Let's REST
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ― The Use Of Life
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Turtlepond in Central Park in Manhattan, New York City, USA source |
Where do you go to rest from your cares and/or the cares of the world? And how do you do it? I may lie down in the shade of a tree, but not rest at all. Others rest on a crowded beach in full sun, or find rest from work and thinking in play or in an art like yoga or tai chi. Another place of rest is in a poem like Wendell Berry's (below) or other poems and songs that we return to again and again.
Today's prompt is to write a poem about rest. You might want to pay tribute to another writer who provides rest for you. Or write a poem that invites us to rest. Or write a poem that describes a great rest you've had.
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When despair for the world grows in meand I wake in the night at the least soundin fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,I go and lie down where the wood drakerests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.I come into the peace of wild thingswho do not tax their lives with forethoughtof grief. I come into the presence of still water.And I feel above me the day-blind starswaiting with their light. For a timeI rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
(Hear it read by Wendall Berry at this link.)
Here's a Constructive Rest recording that I find useful for getting my body to rest from the tension of moving in the world. It is from a discipline called Alexander Technique. The instructor is Imogen Ragone:
Thank you Susan - I may not be able to comment and read this week but enjoyed the prompt thank you - Jae
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. I will be practicing rest all day today after a very busy day yesterday. LOL. I love the Wendell Berry poem. So lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the prompt Susan. Rest is such a happy space to be in. I also love the Wendell Berry poem.
ReplyDelete