Journal of Sacred Work

Caregivers have superpowers! Radical Loving Care illuminates the divine truth that caregiving is not just a job. It is Sacred Work.

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Too many people fear poetry and, in the process, rob themselves of the joy that comes from letting a special wave of joy flow through their heart. The poem in this meditation is not presented for its high excellence, but for its way of expressing affection. In this case, from husband to wife. When is the last time you assembled words of affection and shaped them into an arrow aimed toward someone you love? Tonight, write love to someone, whether you find the courage to send it to them or not. It doesn’t have to be perfect – simply motivated by affection. Imagine the impact your love can have on another. As David Whyte has said about poetry…

Work is a very serious matter indeed. We freight our work with meaning and identity, and fight hard and long for some kind of purpose in our endeavors. Organizations need to understand the wellsprings of human creativity in order to shape conversations that are invitational to an individual’s greater powers. Good poetry can provide explosive insight, grant needed courage and stir the dormant imagination of individuals and organizations alike.

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Here is a poem I wrote recently for my wife:

Conference in the Clouds

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When the gods gathered that spring for their regular

conference in the clouds, I wonder if some beams

of sunlight shaped themselves into twin arrows

pointing them towards you & me. What

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winds hummed through their airy hands,

tuned their heavenly ears to the harmony

of our hearts, our need for each other?

What comments from their research angels

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advised them of the special fit of you to me? Or

did they meet at midnight in moonlight, sew epaulets

of stars on their shoulders, laugh all night? Was it

the warm drafts of that eve that ordained them with

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the wisdom to know that you and I must be combined

so they could rest easy, rise with us at dawn, smile over

their morning coffee at their genius in creating such an

alchemy of passion, anger, foolishness, joy, love?

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4 responses to “The Poetry of Affection”

  1. Ellen Smith, PT Avatar
    Ellen Smith, PT

    Okay, I admit I’m one of those odd people who actually like poetry and I wish more people would do this. As a caregiver working with people in pain everyday, I find poetry relaxing and your Conference poem is cool. I plan to write a poem to my husband this very night.
    Ellen Smith, PT
    Detroit

    Like

  2. Karen York Avatar
    Karen York

    Truly lovely and heart warming. I will do the same for my husband tonight. Thank you for this reminder to pour affection on those we often take for granted.
    Karen York, VP
    Alive Hospice, Nashville

    Like

  3. Liz Wessel RN, MS SJHS Home Health Avatar
    Liz Wessel RN, MS SJHS Home Health

    I guess this may sound selfish but the person I want to write a love poem to is me. Recently, what has bubbled up from the depths of my psyche is thoughts about love. Much of my own experience of love has felt conditional. As a child and into adulthood I have strived to please others to gain their love. I felt so anxious when I perceived love being withheld because of something I did, or failed to do. I thought, if I achieve, work hard, strive, and do, perhaps then I will be worthy of love.
    Although my intellect thinks this is all a rather simple matter, my gut has a hard time catching up. Some of those doubting angels Erie writes about get in my head. So I gently sit with and accept my feelings. Through divine grace, I have come to experience unconditional love and the sacredness of self. The power of divine love knows no limits, or boundaries, and is unending. As I open myself to receiving unconditional love, I can be truly open to love others. So that is why I need to write a love poem to my own heart. And this, my love poem expands out and flows more freely to my dear ones these days. Thank you God!

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  4. Jane Sirac, R.N. Avatar
    Jane Sirac, R.N.

    I love the comments from each of the women who have responded to this lovely meditation. Wouldn’t it be lovely if a man responded as well. Must it always (or so often) be just we women who are vulnerable enough to see, as did Ms. Wessel, that we must love ourselves before we can love another?
    Jane Sirac, R.N.

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