— unpredictable thoughts

poem today : The Art of Disappearing

I was look­ing around for a video for video tues­day. I just couldn’t find some­thing that was right. Life has been so over­whelm­ing lately that I have been look­ing for quiet. Seek­ing the sig­nal through the noise.

Some­times I for­get to lis­ten for the sig­nal and I begin to spin like a top. The clar­ity of my mes­sage becom­ing a blur — until I tum­ble to a stop.

This poem is one that I read dur­ing the times when I search for quiet.

The Art of Dis­ap­pear­ing : Naomi Shi­hab Nye

When they say Don’t I know you?
say no.

When they invite you to the party
remem­ber what par­ties are like
before answer­ing.
Some­one telling you in a loud voice
they once wrote a poem.
Greasy sausage balls on a paper plate.
Then reply.

If they say We should get together
say why?

It’s not that you don’t love them any­more.
You’re try­ing to remem­ber some­thing
too impor­tant to for­get.
Trees. The monastery bell at twi­light.
Tell them you have a new project.
It will never be finished.

When some­one rec­og­nizes you in a gro­cery store
nod briefly and become a cab­bage.
When some­one you haven’t seen in ten years
appears at the door,
don’t start singing him all your new songs.
You will never catch up.

Walk around feel­ing like a leaf.
Know you could tum­ble any sec­ond.
Then decide what to do with your time.