Dance of the Soul

Every year around Thanksgiving in my medical practice, the quiet elephants in your rooms march in with their trumpeting trunks held high.  As our emotions hit their heights, some forget, some ignore the lows.  Many, looking around the table, missing once loved ones lost to divorce, death, distance, come down crashing.  Few talk about it but the holidays are the winds that fuel the gentle fire of closeness and love, while blowing out the pilot of hope inside dark souls ridden with depression.  This time of the year, I see more suicide attempts, hospitalizations because of passive aggressive behavior such as discontinuing prescribed medications.  We need to work together in a community to make sure we hold the hands of the fallen.  Here I offer you a hopeful prayer of awakening of all that is best in you.

though your back be bent by unyielding years
though your skin be sagging by daunting days
though your sighs rise lighter than your puffs of praise
though your thoughts too tangled to swim afloat
walk up erect, no regret,  paddle that boat
smile back at the moon, glow through the gloom
wink back at the stars, where blossoms abloom
roar with defiance at your shadow on Mars
‘tis not for your body, your mind, you’re here
you pass through this garden but once, you hear
you’re meant for greatness, I wish you knew
love, love deeply, with amazement anew
one day, you’ll awake to the beat of the marrow
no blood, no rush, no noise, tomorrow
your soul’s whispering the truth, be hollow
listen to Her Words, dance, I’ll follow…