There Is
A Calmness
There is
a calmness in loving, being loved,
a
peaceful quiet, coming within
this long
continuous journey...
...appreciation,
admiration.
There is
a gentle flow in loving, being loved,
like a
contented stream that knows where it has come from
and has a
notion of where it is being led....
...comprehension,
gratefulness.
There is
a colourful fragrant bunch of flowers
coming
amidst the enjoyment of days, weeks, months, years
spent
together loving, being loved.....
...a sensitive
treasuring.
Joseph Brackett, Jr. was an elder with The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing (commonly known as the Shakers). In 1848 he wrote the dance song "Simple Gifts," which has become one of the best-known songs around the world but was largely unknown outside the Shaker community until Aaron Copland incorporated it into his score for Martha Graham's ballet "Appalachian Spring" in 1944. It is hard not to read Heather's meditation without being reminded of this:
ReplyDelete'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come 'round right