Tag Archive | poem

Slowing down

Oct2

Moments of contemplation
So rare in our lives
We run run run
Do, do, do
Try to keep up with
Who knows who or what!

Daydreaming becomes a thing of the past
Concentration and productivity is where it’s at!

But what is the purpose?
What drives us so?
What are we trying to achieve
With our lives?

Even when we meditate
We are not supposed to contemplate
Never understood that
Or the concept of the empty box
That place that most often men go to
So I hear, when they want to get away from it all

It’s good to sometimes just stare out the window
Take in what’s going on
Instead of staring at our phones
Which we even do when we have to stand in line

Serenity has left our lives
It seems to be mostly do or die!

And that’s why I write
To get lost in my thoughts
To take a break from the rat race
And to nourish my soul with moments of stillness
And solitude!

Lida Berghuis
October 2nd, 2013

Me, me, me!

Sep21

The insistent self!
Me, myself and I!
What suits me!
What benefits me!

Me me me!
My my my!
My comfort!
My pleasure!
My fame and fortune!

That’s all good and that’s all well!
But it doesn’t lead to lasting happiness!
Let’s look at the times I’ve been happy
Let’ examine them, let’s see!

Isn’t it when I’ve helped someone else?
Made someone else’s day?
Showed someone else the way?

Isn’t it when I do for others
What I hope others would do for me?
Isn’t it when I treat others
With kindness and generosity?

Why is that?
Because that’s what I’m meant to do!
Who I’m meant to be!
How I’m meant to live!

Sadness comes when I think of myself
My problems, my challenges
Sadness comes when I don’t get my way

The insistent ‘I’ needs to be tamed!
Needs to be controlled!
Needs to be transformed!

‘I’ needs to be replaced with ‘we’
Therein lies felicity
This is the road I choose for me!

Lida Berghuis
September 16th, 2013

Angels on earth

Sep19

Some people radiate 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
Which makes my heart melt

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

These are angles that walk on earth
These are the souls that touch my heart

Hard-headed girl!

Sep14

I don’t wanna!
You can’t make me!
I’ll do it my way!

What is that?
Is that rebelliousness?
Is it being strong willed or hard-headed?
Is it being unreasonable
For no good reason?

Whatever it is
It’s a part of me
It’s been that way
And it will be

It can be seen as
Being independent-minded
Not a follower
But a trendsetter
It can be problematic too
Because sometimes
Following directions is what is needed

But that’s so boring
So predictable
So normal
Much better to be different and stand out!
There is however the risk of
Being wrong
Been there, done that
Many times!

Nevertheless
I still tend not to follow some rules
Don’t like to be told what to do
Don’t want to be like everyone else
And that will sometimes mean
Learning from my mistakes!

I value independence of thought
Trying the way that has not be tried
Doing things that haven’t been done
Going somewhere I’m not sure of

I will follow most rules most times
But not all of them, all the time!

Lida Berghuis
September 14th, 2013

If you wonder why!

Sep6

You wonder why I laugh out loud
Why when I laugh, it’s from the depth of my heart
You wonder if I’m ever sad
You wonder of I ever feel down

I want you to know that I’ve also cried
Sometimes days on end and month after month
Sometimes I’ve cried so much
There were no more tears to cry

I want you to know that I’ve been down
Not once, not twice, but many times

I want you to know I’ve been on the edge of the abyss
Where I stood and wondered why I should not jump
I want you to know that I’ve known sadness, frustration, confusion and more

I laugh now because I know life can be tough
Challenges can assail us from every side
Surprises, pleasant and unpleasant are part of life

I laugh now because I have cried
And persevered long enough
To see the clouds part and the sun shine!

Lida Berghuis
September 6th, 2013

Where do hairpins go?

Sep5

Where do hairpins go?
They seem to disappear into a void!
I think there is a secret place in the house
Where all the things that are seemingly lost
Get together and hang out!

The place is of course unknown to you and me
But it has to exist surely!
Things don’t just disintegrate
At least that’s what science says
So, this secret hideout of all things lost
Must be somewhere in the house!

Hairpins
Pencils
The left earring you lost
The quarter you thought you had
The USB key you can’t find
The numerous socks that leave their partners
Making us wonder what to do
With the one that got left behind
They’re all hiding in this secret place
Grinning form ear to ear
Enjoying the fact that they have made us frustrated
One more time!

Lida Berghuis
Sept. 5th, 2013

Happiness is contentment!

Sep1

imageHappiness is finding reasons to be happy now!
Happiness that depends on some distant goal
Some yet to be achieved milestone
Will fade as soon as the goal is reached
Because we’ll set ourselves another goal!

Happiness is in thinking of all the blessing we have now
All the things that are going right
All the things we may take for granted…
Happiness is in contentment

Goals are good
But happiness should not wait till they are achieved
Let’s give thanks for what we have today
It can be health
It can be family
It can be having coffee on a sunny day!

Happiness is having good friends
Friends who support us in times of trials
Happiness is in viewing trials as gifts
From the heavens above

Happiness is in finding meaning in life
Helping others less fortunate than us
Happiness is contentment

Lida Berghuis
September 1st 2013

Change

Aug29

Ends are beginnings
Beginnings that will end
So, I welcome the ends
As I do the beginnings
Because therein lies serenity

Seasons change
Routines change
Responsibilities change
Opportunities change
The only constant in life
Seems to be change

Don’t mourn the loss of what was
Too long
Look for opportunity
In what’s to come

The state we are in
Is temporary anyway
It won’t be long
Before it changes again!

Lida Berghuis
August 29th, 2013

Why?

Aug23

Nothing to say
No urgent thought
Yet my wish is to write
Why?

I’ve stopped asking that question
Not everything needs a reason
Not everything can be understood
Curiosity is good
But if time after time
The answer eludes me
I let it go

Somethings are not understood by the mind
Somethings need to be accepted by our hearts

Wishing to understand everything
Limits us
My understanding is limited
So, I open my heart!

Lida Berghuis
August 23rd, 2013

In a circle on the grass

Aug16

In a circle on the grass
In the cool evening air
With bird song in the background
We remembered those who are no longer with us
In this physical world

Their spirit not far
Strong the bonds that connect us
Those who had gathered
Thought of them
And prayed for them
I’m sure they heard us
And perhaps
They were even there!

Hearts were touched
Tears filled some eyes
Memories were recalled
As the sun set

And this is how we honored
Those who have moved Beyond
This plane of dust
And entered the world of Tranquility and love!

Lida Berghuis
August 15, 2013