Our (optional) prompt for the day asks you to engage in another kind of cross-cultural exercise, as it is inspired by the work of Sei Shonagon, a Japanese writer who lived more than 1000 years ago. She wrote a journal that came to be known as The Pillow Book. In it she recorded daily observations, court gossip, poems, aphorisms, and musings, including lists with titles like “Things That Have Lost Their Power,” “Adorable Things,” and “Things That Make Your Heart Beat Faster.” Today, I’d like to challenge you to write your own Sei Shonagon-style list of “things.” What things? Well, that’s for you to decide!
I found the challenge today interesting and I think I will come back to it once the 30 day challenge is done because today’s prompt serves as an introspection. Among the many lists that I made and erased, I finally decided to share this which truly defines me.
My poem for today is – Things that make me run
Small talk, pasted smiles
Sweet lies, narrow minds
Screeching sounds, condescending tones
Uncultured folk, messy homes
These are a few of the things that make me run
Meanness and hypocrisy
Selfishness and dishonesty
Throwing around of clout
Envy and doubt
These are a few of the things that make me run
When friendship means partying
And lively chatter is ‘backbiting’
When simplicity is an unkempt look
And a woman’s role is only to clean and cook
These are a few of the things that make me run
When I need space
And I feel like a horse in a race
When love means control
And I am losing sight of my goal
I simply know the time has come for me to run
Then I run-
And I run so far
And I run so fast
I don’t look back
And I don’t slack
Until I’m feeling back on track
© SmithaV
Copyright©2019. lifeateacher.wordpress.com. All Rights Reserved.
Powerful Smitha, both in terms of the things you would run from, which are things I’d run from too, but in converting that to the energy of your own power.
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It’s nice to know you agree with this list. And yes, we need to ‘convert it into energy of our own power.’ Thank you for sharing this wisdom.
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And simplicity and unkempt look.true and so love
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Thank you Kashiana for sharing your thoughts on the poem. Love the line you picked😊
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These are good things to run from 🙂
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Ha ha… thanks Pragalbha. Happy you agree😊. Was a good way to tell people what not to do around me😀
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Good list.. definitely would run if the womans role is just to clean and cook.. loved thurs prompt. As you said need to come back for more
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Me too…am definitely going to make a pillow book. Thanks Namratha for your comment. Am glad you agree😊. Imagine having a sign-board with this out side the house. Most people would walk away😀
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