Poetry For Now

COURAGE

November 27, 2020 Martin Strasmore Season 1 Episode 27
Poetry For Now
COURAGE
Show Notes Transcript

Courage has been on my mind as during the last week or so,  this country has seen integrity and moral courage on the part of those state officials responsible for certifying the election results, under political pressure; and with the surging wave of Covid infections across much of the country, health professionals have served selflessly and with courage.  Over 20,000 have died from Covid, worldwide.
COURAGE is derived from the french "coeur" or heart.  These poems look at overcoming fear, where fear comes from;  Moments of personal courage, decisions that each of us might make;  following our heart.
Also TAKE A STEP honors Stan Edelson, a playwright, director, teacher and social activist from Cambridge Mass, whom I knew and worked with briefly in the mid 1970's.  He died in October 2020, 94 years old.

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Episode 27 - MUSINGS ON COURAGE

Courage has been on my mind as during the last week or so this country has seen integrity and moral courage on the part of those state officials responsible for certifying the election results, under political pressure; and with the surging wave of Covid infections across much of the country, health professionals have served selflessly and with courage.  Over 20,000 have died from Covid, worldwide.


MUSE 1

Sometimes courage borders on stupidity

like the time I jumped off Kilimanjaro

as the sun rose over the glacier

wearing a pair of plastic wings.

Just joking.


Sometimes I don’t know

whether to laugh or cry

when people don’t have the moral courage

to speak the truth

that is obvious, 

to even a deaf chimpanzee.


we all have courage

when we follow our deepest wisdom

the wisdom of the Heart.


Sometimes we have to overcome fear.

Our active imagination

conjuring up something bad that will happen

before it has.

As if predicting an outcome

that our ego does not want.

Fear of failure,

Fear of death,

Fear of the unplanned,

Fear of the unexpected.


MOMENTS OF COURAGE

Moments of courage,

following my heart,

came when faced with life changing decisions.


They felt impulsive, because that is the language

an engineer uses,

when it defies logic.

Leaving England to study in Boston,

not knowing I would, never, go back

 to live in London again.


Going to live and study in an Ashram in India,

not knowing,

 I would stay there for 2 years.

Learning how to live 

with purpose and meaning, discipline and joy

beyond what I had imagined existed,

in a human body.


Getting married to my loving wife,

in a lightening flash of knowingness

that we would grow together forever,

sharing our hearts on our path of love.



ADVENTURES

Adventures aren’t exciting

without risk.

Seen by others

they might seem courageous,

In the moment

they are simply

another opportunity to feel 

more alive,

more connected,

more grateful.


Would I risk my life

to save another?

Would I have the courage,

to run into burning building,

to jump into a freezing lake.

For a stranger, I don’t know?


Caring for Covid patients,

courage is not theoretical

it is being demonstrated now.

Thank you for showing courage.


TAKE A STEP

The Caravan theatre,

Cambridge Massachusetts.

Stan and Bobbi

changed my understanding

of life and love,

in ways that flowed

smoothly and subtly.

pushing boundaries 

social and cultural

showing courage

in their work.

Giving us audacious experiences,

new ways to see the world.


Take a step

into relationship

take a step

into commitment

take a step

into respect and love

take a step

through fear

take a step

away from jealousy

take a step

into the unforeseen

take a step

in the present moment

take a step

open your eyes

take a step

into your feelings

take a step

into your heart

take a step 

into the one great heart

Take a step

into gratitude

Take a step

into empathy and caring

Take a big step

into generosity and courage.



Stan just passed away

taking the final step

after 94 years.


I only now

know I missed

your presence, Stan.

Knowing now

you found a special place

in my life,

at the perfect time.



LA COEUR

Feel the heart beat

The heart that is alive

in many, many ways;

is the source of courage,

Our courage, the world’s courage

to never give up in difficult times,

to act; moving through unknowns

to over come fears imagined and unimagined.


Now listen to my heart,

leaving my mind to rest,

letting thoughts be leaves

floating away down the river (down stream).

Hear my true longing,

to courageously support change.

This is the decade change must happen

to save the planet for our children

and their children.