In this life of complex order and sequence
Is a simplicity and fragility that is there to guide us.
We must value the moment we hold in our hands
Take it and treasure it and place it in our conscious mind.
In this life of uncertainty and fragmented disenchantment
we must honour the souls of the ones that came before us
So that that our own endeavours however meagre and small
Will have dignity and connection in their labour and toil.
We must appreciate the moments of beauty and bounty
And be humble and honest and have integrity.
Lest all that we know should be gone tomorrow
In this life of tragedy and human sorrow.
Alison Jean Hankinson
Whilst I wrote this on Saturday it was entirely with the sentiments of d’Verse poetics challenge that was looking for poems to save the soul….and I think we have suffered greatly in the last few weeks with the attacks on London and Manchester and I wanted to peel back the layers to what is still important and will always be important.
Today was a very blustery day….a pooh bear kind of day, and so long as we remember to feel the wind on our face and acknowledge it for what it is we are still clearly alive and functioning.
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Hues of Hankinson 
Definitely a soul-saving poem, Alison, and you’ve certainly pulled back the layers. I think we all need Pooh bear days – he’s a philosophical kind of bear. That’s particularly good advice in the lines:
‘We must value the moment we hold in our hands
Take it and treasure it and place it in our conscious mind’
and
‘We must appreciate the moments of beauty and bounty
And be humble and honest and have integrity’.
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The world is such a hard place, so sometimes we need to just breathe…. your poem could make you look away a bit.
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I liked the middle stanza the best about dignity and connection with those that came before us.
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Yes, embracing the small things. I have a friend who, after her divorce, when she was hurting, went for a walk and took a picture every day of something she found that was beautiful, then posted it on Facebook. Those small things got her through. Thanks for this reminder, Alison
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Beautiful.
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“We must value the moment we hold in our hands” … This is my favorite line. The ending, too ~
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I very much feel responsibility for those “who came before”. Family is an endless living chain from what was to what will be. Beautiful, beautiful write!
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Valuing the moment has become the theme of this day for me. Thanks for posting this!
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We have to embrace the moment…all we have is here in the now.
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Poignant piece. Thanks for starting my day right. 🙂
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We need The Moment to pause, breathe gratitude and be kind. Beautiful poem.
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Lovely pictures to accompany your powerful words – so well written!
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I’ve been feeling heavy under the constant barrage of bad news and uncertainty, so thank you for these uplifting thoughts!
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Wonderful. The second stanza really hit me. Some of our smallest endeavors can have the deepest meaning for ourselves and others.
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Late to my reading…..grandchildren days 🙂 Home now and back in the groove.
While I really liked the poem, I must admit, I was smitten by a few words you wrote in your explanation….
it’s a pooh bear kind of day 🙂 Have nver heard that expression and it made me smile…I do remember the illustrations of Christopher Robin and Pooh on blustery days…may we all bend a little in our blustery winds! 🙂
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