Welcome to the Collection The 'Words to Sit With' Collection is a home for free-to-share contemporary mindfulness poetry and stories.  | Navigate The poems are all shown below, beginning with the most recent. If you are looking for a particular poem you can go straight to your poem of choice by clicking on the title in the 'Full List' drop-down menu above. Search If you are looking for poems or stories on a particular theme, try typing key words in the search box in the top right-hand corner. Contribute If you would like to see your original poems or stories featured on the site, then feel free to send them in. |  |
The Collection
Together
Our minds and hearts can forget. That there are seasons to all things. This too shall pass. This too shall pass. In the dawn beyond, Like our animal cousins after hibernation, we will emerge with half-opened eyes. And we will see everything again For the first time. The sun will rise, and as We walk out into a new world, Our tired bodies will collectively groan In appreciation of a first, wide stretch! And there will be rejoicing, and loss. And regrets. And love. And grief. And fear. And hope. The tides continue to turn, and The world will weep with us as we dance in the light of each new moon. This too shall pass. This too shall pass. And as the seasons roll on, We will forever hold in our hearts, All that was sacred to us In the time we were so apart, Together. By Peter Morgan Tags: Seasons, impermanence, healing |
This Long Night
Now is the time. The time to let go Of panicking about panicking. To put down that self criticism That you should somehow be better prepared, or more resilient. In this shared messiness That is this human existence, Hold your head up. Be here, Just as you are. You are enough. The doubt, The fear, The panic, The despair, The pain, The exhaustion, The guilt or shame. Lay them a place at the table so that they might be heard. Yet know you are not them, and they not you. Feel your feet. Feel the ground. Feel the ground through your feet. Feel grounded. Let the weight on your shoulders flow down through your feet and be held by the Earth. Take one step at a time. And tread lightly. Through This, long, night. By Peter Morgan Tags: Acceptance, humanity, grounding |
Feeling Frantic in a Peaceful World
All around me is still. But not I. I vibrate, I pulsate. Out of control The more I spiral The worse I feel. I am the storm. The quiet streets Only serve to amplify The indignity Of being Frantic in a peaceful world. I fear my panic might spread! Cast me aside, I am not what the world needs Right now. ~~ A momentary connection To my feet Comes as an unexpected, but welcome, Reminder. A hint to what lies beneath. How can I best meet myself In this tumultuous moment of being? Maybe, I can Embrace this place. It is here. Let me feel it. If I allow my shoulders to drop And let my breath breathe, As best it is able. Perhaps then there is space For my energy to dissipate. My heart palpitating, I glance up, As if my tired eyes Have opened for the first time. Through the window, I see two pigeons, Statue still, Casually surveying the world. Perhaps I too can sit And take in what is around me And my inner rhythm Will synchronise With the sights before my eyes. A sigh. A pause. I see through pigeon eyes. Like a snow-globe, Once shook now still, My inner flurry Drifts down to my feet And settles on the ground. By Peter Morgan Tags: Frantic, peace, grounding |
Social distancing (Haiku)
Hearts beat together Whilst our bodies are apart. We are not alone. By Peter Morgan Tags: Connection, heart |
No longer negotiating
In my worry about the future, about what will happen to him After I am gone. . . I see his face, smiling quietly As he looks at the newspaper. What does it matter What will happen then? This is now, and he is beautiful.
No need for words. In this instant, he is safe, loved.
In my sinking into thoughts I sometimes come up for air Sitting still, watching this breath, my belly gently heaving. Every yesterday gets canned just then. Every care
Blown away. And at that moment, here is life, believing
in that, every other good is served up on a plate.
No need to bargain for my position. No need to curl myself
Into a cocoon, seeking approval, avoiding hate A break from the past. A blessing here and now, a boon. No longer hurrying into a future where I may be late. By Sreela Tags: Impermanence, present, love |
Bluebell Lane
This corner of old England
Dappled in hazy spring sunshine
Old houses with tales to tell
Sagging walls on a pot-bellied shed
Topped with a shag pile moss roof
Gnarled, arthritic twisted trees
Gently swaying, leaves whispering
In a warm undulating breeze
And dancing bumble bees
Dusting the nodding flowers
With yellow pollen knees
Children sitting on the grass
Making daisy chains for Mother
A gift worth more than gold
Made with care, from love
Lost in worlds we once knew
But have misplaced somehow
Perhaps to find again.... one day
If we can find the time to stop By Paul Brown Tags: Nature, being present, simplicity |
The Tree
I Hug Mother Earth
Grounded in Her richness
My Arms reach out to the heavens
Dancing in the wind
I offer my canopy as Sanctuary,
Sheltering and nourishing
I have writhed in the storms,
scarred and aging....
Remaining grounded in Mother Earth
As I stretch toward the heavens,
The tree and I are one....
Claiming our place in the sun. By Susan Nelson Tags: Grounding, stability, equanimity |
When I allow myself to slow down
When I allowed myself to slow down, I noticed my racing heart, my short shallow breath, my tense face and hands.
When I allowed myself to slow down, I noticed the salty taste and the wind on my cheeks, the smell of the sea and the cry of the birds.
When I allowed myself to slow down, I noticed that everything changes
My heart calming down, my breath deepening
My mind at ease in this moment of belonging to what is
When I allow myself to be still, I notice that everything is perfect the way it is. Tags: Allowing, letting be, impermanence |
I Sit and I Feel it
I sit and I feel it
I sit some more whilst it swells
It’s in my heart that’s where it dwells
My gut is bursting full of it
All the while I sit and sit
I sit and I feel it
It wants to rise up in my chest
I wish It would sit down to rest
Now rising up , a tidal wave
My eyes are leaking ‘n’ can’t behave
All the while I sit and sit
I sit and I feel it
I hear my mind say ‘run away’
‘Make it better just go and play’
My thoughts are strong but I remain
To quash this thing would be in vain
All the while I sit and sit
I sit and I feel it
Bit by bit it shrinks back down
Flowing away from my head and crown
It’s fading now I feel it slow
This thing called sadness decides to go
All the while I sit and sit
I sit and I feel it
It ebbs away becoming distant
In its wake there no resistance
I’m stronger now I feel blessed
To sit and feel is always best
And all the while I sit and sit By Angela Tags: Letting be, Tolerance, Equanimity, Impermanence |
Moments of Freedom
And I stop
for a second,
like that moment when I awake
before my mind starts working.
And I stop.
I see
I hear
I smell
I touch
I feel
I am.
And it is just as it is
for a second,
and then
well then I become my thoughts
until I remember again
to stop.
Maybe the sound of the woodpecker,
maybe to sight of the majestic Stag,
maybe the smell of the cold, damp dew,
maybe the feel of the wind on my face,
reminds me to stop.
Reminds me to return to that place,
that place of stillness,
where darkness doesn't exist,
only light.
Where freedom is a possibility
for a split second,
just being,
just being,
just being free,
just being me. By Joanna Kay Tags: Awareness, senses, pause |
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