale when I write
Lida Berghuis
Oct. 16th, 2013
Confusing, because
It is unexpected
unexplainable
Often times unreasonable
And impractical
Joyous, because
It makes you smile
It cheers your heart
It gives meaning to life
Confusing, because
It often does not make sense
It’s complicated
It involves trials
Joyous, because
It brightens your day
Makes you feel wanted
Gives you wings to fly
Confusing joy
Is what love brings
And what welcome confusion
It is!
Lida Berghuis
July 8th, 2013
*quote from Rumi
lida's musings 