Kindness

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by Naomi Shihab Nye



Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and
purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you every where
like a shadow or a friend.

Comments

  1. Vicki P.March 10, 2009 at 4:55 PM

    Thanks for the beautiful poem.

    ReplyDelete
  2. india flintMarch 10, 2009 at 5:04 PM

    like a shadow, or a friend, or a favourite blanket...
    thank you for that lovely piece of writing

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 10, 2009 at 5:12 PM

    Beautiful.
    I love the images in this poem...and also the interchangeability of lives expressed in stanza two.

    ReplyDelete
  4. RudeeMarch 10, 2009 at 5:19 PM

    Before you know what kindness really is
    you must lose things,
    feel the future dissolve in a moment
    like salt in a weakened broth.

    Simply put, but oh how true. This is beautiful and speaks to me. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  5. StarryMarch 10, 2009 at 6:09 PM

    That is one of the most outstanding things I have ever read, and it touched me deeply, thank you so much for sharing with us.
    xxx Starry

    ReplyDelete
  6. Teresa aka TessMarch 10, 2009 at 6:40 PM

    Wow, such a fitting piece of work for this time we are in. And for me, I felt this deeply. Loved it, thak you for sharing. This may become a new favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMarch 10, 2009 at 7:35 PM

    Beautiful and moving.

    ReplyDelete
  8. JingMarch 10, 2009 at 8:38 PM

    I loved it! beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. C.M. JacksonMarch 10, 2009 at 9:34 PM

    so needed right now..thank you

    ReplyDelete
  10. RudeeMarch 10, 2009 at 10:01 PM

    I know you don't think disabling comments will stop me. What happened in your town is heart wrenching, and perhaps what led you to this post too. My heart goes out to that family, and the community, and to you too. I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart for such a horrible loss.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousMarch 11, 2009 at 12:21 AM

    It's a classic piece of writing. I found it incisively meaningful.

    ReplyDelete
  12. LydiaMarch 11, 2009 at 2:53 AM

    The poet knows sorrow....as does your hometown....and from that sorrow comes the prayer for kindness. I watched the video of the memorial service and I ache for the family and your community.

    ReplyDelete
  13. DarciMarch 11, 2009 at 3:34 AM

    Thank you. I needed to read this right now. It couldn't have come at a more suitable time.

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousMarch 11, 2009 at 4:13 AM

    this is an awesome peace of writing related to kindness.. thank you for sharing it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownMarch 11, 2009 at 5:02 AM

    Very moving and so true.

    ReplyDelete
  16. debraMarch 11, 2009 at 5:53 AM

    This post is so connected to the last one; it is a true comment on life. I am so sorry about the tragedy in your community.

    That which lets us feel the pain also gives us the ability to see the incredible beauty on this planet.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousMarch 11, 2009 at 7:48 AM

    Very good!

    ReplyDelete
  18. wwhhaatt??March 11, 2009 at 11:47 AM

    Kindess is next to cleanliness which is next to my pants draped over that chair.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Di MackeyMarch 11, 2009 at 2:03 PM

    MY Goodness! You find beautiful beautiful poems!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. dsMarch 11, 2009 at 3:46 PM

    Beautiful. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  21. KristaMarch 11, 2009 at 4:27 PM

    I love it! A very moving piece!

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousMarch 11, 2009 at 9:28 PM

    I've heard her read it out loud, and it only gets better. If you ever have the opportunity of hearing her read, I suggest you make the effort.
    She'll make your trip worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  23. akshatJoshiMarch 13, 2009 at 1:29 AM

    it was very enlightening....beautiful work indeed

    ReplyDelete

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Hey, thanks for your thoughts and your time:>)

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