Memorize a piece of poetry everyday

The more I take into myself, the greater my love for you.
The more I deny myself, the poorer I would be for you, my darling.

Anais Nin [from the Henry & June diaries]

These two sentences suddenly made clear to me why we have to take care of ourselves first; if we deny, deny, deny ourselves then there’s nothing to give to anyone else. But when we are full of joy that comes from fulfilling our longings, then there is plenty to give to others. I always knew this concept, but it was reading these two lines that helped me to understand it.

I flow through human beings.
Love is my only companion.

Rumi

if i can’t do
what i want to do
then i my job is to not
do what i don’t want
to do

it’s not the same thing
but it’s the best i can
do

Nikki Giovanni

I love the dark hours of my being.
My mind deepens into them.
There I can find, as in old letters,
the days of my life, already lived,
and held like a legend, and understood.

Rilke

you say i’m as cold
as ice
but ice is good
for a burn
if you were a woman
you would have known that
and rubbed me
the right way
to let me
cool your passion

Nikki Giovanni

when god decided to invent
everything he took one
breathe bigger than a circustent
and everything began

when man determined to destroy
himself he picked the was
of shall and finding only why
smashed it into because

e.e. cummings

A night full of talking that hurts,
all my worst held back secrets: everything
has to do with loving and not loving.

This night will pass.
Then we have work to do.

Rumi

Midnight, but your forehead
shines with dawn. You dance as
you come to me and curl by curl
undo the dark. Let jealousy end.

Rumi

When you hear dirty story,
wash your ears.

When you see dirty stuff,
wash your eyes.

When you get bad thoughts,
wash your mind.

and
Keep your feet muddy.

Nanao Sakaki

Hold on to your particular pain.
That too can take you to God.

Rumi