A Poem: Togetherness

Khalil Gibran spoke of your friend
as your needs answered,
but that there should be space
in your togetherness,
as trees flourish best
with room to grow.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
spoke of love as longing.
In that without longing
there isn’t love,
and where longing is,
there is love’s presence,
hidden perhaps,
but waiting.

Which brings me back to Khalil
and our needs answered,
sometimes even before we’ve asked.
Without longing
how would I know I need you?
And not think myself sufficient,
forget as Thomas Merton said,
that we are already one
and just imagining we aren’t.

Already one, just steps apart,
longing bridging the gap,
which feels sometimes a chasm
of misunderstandings,
of needs unspoken,
of desires
to be recognised,
understood for who we are.

Our original unity recovered
in that moment we are
seen again,
heard.
As though under a canopy of forest,
trees are reaching out their leaves,
holding hands.

Ana Lisa de Jong
Living Tree Poetry
January 2022

‘We are already one and we imagine we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unit.  Whatever we have to be is what we are.’
~ Thomas Merton

“Longing itself is so beautiful! That is why longing is called Radha. Radha means longing. Shyam means love. Longing and love go together. If there is no longing there can’t be love, and if there is love, there has to be longing.”
~Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

‘Your friend is your needs answered.
 He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
 And he is your board and your fireside.
 For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.’
~ Kahlil Gibran

‘You were born together, and together you
shall be forevermore.
     You shall be together when the white
wings of death scatter your days.
     Ay, you shall be together even in the
silent memory of God.
     But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
     And let the winds of the heavens dance
between you…

    Give your hearts, but not into each
other’s keeping.
     For only the hand of Life can contain
your hearts.
     And stand together yet not too near
together:
     For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
     And the oak tree and the cypress grow
not in each other’s shadow.’
~ Kahlil Gibran

‘You listen with one purpose: to help the person empty their heart.’
~ Thich Nhat Hanh