Ravaged

When the accusations grow wildly
like leaves in the jungle, there’s no
room for light. And everyone just
keeps hiding and running until far
enough away from all the insanity,
a single truth like a single leaf floats
to the ground and it seems there’s
nothing left to lose. And in the
sudden stillness, where the bombs
couldn’t reach, you can feel the
throb in your hands and the throb
in your mind. And wanting to start
over, with less in the way, and
nothing left to demand, there is
only the silence in which we
might accept each other.

A Question to Walk With: Describe a misunderstanding that keeps drawing back into conflict.

This is from my book of poems in progress, This Slow Quick Dance.

Mark will be offering retreats and a few special journeys in 2024. Below are some of his offerings: 

May 6: Drinking from the River of Light, Talk on the Creative Process, The Gilmore Festival, Kalamazoo Public Library Central Branch, VanDeusen Room | 2 pm
https://www.thegilmore.org/event/mark-nepo/

May 31 – June 2: Saying Yes to Life: From Brokenness to Tenderness, reading and weekend retreat, The Sophia Institute, Charleston, SC, or call 843-720-8528
https://thesophiainstitute.org/events/saying-yes-to-life-from-brokenness-to-tenderness/?occurrence=2024-04-26 

June 28-30: Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength, weekend retreat, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
http://tinyurl.com/5n79swbd

July 31 6pm ET:  You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship, reading and conversation followed by 45 minute river walk. Kalamazoo Nature Center www.naturecenter.org 

Aug 16-18: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship, weekend retreat, Mercy By the Sea, 167 Neck Rd, Madison
https://www.mercybythesea.org/programs-and-retreats/upcoming-programs/you-don-t-have-to-do-it-alone/

Sept 16–21: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship, a Mastery Week Retreat at the Modern Elder Academy in Santa Fe, Mexico, .
https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-friendship-with-mark-nepo

Sept 29 1pm PT/4pm ET: Mark Nepo in Conversation with Brooke Warner – You Don’t Have to Do It Alone, ticketed event hosted by Book Passage
https://www.bookpassage.com/event/mark-nepo-brooke-warner-you-dont-have-do-it-alone-online-event

Nov 1-3: Harmony Hill Retreat Center, You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship weekend retreat, Union WA, Contact Harmony Hill for info: https://www.harmonyhill.org/contact-connections/

Dec 8–14: This retreat is being rescheduled for 2025. Date to be determined  

Saying Yes to Life: The One Life We’re Given, a weeklong retreat in Costa Rica, hosted by Global Journeys
https://globalj.org/mark-nepo-costa-rica-overview/