emerging from the cave

is this a race?

out with the old stress 

in with the new busyness

unless there's another way to be, to experience this one life

our time in the Covid cave taught us  

to treasure the simpler, the slower, the still

shadows on the cave wall reminded us 

of a busyness from life before 

that we’d be better off leaving behind 

now only a few breaths out of the cave 

and we're slaves again to that shadow life we swore we would shed

can you feel your mind racing, chest tight, breath shallow?

Is this suffering necessary?

The body carries an unconscious wisdom

and whispers unpleasant warnings to the body first

how long must we carry on in dis-ease, ignoring the whispers?

let’s take this emergence from cave life as a chance to move past suffering 

for us, for children, our planet 

the busier, the more, the rushing - no one of us is immune to the race

but we might try a deeper exhale, a longer hug, one less email 

for the sake of knowing that stillness we came to treasure

a few words on THIS MOMENT

N A T A L I E