P is for Poetry, Petra and Pottery #atozchallenge

It comes in so many shapes: 

poems, hymns, couplets, songs
birds, roses and dandelions
sips of tea and
whiffs of coffee
poetry is you
and
poetry is me.

When I step outside and see the world
I wonder
how different we'd be
if we all read
more poetry.

Before I get all carried away and dissolve in the flow of my own words, as I usually do, when I pretend to be a poet and write poetry (Ha! Ha! laughs the ego), I'll stop. And explain today's choices for P. There were too many. Some churned out painful memories. So I made my tea, plugged in the charger cable, pushed the on button on the laptop and sat and stared at the blank page on my screen.

My heart's not in it today, I thought. I'll use an old post and add an apology, I thought. Then I spotted him.

*****

Rumi lives on my kitchen table, bound in red, next to my laptop. I pour my cup of tulsi chai, pull out my chair and he opens up. The decision on what's to be read with sips of tea and nibbles of crackers is arbitrary. Somehow, he knows the words I'd need to keep me company. Somehow, he opens to the right lines. Somehow, this happens almost every morning.

THE GUEST HOUSE 

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning is a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

The above comes from

The Essential Rumi

by

Coleman Barks

And if you're a bit out of sorts today

like me

not in mood for poetry

unlike me

then come along and gaze

at some photography

What will it be-

Petra or Phini?

Just click on the link 

on top of the pic

and it'll take you

where you choose to be

your choice:

meet a woman potter

or

be one with human history

PETRA 

PHINI

Que sera, sera

whatever will be, will be...