Normal

When I thought I was looking to be happy, I never thought all I was looking for was normal.

When I reveled at my strength and resilience I never thought it was me devising ways to cope with challenges that not everyone needed to face.

When I learned contentment and acceptance, I never realized it was me consoling myself for not having what I needed.

When I thought it was virtuous not to envy, I didn't understand that it was me losing my capacity for ambition.

When I mastered calm and stoicism, I didn't see I also mastered detachment and resignation.

When I thought I knew how to bend in order not to break, I didn't know I was training to kowtow to fate.

When I thought I knew how to traverse the shadow, I didn't see that there wasn't always darkness , but only that I shut my eyes.

When I thought I was courageous to find my own path, I was refusing to admit that I didn't know the way.

There is value in training
And pressure indeed builds strength
But there is wisdom in the normal
And it is not weakness to rest.

Keats
14 August 2017

Princess

In my arms just two handbreadths long
You've lived only a fortnight
I bring you to sleep with a song
We're alone your mother sleeps tonight

You are a joy, you've made me happy
You are my love and you are with me
They say death plays life before your eyes
But the sight of you brings deep sighs

In this night in this room under the moon
I see you grown in the aisle so soon
Slow down princess stay with me
Let's have have this time to simply be

Take my strength, take my love
You, my gift from above
Learn from me and teach me too
Let me give my life to you

Princess you walk, princess now you talk
Princess you run, my princess soon will be gone
Keep me in your heart, in there let me stay
I shall always remember my pirncess, all my days.

Keats
16 March 2017