The Verse You Contribute

Girls Weekend

A week ago, Wednesday, I was frantically packing for a trip to Denver. This wasn't an average, hang out with family trip. It was a four-day celebration trip. Each day required very specific clothes and accoutrement. Mid-packing a single phrase shot through me like lightening.

"That you may contribute a verse."

I knew its origin like the back of my hand. I had learned the poem when I was in high school. Years before Robin Williams made it famous.

It is from the poem, Oh Me! Oh Life! by Walt Whitman.

O Me! O life! of the questions of these recurring,

Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,

Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)

Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,

Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,

Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,

The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?Answer.

That you are here—that life exists and identity,

That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

As the four days, girls only, weekend pushed on, the poem became a drum beat. Growing louder and louder in my soul. I came to understand its message, that each day we all contribute a verse. Every thought we think. Every action or inaction we take contributes a verse. This not a sentence for self-judgment. It is an invitation to choose what verse we want to write. The best news is there are a million fantastic verses we can write. All we have to do is live.

How to Write Your Verse

Yes, journaling is always an option. As friends and students know, I see journals as treasure chests of life.

In the span of my journal teaching career, I have seen the joys of a small forgotten calendar that held notes such as, "Went to the property today. Dry and dusty." While on a different page were the prices of gas and eggs. These verses were the sweetest salve to a grieving daughter.

In another session of classes, a two-time cancer survivor daily embroidered an emblem of each day on white linen. Each emblem represented the best memory of the day. Each linen held 365 images from baseball gloves, to shooting stars, and birthday cake images. These were her triumphant verses of a life well lived. No matter the obstacle.

However, journaling is not required to "contribute your verse." We can act out our verse, by the way we live.

My grandfather never wrote. He wasn't a verbal storyteller. Nor did he read much. Except for sports highlights. What he did do was build community. If you had a house project, Grandpa would be right there helping. If you were ill or traveling, he could be counted on to get your mail or trash taken care of. He taught little neighbor girls to ride bikes. Over the years his neighbors nicknamed him Mayor of Catalina. His gift of time and efforts was his verse.

I don't know what your verse or style of verse is, but as you go along keep an eye out for the verse you contribute. When you find it, claim it, celebrate it, and live it genuinely. I guarantee we will all be better for it.

#waltwhitman #contributeyourverse #journals #lifestories