poem: attempted contemplation at the breakfast table

poem + reflection

attempted contemplation at the breakfast table


when I sought for blessed simplicity
and only received endless complications
when I sought for mindful silence
and could only hear a jarring cacophony

when I sought time alone
and only found every room occupied
when I sought for peace
and only seemed inundated with enough troubles
to sink the world

I fled the ragged edge of the storm, looking for God
and found he was waiting for me 
in its center

—ZW

Storm | by Anders Zorn, 1891

God bless the mothers, the gurus, the introverted granddads, the songwriters, the quiet children in large families, the anxious commuters on crowded subway cars, the bookish scholars, and the silly poets who had four children…

the majority of my writing happens at night (like now), and usually when all the family are asleep (like now). probably why my writing can be more meandering than immediate… anyway, I decided to try and write a poem while staying seated at our family table as the morning bustle was at full roar—this was the result.

I can’t help but notice that much of my frustration in life comes from “getting interrupted” whilst being “in the middle of something”. my son wanting to play a game with me should be a warming invitation and should brook no annoyance from me. but when I’m “in the middle of something”, a game feels like more of a bother. (not that it is, but that’s how it can feel)

sure, set boundaries!
work and be happy in your work!
love and enjoy your family!

but as I was writing the poem, I was reminded that “getting interrupted” can often be a hook meant to pull me back towards my real work… and that “the middle of something” is centered right here—not over there… and in this case, it meant simply being a present, loving husband and father…

(and then writing about it…)

============================

this mildly cheeky poem is from the MORNING section of my first book of poetry, Snowmelt to Roots. last week I shared a new song, Joanna (check it out if you missed it). I’m using this space to share songs, creative process & musings, and hopefully some encouragement from time to time. thanks for being here.

peace,

Z