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Sunday, 1 January 2012

Sea Changes and Red Threads

The sea blew away
my identity

without asking -
the sea knew me,

stormed in
without asking -

and I gave in
gratefully.

© Shaista Tayabali, 2012
The sea was at high tide along the Gold Coast of Australia, in the last days of 2011, but we were permitted to let the waves buffet us between two red flags. The salt sea spray scraped away eons of my past life. It is 2012, and I am experiencing a steady bliss, an endless river of joy; the monk David Steindl-Rast describes this joy as 'that kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens'.
I catch myself in moment after moment thinking 'This is it. This is where I have always longed to be.'
Not just reunited with both my brothers, but meeting, at long last, my beloved artist friend Jeanne-ming Brantingham, who fascinated and riveted us with tales of the red threads that connect her to a precious life. I am one of those threads now, and will hold on carefully.
I wish us all a quietly joyful year, but every year seems to peak and trough, so if this is as good as it gets, that is alright by me!


Image of Marilyn Monroe courtesy Magpie Tales
at

7 comments:

  1. A2 January 2012 at 14:14

    'the kind of happiness that doesn't depend on what happens' -- love it :-))))

    ReplyDelete
  2. Marcoantonio Arellano (Nene)2 January 2012 at 23:44

    Hope and wish you find that cove of comfort, that place that has no mundane dimensions but that which provides you contenment.

    Happy New Year to you and everyone you touch here in your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Marcoantonio Arellano (Nene)3 January 2012 at 16:53

    Ooops, that's 'contentment'.

    ReplyDelete
  4. erin6 January 2012 at 12:35

    'that kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens'.

    i can see your happines through both the poem and the photograph. all the best into this new year, shaista.

    xo
    erin

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous6 January 2012 at 22:39

    The peace that passes understanding.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Juniper12 January 2012 at 19:31

    Catching up on your lovely lovely blog. This post is so genuine and full of joy. A wonderful photo and a perfect way to bring in the new year. Peace, serenity and health to you in this year ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Unknown28 January 2016 at 18:32

    Such a gorgeous selection of words! How interesting that the sea can 'know' you.

    EIP

    ReplyDelete