I have been going through quite a few boxes of mine lately that are a mishmash of old journal entries, poems, and other memorabilia. While searching through one of my boxes, I found the following poem that I must have written more than a decade ago. I used to never date or title my poetry until recently. My poetry has always just been an expression of my thoughts and feelings and I rarely would go back and work on them. I found this poem particularly interesting because I still spend a lot of time in thought about life and my purpose here on earth. If you are a person, like myself, who sometimes gets overwhelmed thinking about life and your existence, I recommend listening to the Indigo Girls, specifically the song: Closer to Fine. The song always makes me feel better as it stresses not to take life too seriously. I hope you enjoy the poem below! I am going to kick back, relax, and listen to some of the earlier songs of the Indigo Girls. I listened to them a lot during my college years in the 90’s. So much has changed, and yet, a lot has remained the same too. I hope your journey through this lifetime (and the next and next, if that is your belief), is one of wholeness and peace!
Mother Earth’s Nest
Sometimes, you are better off without yourself.
You leave this world to become someone else.
Through the birth tunnel, a light burning so bright,
A piercing cry, your eyes closed so tight.
Everything fades, a tabula rasa once again.
A journey of discovery, new life begins.
A forgotten self, except for the occasional déjà vu
A sneak peak of your old self, leaving you pleasantly confused.
You become grounded for a time, until aging appears,
With hesitation, you reluctantly welcome the fear.
Questions flood your mind, leaving you awake at night.
You float freely detached, mesmerized by the light.
The moment you leave, you quickly snap back.
You’re not ready just yet, you have to pack!
Things must be neatly secured in their place,
But, that’s just a mirage, we’re all displaced.
And thus, take flight my friend, the journey needs no words
Leap from the nest, be like the bird.
Each time around, will build upon the rest,
Keeping us safe in Mother Earth’s nest.
Amy Taylor (updated 2/10/2020)
