Poetry Corner: More Kindness

POETRY CORNER

– 11/14/18

Hosted by Kathabela Wilson

What can follow Kindness, but More Kindness. Many of you have said, nothing is more needed, nothing more important, nothing that gives more hope for our world than kindness. In every tragedy, as in every celebration, kindness is the cherished memory, it touches our hearts, improves our lives, nourishes our energy and strength. Poets join hearts here, each to express how kindness has touched them expanded their experience, and shown them the possibilities for making life better for all.

~ Kathabela

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Cat eye by Mike Duffy

John Anthony Fingleton

The Beggar Cat

What do you want, my furry friend?
You are hungry? So am I,
You say you’re also thirsty?
I am also very dry.
Do you have a family?
Ah yes good! Mine have long since gone,
Only the old ones stayed, and now they all are dead,
From those ever falling bombs.
I’ll tell you what, how about we make a deal?
A little for you, and some for me
You think people will stop and stare?
No!
They will only see a thirsty cat,
No one realizes I am here.

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“Smiling face I made for my friend in her garden” by Natalia Kiuznetsova

Natalia Kuznetsova

a few coins
for a beggar’s kind smile …
priceless alms

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“Best vase” in Jinhua Museum by Kathabela Wilson

Pat Davis

a gift of weeds
we choose our best
vase

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First the warmth by Mike Duffy

Paul Hienowski

flickering
through narrowed lids
the light of kindness

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More Kindness By Sigrid Saradunn

Sigrid Saradunn

woodland journey

listening to birds chattering
walking in lush woodlands and meadows

sitting by the side of a stream to rest
the coolness of its water on a towel refreshes me
gift of peace and kindness in nature’s solitude

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Until now by Mike Duffy

Mike Duffy

until now…
that unreachable itch

morning chore
putting food out for the birds

my garden
everyone experiences
kindness and love

vanquished
by acts of kindness-
all the world’s evil

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More Kindness: Quotes and Credits

John Anthony Fingleton says: “I am Irish by birth, but have lived in many places, at present I am in Paraguay. Having seen war first hand, I was inspired by the kindness.”

Natalia Kuznetsova lives in Moscow, Russia. She shares a recent experience: “This afternoon I was walking downtown and came across a homeless person sitting at the street corner with his shabby hat at his side lost in thought . When I put some money into his hat he looked up with a warm smile and said: ‘God bless you, ma’am.’
And it struck me it was not me who was kind but he who bestowed kindness upon me and on the world which most probably treated him badly. And it was what I so desperately needed at that moment – a kind smile. Alms …the other way round.”

Pat Davis, in New Hampshire, USA, says: “Kind people recognize the little blessings in everyday life. It seems they are in love with life!”

Paul Heinowski, in the small city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, shares how he wrote his haiku: “It is about a person who is always very kind to me. She sometimes looks at me with her eyelids narrowed, and it seems to me that her kindness glows intensely through them.”

Sigrid Saradunn, in Maine, USA, recalls a special experience of kindness: “After many years of being unable to walk the Birdsacre Wildlife Sanctuary paths for fear of falling…and fear of walking in circles and not finding my way out despite the kindness of volunteers placing signs showing the way, at a friend’s encouragement we walked the paths and enjoyed all the sounds and beauty. At one point, I sat down at the edge of a stream, and she dipped paper towels in the cool stream and placed them on my head to cool me. An act of kindness ~ a wonderful memory among many of the walk.”

Mike Duffy lives in Seattle, USA, and does much of his photographic work in British Columbia. He says: “I so love acts of human kindness.” Mike’s photos and poems give voice to the natural world and the goodness in human nature.

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♣ We welcome and encourage your response, especially in the form of a short poem, by leaving a comment below.