The poet, Danusha Lameris, has kindly given me permission to share her poem which asks us to remember the ‘Small Kindnesses.’ In today’s harsh world, these are so very important to recognise.
”Small Kindnesses”by Danusha Lameris
I’ve been thinking about the way, when you walkdown a crowded aisle, people pull in their legsto let you by. Or how strangers still say “bless you”when someone sneezes, a leftoverfrom the Bubonic plague. “Don’t die,” we are saying.And sometimes, when you spill lemonsfrom your grocery bag, someone else will help youpick them up. Mostly, we don’t want to harm each other.We want to be handed our cup of coffee hot,and to say thank you to the person handing it. To smileat them and for them to smile back. For the waitressto call us honey when she sets down the bowl of clam chowder,and for the driver in the red pick-up truck to let us pass.We have so little of each other, now. So farfrom tribe and fire. Only these brief moments of exchange.What if they are the true dwelling of the holy, thesefleeting temples we make together when we say, “Here,have my seat,” “Go ahead—you first,” “I like your hat.”
I’ve been up to the Eco Park this evening for a very lovely Samhain celebration where we all remembered our ancestors and friends who are no longer with us and we lit candles in their names as we sat around the fire. I loved the bits of decoration around the atrium.
nrhatch
November 1, 2023 at 12:10 pm
Kindness echoes!
Enjoyed the poem and the Samhain greetings.
Happy All Souls Day!
mybeautfulthings
November 3, 2023 at 7:43 am
Kindness above all, it matters and it makes people feel better. 😊
ladysighs
November 1, 2023 at 10:37 am
A great poem and reminder that it is the simple acts of kindness that we remember others doing but often forget to do ourselves. Maybe we are embarrassed. Maybe we need to practice. 🙂
I was doing grocery shopping last week and bumped into someone (the aisles are so narrow). She thought she bumped into me and we ended up apologizing and laughing.
It didn’t make the $$ for the groceries any better, but we both had a happy feeling. 🙂
mybeautfulthings
November 3, 2023 at 7:45 am
That’s a good story. Kindness matters so much and we don’t know what is going on in people’s lives. 😊
Awakening Wonders
November 1, 2023 at 9:28 am
Now that is one very special poem – thanks for sharing with me!
mybeautfulthings
November 3, 2023 at 7:46 am
Really glad you liked it. As soon as I read it, I had to ask permission and was so happy I was allowed to share it. 😊
beth
October 31, 2023 at 9:41 pm
I absolutely love this poem
mybeautfulthings
November 1, 2023 at 7:39 am
Me too and I was so delighted when the poet replied to my request! I knew my reader would love it – and you do! 😊
mybeautfulthings
November 3, 2023 at 7:46 am
Knew you would! Glad you do! 😊