The Invitation…

By On · 20 Comments · In blog

This is an intense, beautiful and very honest piece of writing that for me signifies all that was within my relationship with a beautiful man…

It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon…
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn’t interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me
who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know
if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.

The Invitation By Oriah © Mountain Dr

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  • Candy

    Wow. This is a call to Authentic Living. So beautiful.

  • Ramonita

    Your love and bond was and continues to be so strong! Your bond is the rarest and truest of undying love! 

  • Tleefent

    Beautiful!

  • Claire Abbott

    Beautiful x

  • http://twitter.com/PennyDouglas Penny Douglas

    Awesome! Dearest Vashti, I continue to think of you all each and every day, and I dreamed about Andy last night, very vividly! All my love to you guys and I love the beautiful things you share! ((((((HUGS)))) <3 <3

  • Sally T.

    Visceral and so full. Love that you posted this, Vashti.

  • Susan_Mangan

    Wow! What a beautiful ode to passion, desire, LIFE!

    And oh, to love so deeply…….xx

  • Queen

    Very beautiful!. Thanks for sharing.

  • Susana Matos Nunes

    Welcome back V. and more welcome with amazing words like these… I love poetry and put words together that make so much sence as these, are just… Big bang!
    I believe this is just the right “invitation” you and Andy made each other, as me with Paulo… To us there are values more important than value things, and with them we fall in love, go to the top of the world, live with all the gute we can….
    Thank you so much for share these strong ode to live one life with all the love you have!
    Wish you all good things, for the three of you! XXX
    Steel here… (everyday)
    Susana

  • Simona

    Cara Vashti
    mi sei mancata…
    Questa splendida poesia è la vera essenza dell’amore con la A maiuscola.
    Il vero amore che si prova incodizionatamente verso la persona che ti sta accanto.
    La semplicità, la complicità, il rispetto e la stima reciproca sono alla base di una piramide rivolta verso un unico vertice.
    Io e Beppe siamo insieme da 22 anni. Siamo cresciuti insieme. Abbiamo portato come bagaglio le nostre storie familiari difficili, ma con la voglia semplicemente di conoscerci e continuare insieme abbiamo superato e continuiamo a superare le prove della vita. Con caratteri profondamente diversi ci completiamo l’un l’altro. L’importante è sempre essere se stessi e non cercare di cambiare l’altro. Spero che la vita ci regali tanto tempo ancora perchè abbiamo ancora tanto da dare, soprattutto ai nostri figli.
    Quel giorno del nostro incontro è più vivo che mai.
    Non riesco ad immaginare una vita senza di lui, ma credo che anche in sua “assenza ” sarebbe presente più che mai.
    E questa poesia cara Vashti, come hai detto tu e io ti credo, e’ l’essenza della tua storia d’amore con Andy che non finirà maiiiiiiiii……
    Un abbraccio fortissimo.
    Simona

  • Theval68

    This touched deep to the core

  • http://twitter.com/epgomez8 Paola Gomez

    Love it!  Reminds me of all the good qualities I should keep in mind to enhance myself.  Brings to mind….”fearless” and “persistent”.  You’re an artist Vashti!!  <3

  • Kristin

    Hi Vashti~ This poem tells me a lot about your beautiful soul. It’s a captivating poem and I’m inspired to have read it (and…I had to read it quite a few times to understand what it has to offer). I think it’s about life and living it to its fullest – sharing deep, meaningful relationships – taking chances – seeing others for who they really are – making a choice to be happy – that there can be peace in the midst of pain- and that life is full of joy and is ours for the taking!  How beautiful that you and Andy could share your life together … intimately and with passion. Many of us, myself incuded, have never experienced true love, but it’s something I continue to seek  and hope for.  Thank you for sharing your treasured love with all of us.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/R4BVF2MC4NWEQPLVPNSQON6HOM Patti

    Wow, beautiful, strong & so inspiring!

  • Lan

    Simply beautiful. Thanks Vashti.

  • Madeleine

    What a wonderful poem! It showcases the true meaning of “being real” with each other…..no gimmicks, put-ons or falsehoods…..only true love with each others souls.  Awesome!  XXXXX

  • Serenina F89

    Beautiful quotes. Well i really admire you: your life is brilliant full of emotions and joy. Your familiy is not complete one piece is missing but you continue to share and enjoy life.
    Congrats!!

    I want to share this with you and with all people are following you:

    ” If i could talk with God, i would tell him….. You have so many angels, please give mine back “

  • Sarah S

    So beautifully worded…thank you for introducing us to Oriah, a soul who seems almost as wonderful as you!  (Close, but not quite- can’t help but being a little biased…heehee!)  http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=628555893 Victoria Zasikowski

    I got the shivers reading that .

  • mel

    This changed my life 9 years ago, I wrote it out and had it taped to my wardrobe. It’s so nice to see it again x