Raising a Glass – #Napowrimo 11

When the glass is half empty we look at the lack,
and stack all our issues in nothingness,
wondering why it can’t be three-quarters full.
We focus ourselves on the little that’s left
on the fullness we expected, leaving ourselves
with no way for our cup to spill over.

Remember the glass is refillable.

When the glass is half full we look at the blessings
ignoring the emptyness looming above,
console ourselves with the fact
that we think we might have enough.
This important lesson
just a shift in our thinking, but
whether half empty or half full,
the container remains wanting.

Remember the glass is refillable.

To relieve the pressure
of having too much or not enough,
I raise a glass to you,
and wish for the fullness of life to renew
your sense of satisfaction and I drink again
to the fullness of emptyness dancing.

Remember the glass is refillable.

 

Today’s prompt from Napowrimo –

our (optional) prompt for the day: the Bop. The invention of poet Afaa Michael Weaver, the Bop is a kind of combination sonnet + song. Like a Shakespearan sonnet, it introduces, discusses, and then solves (or fails to solve) a problem. Like a song, it relies on refrains and repetition. In the basic Bop poem, a six-line stanza introduces the problem, and is followed by a one-line refrain. The next, eight-line stanza discusses and develops the problem, and is again followed by the one-line refrain. Then, another six-line stanza resolves or concludes the problem, and is again followed by the refrain. Here’s an example of a Bop poem written by Weaver, and here’s another by the poet Ravi Shankar.

Happy writing!