28 Comments
User's avatar
Bliss Grey's avatar

this is a rare gentle beauty. The unhurried pace rings true. . It has what I call, The passion of patience.

David Donoghue's avatar

I feel this is something personal and signficant. There is an excitement and profundity to the words. If it is, you captured it so well.. if not you've created something with enormous energy.

Brian Funke's avatar

Oh, it’s poetry, if it’s that to you, that’s it! Thanks for reading!

Sarah Howard Lapine's avatar

"Joy,

floated from

your now free chest

through unchoked throat,

climbed to your lips,"

And these lines I could feel. So good.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

There’s a profound sense of joy here, Brian, a sense of knowing who you are in the moment. One of the best things I’ve read lately—Thank you!

Bob Metivier's avatar

Excellent, Brian! And unbelievably I've been working on a poem for days on Knowing, Love, Hope and Joy! SO crazy for me to read this from you.

It will probably be a little bit before I'm finished, You will be amazed at the similarities. Why do you suppose we were called to write on the same thing at the same time?

Brian Funke's avatar

There are many mysteries out there, aren’t there? I look forward to reading it!

Bob Metivier's avatar

Not nearly as elegant as yours here. Very starkly written. Just very interesting mystery.

Sarah Howard Lapine's avatar

Letting down our guards, dropping the act, opening up to the possibility of "creating a life of joy." That moment when you realize there is connection in utter honesty- that's what it felt like to me. This is a powerful piece.

Brian Funke's avatar

Thanks Sarah, I’m glad it struck a chord with you!

Troy Putney's avatar

"the foundation

for creating

a life

of joy."

What a beautiful poem, Brian. Thank you.

Brian Funke's avatar

Thanks for checking it out!

Nathan Slake's avatar

It's somehow even better coming to this after having heard you discuss it with Taegan.

Your word

was life,

Superb.

Brian Funke's avatar

Thank you Nathan!

Rich Moore's avatar

I love this Brian. I just lost a dear friend and you use a phrase about 'friendship' deep in this piece that hit so wonderfully. Just a beautiful piece of writing!

Brian Funke's avatar

Thank you Rich. I’m sorry to hear about your loss. In time and if you’re interested, David Whyte has some beautiful writing and audio about his ongoing friendship with John O’Donahue, after John passed. I’d be happy to find and share, let me know 💚

Finding Grace's avatar

How beautiful and true! 🙏❤ Yes, for any relationship to blossom and thrive, we must get Ego out of the way first--its a struggle, a daily battle, but it's the only way to truly Love. 🙏🙏

Brian Funke's avatar

So key. Though I am tired of battling against it. Maybe it’s semantics, but I’m trying to befriend that part of me…maybe being friends with the ego is a way to have it take the back seat more often…thank you for being here!!

Sam Messersmith's avatar

"Your word was life" I felt that in my soul

Brian Funke's avatar

Excellent, I love how sometimes it’s not the poem, it’s just a line!

Sam Messersmith's avatar

I adore well constructed and elegantly placed one-liners

Brian Funke's avatar

The placement is key. Sometimes a one liner stands alone but often it hits because of the context. But then, is it really a one liner?

Did we just discover the poets version of chicken/egg?

Sam Messersmith's avatar

Haha this is very true! I love the comparison to the chicken or the egg idea. Feels very appropriate here because I have no answer! 😆

Weston Parker's avatar

Interesting what a strong role ego played throughout. thanks

Brian Funke's avatar

It is. Need it, don’t always want it.