pronounnot anything; no single thingsomething of no importance or concern
no amount; zero.
My little deck of cards has no N word, I thought about doing Now but Eckhart Tolle has the 'Power of Now' nicely covered, he uses a cat and mouse analogy to capture thoughts when you're trying to think nothing that I use often. I thought about nurture but nothing new was coming my way.
I asked for suggestions on facebook and within seconds my sister answered Nothing. She's such a comedian, and it was perfect, what could be better than nothing to represent nothing.
Of course, by chance, as luck would have it, I just happened to have a poem called Think Nothing. So here it is, an edited version of a poem that a my dear friend Jo-la and I once wrote together, just passing time.
Of course, by chance, as luck would have it, I just happened to have a poem called Think Nothing. So here it is, an edited version of a poem that a my dear friend Jo-la and I once wrote together, just passing time.
and we try to keep warm.
We argue and possess
and we continue to fall.
My heart needs to breathe
my mind get set free.
So I gather my questions
to seek an old talking tree.
I sit and think... nothing.
Then breathe a sigh of relief,
I get all of my answers
just from one leaf.
I hug and I kiss
and give thanks to the tree,
Then he whispers the answers
Are all inside me.
Jo-la is also an artist by nature and introduced me to mandala's, hers are great. I just looked at some of mine and they are better than I remembered, but still nothing compared to hers and the other's I've seen. Do you feel like passing time in a colourful way? Here's a link for some mandala outlines, just print and start colouring, or draw your own. Kids love them, which is one of the reasons they are good for you, too. Have you ever written a poem with a friend? It might not be a masterpiece but it's something from nothing and 'nothing is endless' you know.
***
Sometimes I wish I could just think nothing! Thanks for sharing this poem!
ReplyDeleteIt takes some conscious thought to think nothing, but it's easier than you think,
DeleteClearing the mind and thinking nothing is a splendid challenge, and increasingly rough in these overstimulated times! Good post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherilee, It's so true, I am looking at the screens I still have open from yesterday and your marriage post is up the top, I guess I would have had a better time coming up with a comment if I had have thought nothing first :)
DeleteStopping by from the #atozchallenge !
ReplyDelete@JLenniDorner
Caught your "N" on the facebook post.
Similar to dream catchers.
Love the poem, and the Mandala :-) My post was No-thingness.... slightly different take on nothing xx
ReplyDeleteHow many have we done the same now? I can't wait to hop over and read yours now, I love the idea of nothing being empty and heavy at the same time - and the different feelings it invokes :)
DeleteZoe that's incredible, I did some mandala workshops with another friend once, and the teacher was a talented artist, each mandala was a journey, and the really interesting thing was at the end she 'read' your mandala, it seems every brush stroke symbolises something.
ReplyDeleteMust be nirvana to have such a moment.
ReplyDeletefrom nothing to nothing - nirvana :)
Deleteas do colors and shapes as well as if something mimicks a particular symbol or structure (eg a number)...very cool stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt really is - and I just noticed my danish word for the day over on the left is Maleri, which means painting. If I lived anywhere near you I would love to do one of your group mandala's
ReplyDeleteThis was just beautiful. And sometimes we just need to think about nothing in order to answer our own questions. Nothing can calm the tempest in the head we call fear! :D
ReplyDeleteI've never written a poem with a friend, though I did have a friend who introduced me to writing them and we shared them between us in high school (looking back, those poems were horrendous! filled with teen angst! LOL)
<3
Jamie
Thank you LadyJai, sometimes nothing is everything. Also I'm sure your old poems aren't as horrendous as you think, and there are plenty teenagers still writing the same sort of poems, probably always will be... :)
DeleteIm glad you like it, your blog is beautiful. It's funny you say Zen because I nearly changed the word breathed to zen'ed once :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with the tree...the answers are all inside us. Nice post, very interesting life.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful collaboration. In one of my poetry classes we had an assignment where we each found a space that we were drawn to where we were to sit and meditate until a poem came to us. After that exercise we got back together, were put in groups and created a poetry video collaboration. It was a lovely exercise.
ReplyDeleteThanks for becoming a follower: brandysbustlings.blogspot.ca
I wish I had stories to tell from poetry or writing classes, maybe one day. It sounds like a great exercise. I love that moment when a story or poem starts to form, and before you know it you have something to work with.
DeleteIda,
ReplyDeleteFor being on the subject of "nothing," this post was very full of somethings. I love the mandala. I have had a little exposure to mandalas, but I'm ready to color another one. I love the poem. Very peaceful. Namaste.
SiouxsiesMusings
The ones on the link I posted are a great start. I have given a few to clients over the years and I'm always really surprised by how much they seem to gain from doing something so simple. In this techno age it's so easy to not take time to be creative. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, they mean a lot to me. Namaste *holds hands together, nods head and smiles* - p.s I loved your story about your first yoga session, very funny.
DeleteBeautiful piece of writing. It's true that we have to draw to nothingness in order to gain something.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you took the time to read my post too. The poem is amateur at best but, the memory particularly, makes me smile. I hope the thoughts I have been a catalyst for are at least balanced, or at best pleasant.
ReplyDeleteWise words! Thanks for sharing this dreamy poem Ida. ^_^
ReplyDeleteFabulous poem Ida. It is perfect! I also like mandalas.
ReplyDeleteI learned from your fabulous post on Never giving up that it must be perfect because it's finally finished :)
DeleteI like your nothing post better than my nothing post. LOL
ReplyDelete~Sha'
http://stfu4abetterrelationship.wordpress.com/
There are so many creative ways of looking at "nothing"--the A to Z Challenge seems to be bringing out the best of them!
ReplyDeleteGreat poem.
A very creative poem, Ida!
ReplyDeleteThat mandala has me a bit dizzy looking at it....
like the whirling dervishes dizzy? I think kids like getting dizzy because it alters their perception :)
DeleteMaybe we could figure out a way to do one via a drawing program?
ReplyDeleteEvery drawing program I have ever tried to use, produces something that 3 year old would do better... I am a shocking drawer, nevertheless I think it's a great idea, and would give it a try.
ReplyDeleteLoved the poem and interesting info on mandalas. Must check out the link. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Ida - how wonderful you could write a poem with a friend and have a sister who is a comedienne - who can think of 'nothing' .. love the thoughts you put out here ..
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary