It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love, for your dreams,
for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow,
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain,
mine or your own, without moving to hide it
or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own.
If you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy
fill you to the tips of your fingers
and toes without cautioning us
to be careful, be realistic,
remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty every day,
and if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine,
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the sliver of the full moon, “Yes.”
It doesn’t interest me to know where you live,
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,
weary and bruised to the bone,
and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know
or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself,
and if you truly like the company
you keep in the empty moments.
~~ Oriah Mountain Dream from the book The Invitation ~~
3 comments:
wow .. i must truely think this one over ... powerfulwords
....may inspire powerful truths. i will get back to you as i really feel this pulling at many unopened doors...
AJ: The keys to the unopen doors are in the eyes and mouth, wierd, this one for me has hit the pulse too. Answers too many, questions, too many, conversation (talk) see you soon, if not in person, constantly in my mind, cause that is where the monkey lives.... I think you know, monkey mind!
===================================
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
least of my worries or concerns
It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I look like a fool often
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I admit to both
I want to know if you can sit with pain,
can definitely listen, not fix it, but can listen
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own.
I am always happy for others, sometimes not so comfortable with my own.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another
to be true to yourself. YES
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul. O’ Yeah, way too selfish
If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy. Always hope to be
I want to know if you can see Beauty (I like to think so)
even when it is not pretty every day,
and if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine,
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the sliver of the full moon, “Yes.” But it takes awhile
It doesn’t interest me to know where you live,
or how much money you have. (Gotta carry on, might not want to sometimes, but GOTTA) I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,
weary and bruised to the bone,
and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know (You, but then you are my study partner, partners in crime one might say)
or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, (happens all the time, and yes, I do like my own company, sometimes It helps me know who I am)
and if you truly like the company
you keep in the empty moments.
===================================
I absolutely appreciate this blog.
Love you, Renee
i was looking for something today. i didn't know what. maybe that's why i was looking through your blog...
i found what i was looking for now in this poem.
Post a Comment