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Friday, April 18, 2014

Meeting the Bar—Self Portraits

1986


I have been my own worst
enemy in life but also
the soul
who saved me.

I have not looked at myself
enough to know,
or care,
what I truly look like.

I am beginning
to look inwardly and so
I see
my eyes for the first time.

I see myself through
the eyes of the pets
I love
and who have loved me.

My pet peeves are these:
dogmatism, jingoism,
racism,
fundamentalism, consumerism.

I love trees, the ocean,
all animals, quite
a few
people, literature, music, silence.

I value authenticity, simplicity,
honesty, dexterity,
equality,
jocundity, virtuosity, equanimity.

I am grateful for sunny
days, rainy nights,
one tiny bud,
a field of flowers, and love.

Love and beauty
always wanted to guide me--
I did not
pay enough attention when young.

Love and beauty
call to me still and now
I listen
to them more and more and more.



Written for MeetingTheBar—Self Portraits, at dVerse Poets Pub, hosted this week by Brian Miller. Brian challenged us to "write a self portrait poem. It can be symbolic, metaphorical, descriptive—you get to choose what you show and what you veil." Not an easy prompt!

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19 comments:

  1. Brian MillerApril 18, 2014 at 3:41 PM

    we are not that much different...i def value many of the same things...and at times have been my own worst enemy...and i listen more and more as well....smiles...nice response lydia

    and happy weekend to you

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  2. kaykualaApril 18, 2014 at 5:10 PM

    It is reflecting on one's own strengths now we are somewhat wiser with years. That is fair! Nicely Lydia!

    Hank

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  3. susanApril 18, 2014 at 6:01 PM

    Very well expressed, Lydia. I too feel very much the same.

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  4. ClaudiaApril 19, 2014 at 4:10 AM

    it's good to listen more and more... we tend to forget ourselves in the daily hustle and bustle of life.. i too love silence.. we don't have enough of it in our loud world..

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  5. Rob-bearApril 19, 2014 at 5:12 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. Rob-bearApril 19, 2014 at 5:12 AM

    A beautiful, yearning poem by a wonderfully self-reflective woman.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    http://bears-noting.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Rosaria WilliamsApril 19, 2014 at 9:22 AM

    Growing is all about opening up to the world around us, to see more, to hear fully, to engage with all our senses and the weight of our history. Love how you dissected and exposed.

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  8. Kathe W.April 19, 2014 at 3:42 PM

    Lydia-
    this is magnificent- one of your best- so true to yourself.

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  9. SGApril 20, 2014 at 8:50 AM

    Great reflections on the self.. I sometimes wonder if it is more tough to look at yourself from the eyes of those who know you, or through your own, but unbiased eyes. So often, we just let ourselves be what others think of us..

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  10. kjApril 20, 2014 at 8:37 PM

    Aw Lydia....A plus

    Meet me for coffee sometime, will you? :-)

    Love
    kj

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  11. AbhraApril 21, 2014 at 2:30 PM

    This is simply beautiful, smiles.

    I have been my own worst
    enemy in life but also
    the soul
    who saved me.

    That's a great beginning. Totally enjoyed your poem.

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  12. FireblossomApril 21, 2014 at 7:29 PM

    I love this. It could all describe me very well, too.

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  13. Midlife RoadtripperApril 23, 2014 at 8:03 PM

    "I have been my own worst
    enemy in life but also
    the soul
    who saved me."

    i loved this line the best. Perhaps because I can appreciate its content. The strength we have in spite of ourselves.

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  14. aspiritofsimplicityApril 25, 2014 at 4:48 AM

    i love this!! I can relate to quite a bit of it as well.

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  15. Folkways Note BookApril 25, 2014 at 3:00 PM

    Your words speak to the heart -- barbara -- FOLKWAYS NOTEBOOK.

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  16. Erin DavisApril 25, 2014 at 3:29 PM

    An insightful self-portrait for someone who has not looked at herself enough to know what she truly looks like.

    I love the "isms" stanza.

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  17. mythopolisMay 2, 2014 at 3:33 PM

    This is a jewel. Thank you, Lydia.

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  18. Someone with a tea cupAugust 10, 2014 at 1:30 PM

    How wonderful this poem is!
    I absolutely love reading your blog, just like old times :)
    I miss you Aunt!

    ReplyDelete
  19. LydiaAugust 10, 2014 at 6:05 PM

    Riyadh, dear~ Thank you for this lovely comment...that reminds me I am way overdue a visit to your special blog! I miss you too and will try to be in closer touch. :)

    ReplyDelete

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