Review of Envelope (Friday 3rd May 2002)
This poem beautifully meditates on the present moment as a precious gift and explores the tension between external chaos and internal stillness. The opening lines establish a joyful tone:
“This present moment of joy / Is a gift from the universe to me”
which immediately grounds the poem in gratitude and presence.
The poem then contrasts this inner joy with the frantic pace of modern life:
“Spinning through the illusion / Of time and space / Caught up and along / Running with this human race / Faster all the time”
The metaphor of Earth spinning and the “world record breaking neck speed” captures the overwhelming external rush.
A key turning point is the focus on inner experience:
“But what about the world inside? / Each and every one of us / When to find the time / For stillness and calm”
This invitation to breathe and listen inwardly emphasizes the need to reconnect with “one’s inner-tuition” and the “mysterious continuous flow” of life.
The poem poetically describes the physical body as:
“A vehicle, a chassis, a body / An envelope for a soul / Evolving through contrast and expansion”
The title “Envelope” is deeply symbolic here, linking the physical form to the spiritual essence.
There’s a lament for disconnection and separation, both internal and external:
“Resistance and sequestration / Between Self and Source / And each other / Separation within the individual / And between individuals”
Highlighting how even families can lack unity or ceremony to honor life’s arrival.
Yet, the closing lines offer empowerment:
“We can and must create / Our own realities / The inner one / Is where it starts”
The poem celebrates the creative potential emerging from the heart, reminding us that transformation begins within.
Conclusion
Envelope is a contemplative and hopeful poem that contrasts the chaos of external life with the peace available inside. Its spiritual and poetic language encourages mindful presence, self-connection, and the conscious co-creation of reality. It serves as a gentle yet firm call to honor the soul within the human form and to cultivate inner peace amidst external turmoil.
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