Poetry Corner

The Invitation

By Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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 your center of your own sorrow ...

if you have been opened by life's betrayals

or have become shriveled and closed

from the fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain

mine and your own

without moving to hide it

or fade it

or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy

mine and your own

if you can dance with wilderness

and let the ecstasy fill you to the time of your

fingers and toes

without cautioning us to

be careful

be realistic

to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling

is 100% 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 faithful

and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see the beauty

even when it is not pretty

everyday.

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 yard

and shout to the sliver of the full moon,

"Yes."

It doesn't interest me

to know where you live and how much money you have.

I want to know if you can get up

after a night of grief and despair

weary and bruised to the bone

and so 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 center of the fire

with me

and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or whom

you have studied.

I want to know what sustains you

from inside

when all else falls away.

It doesn't interest me what your cover is in the world.

I want to know if you can consistently lead with your

heart in relating to me.

And if you are willing to take 100% responsibility for

everything you feel, you think, you sense,

and you intuit.

I want to know if you can be alone

with yourself

and if you truly like the company you keep

in the empty moments.