Heart Prayer by Elizabeth Cunningham

[dragonyphoenix]

Heart Prayer by Elizabeth Cunningham

You can only pray what's in your heart

so if your heart is being ripped from your chest
pray the tearing

if your heart is full of bitterness
pray it to the last dreg

if your heart is a river gone wild
pray the torrent

or a lava flow scorching the mountain
pray the fire

pray the scream in your heart
the fanning bellows

pray the rage, the murder
and the mourning

pray your heart into the great quiet hands
that can hold it
like the small bird it is.

Comments

[maramcreates]

I really like the imagery in this, thanks for sharing.

[dragonyphoenix]

Thanks. I like it because it reminds me of tonglen: breathing in negative; breathing out positive.

[maramcreates]

I enjoyed reading the poem aloud, so your tonglen reference does make a lot of sense to me. Also, I like Pema Chödrön, so thanks for sharing her tonglen video :)

Have you heard any of Choying Drolma's singing? There are two songs in particular that I make a point of using when I'm writing compassion focused scenes (and they really make a difference for me). They are: Palden Rangjung (by Choying Drolma and Steve Tibbetts); and Great Compassion Mantra (by Choying Drolma).

[untonuggan]

this is exactly what i needed today. <3 ok if i link from my journal?

[dragonyphoenix]

Good. Feel free to link.