Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Resilience



Resilience Bootcamp
http://www.theschooloflife.com/london/shop/resilience-one-day-workshop-5/


"The energy expended in pushing down despair is diverted from more creative uses, depleting the resilience and imagination needed for fresh visions and strategies."
~Joanna Macy

"There is no way to re-enchant our lives in a disenchanted culture except by becoming renegades from that culture and planting the seeds for a new one."
~Thomas Moore


"The more we focus on trying to instill grit, the less likely we’ll be to question larger policies and institutions."








Midweek Motif ~
 Resilience


Whether the topic is climate change, endangered species, burnt trees or trauma of human varieties, we hope to discover resilience. More than resistance, "resilience" is growing better and stronger in moving beyond the obstacle. But what if real social change is needed?  

When is individual resilience enough?



Your challenge: In your new poem, define/clarify resilience by example. 


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by Ella Wheeler Wilcox


Laugh, and the world laughs with you; 
Weep, and you weep alone. 
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, 
But has trouble enough of its own. 
Sing, and the hills will answer; 
Sigh, it is lost on the air. 
The echoes bound to a joyful sound, 
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you; 
Grieve, and they turn and go. 
They want full measure of all your pleasure, 
But they do not need your woe. 
Be glad, and your friends are many; 
Be sad, and you lose them all. 
There are none to decline your nectared wine, 
But alone you must drink life's gall.
Feast, and your halls are crowded; 
Fast, and the world goes by. 
Succeed and give, and it helps you live, 
But no man can help you die. 
There is room in the halls of pleasure 
For a long and lordly train, 
But one by one we must all file on 
Through the narrow aisles of pain.


Related Poem Content Details

Audio Player00:00
Out of the night that covers me, 
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be 
      For my unconquerable soul. 

In the fell clutch of circumstance 
      I have not winced nor cried aloud. 
Under the bludgeonings of chance 
      My head is bloody, but unbowed. 

Beyond this place of wrath and tears 
      Looms but the Horror of the shade, 
And yet the menace of the years 
      Finds and shall find me unafraid. 

It matters not how strait the gate, 
      How charged with punishments the scroll, 
I am the master of my fate, 
      I am the captain of my soul. 

Lodged
BY ROBERT FROST

The rain to the wind said,
'You push and I'll pelt.'
They so smote the garden bed
That the flowers actually knelt,
And lay lodged - though not dead.
I know how the flowers felt. 



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Please share your new poem with Mr. Linky below and visit others 
in the spirit of the community.

(Next week Susan's Midweek Motif will be ~ Birthdays )

25 comments:

  1. Love the Frost poem. Thanks for another inspiring prompt Susan.

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  2. Thank you for the midweek inspiration - sorry we have taken the shadow of resilience rather than the light..

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    Replies
    1. That's OK. But gosh, it's always good t see you.

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  3. Did Mr Linky go on the blinky???
    Im glad I had a trip to the art museum to help with this particular prompt.

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  4. Replies
    1. Me too. And yet, I couldn't write a poem as powerful! Thank you for yours.

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  5. Hey everyone,

    Hope you are having an amazing day so far :D sharing my poem "Resilience." Hope you guys like it. Thank you Susan for the wonderful opportunity..!

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  6. I don't think I ever heard that Frost poem but I like it. This week my brother is visiting from Florida so I've been busy and neglecting my bike.

    I combined my writes this week to offer a haiku on the prompt. This prompt brought one thing to mind for me.

    I hope everyone is having a good week! I'll come around to read and see what eveyone comes up with!

    Hugs! Bekkie

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    Replies
    1. I love the enigmas of life, especially when they are positive!

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  7. I love the Frost poem.......I was planning to Go Deep on this prompt, but a light-hearted snippet presented itself as I was hobbling to my desk, and made me smile, so I went with that. Am looking forward to reading everyone's.

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    Replies
    1. Good to see you, Sherry! I love your feature from Monday on Grief and Aging!

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  8. Thanks for this wonderful prompt, Susan. Eager to read all the inspiring poems here :)

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    Replies
    1. And they are inspiring. So good to see you.

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  9. Wonderful prompt, Susan. Cultivating a resilient spirit means feeling the pain and moving through. I realized today that I had something on the inside holding me up....eventually, the emotions exploded against the weight. Thank you. :)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, looking at resilience opens up the lessons it offers, how it is that resilience is possible, and, sometimes, even why. I'm happy to see you, Panchali.

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  10. A timely prompt for me in my life. The ability to overcome obstacles can be challenging.

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  11. Happy Thursday; i do hope every one had a good Wednesday; just posted my response in haiku

    much love...

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  12. Got mine in a little late, but definitely wanted to add to this motif. With some health issues since January, resilience has been on my mind quite a bit.

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  13. Coming very late into the game, but a lovely motif. Hope all well. k.

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