Some hints toward happiness
Open your arms to a dawn
Cast your heart into a night
See what grows
See what follows
Spread a few wild seeds
Wild knows what to do, You observe
Take a breath
Now let go, everything dances on fingertips
Eat some cake
Pleasure is good for you
Butter too, cook some fish
Lick your fingers during meals
Go fishing with your heart
Harvest what is bright
Beauty is inside every shell
Also outside, right to horizon’s bow
Dare to see with generous eyes
Gently stir the soup
Appreciate every bowl you meet
Allow friends beneath what you fear
Be of good heart and understand
Who you will become, is enough
Eat dark like chocolate
Understand matter is a choice of life
When you’re in bed in night and
her breath is just that close beside and
you’re feeling all is lost from you and
no matter what you wish you seem to be
getting less and less of what you thought
was right to you, now instead awake
Awake from what you thought was awake
Remember that very first best desire
why you held her hand (or held his)
You listening, listen now to a rhythm’d heart
that is kin to the pulse of unlabored wind
It has never been about you
It is about what you’re beside
It’s about what love says it is, allow and
Open your arms to a dawn
Cast your heart into a night
Love reaches meaning only outside a box
And heals everything broken, even
what was never broken at all
Eat your vegetables and some fruit
Share a spoon and some soup
Break bread because it’s meant to be
Recognize a hand that speaks in light
Meditate then act
Move in right directions you see
Use fewer periods when you write and
breath, and oh yea,
Dare to write bad poems too
Maybe a friend is looking for you
Neil Reid © March 2010
with thanks to Sean for the idea and being a friend
Sean Fraser’s blog, The Dolls Point Blogger
and posting: Time Always Runs Out
bearly audible 
That is just fantastic…more than that it is a beautiful way to sum up life…good on you Neil
Oh darn! You beat me Sean. I was meaning to surprise you with this one! (But I fell asleep and am running on batteries now, awake in the middle of my night.) But so appropriate that you’re first finding your way here, since this poem is also your gift to me, coming from that lovely post of your own.
Not the first time your postings have given me words!
Thank you Sean!
I needed to read this right now, Neil, thank you.
You’re more than welcome.
listen now to a rhythm’d heart
that is kin to the pulse of unlabored wind.
Love that line. A poem that feels like lyrics to a song maybe Neil. Is life a song sung? I think your title is simply wonderful.
Thanks Irene! Very sweet of you. (those lines allude to a sense of right life that is just a natural flow beneath all we lay on top by thought and plan) (just as a body can best heal malady, so too, knows how to live)
And the title, the idea, I do credit to my friend Sean. How oft such connections have given me seed to what I want to say. Friends are the best wine I think.
Thank you again.
There is so much in this poem that I love…..
“Take a breath
Now let go, everything dances on fingertips”
What a perfect line – how did you ever think it up? I am so envious. 🙂
This is truly a work of art, Neil.
Thanks for the book recommendation – I’m buying it next chance I get.
Best,
Z.
You are very generous Zouxzoux!
And I’ll need every bit of whatever I have, come April’s poem quest. Though more than craft, if I can just be open to feelings, raw and willingly – that will do just fine by me and let the craft take care of itself. That openness of heart is one of the things I so admire about what you write!
A few times reading that book I thought, “what am I doing here, reading this…” (won’t explain) (and your response could easily be something else anyway) But I have found it all comes home, given time and willingness, becomes a beauty worth the seeing and learning, both.
Everything dances on fingertips, Holy Cow! I think I just fell in love!! These are words that affect, and so beautifully!! Thank you!
Gosh oh my! Where is my head? Forgive me please, not acknowledging you sooner for your so very kind response to my poem please.
I take to heart writing as an expression given out (don’t care in the least for what it isn’t – not about fame or praise or publishing). And implied is my desire to acknowledge people who take the time to kindly leave a message for me.
So thank you, most sincerely said!
This is a beautiful poem, so very honest.
Thank you Uma!
Neil,
This poem is absolutely Beautiful! I love everything about it.
Thanks!
Pamela
Thank you Pamela! Most kind of you. (Again I need apologize for having not replied more swiftly than this.)
I do much appreciate your growing companionship with RWP, all your poems and all your attention to the rest of us. Your good care is very visible!
Again, thank you.
Sigh! I love the poem and you! What a sweet friend you are to everyone!!!
Miss u
And it is my refrain I gladly accept to say,
the feeling is mutual my dear friend!