Allowing Rest

Striving for love 
Believing that in the striving, it will fall from above 
Love will penetrate through the skies 
And arrive through our desire-driven eyes 

More and more and more 
As told in the family folklore 
The work never ends 
In this life, there's no curve in the bend 

Just straight ahead 
Work until we are dead 
It’s never enough 
Where is this feeling of love?

At some point, there’s a shipwreck 
Pain shooting through the neck 
Frozen in flight 
The body has no more energy to fight 

There’s nothing left to find 
In this society, we don’t suddenly learn to be kind 
To ourselves 
Just forever helping outside ourselves 

Pushed right down 
By someone who believes they have the power of the crown 
These feudal family lines 
Is this why we can’t find our shrine?

There’s no peace 
When we are not allowed to weep 
Let go of what’s not working 
Allow rest, without believing we are shirking 

Not beating ourselves with a stick 
But allowing ourselves to dream and wish 
Allowing rest 
Without self-detest 

It’s safe to just be 
When we don’t hide behind another's tree 
Always searching for an external protector 
Who then turns into Hannibal Lecter 

Eating us up 
Drinking our energy with every cup 
Until there is nothing left 
We are left bereft 

Sometimes we observe the powdery clouds 
They allow us to unburden ourselves from our depressed shroud 
A way to find space 
Feel a little of the eternal grace 

Be who we wish 
Eat from our own dish 
Alone 
In this body, we can build our own home 


Written by Zoe Langman in August 2023