I. Discovered online after Paris attacks November 2015
later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered
where does it hurt?
it answered
everywhere
everywhere
everywhere
—Warsan Shire
II. In response: posted August 2016
Heart breaking, I wondered, what can I do?
And the answer came
Love deeper, love more
Consciously
Focused
Committed
Love wherever you are.
—Dale Midgette Smith
III. A Year Later: August 2017
Watch the moon, watch the clouds, always with love
Love more
Have a voice, speak out loud, always with love
Love more
Meditate with music, pray with storms, always with love
Love more
Show up, be, always with love
Love more
Love more, love more, love more…
—Dale Midgette Smith
IV. After Charlottesville: August 2017
“I really felt as though every step you take could be your last. With each step, I just kept holding on to the call to love.” *
—Lisa Sharon Harper, Evangelical author/activist, protesting with clergy in Charlottesville August 12, 2017
V.
Practice
Hold on to the call to love
Practice
Return to love
Practice
Love more love more love more
—Dale Midgette Smith
*(italics mine)
Heidi
Returning love! I opened my day with a cup of tea, your words, and Enya’s song. Gazing out my window, I see the sandhill cranes who have taken residence in my yard since the storm. First just one, then two, adding one every day to their flock. Their slow, elegant grace is peaceful and their family bonds warm my heart. Love returning.
Thank you for poetry, Dale.
Dale Midgette Smith
Lovely image that you shared, Heidi. I could feel it with you. Thank you for linking my post with your morning.
MK Shaw
Today I hit my fraying point, yelling at my sweetie instead of speaking in love. Letting nerves and stress and being cooped up in the house for 6 days with Irma have its way with me. Thank you for this reminder that love is always the way, the answer, the salve, the solution.
Dale Midgette Smith
Oh, Mary, I am humbled that what I wrote could remind you of this that you know. Thank you.