Rays of Kindness

A poem for your Thursday

I have returned from my solo writing retreat, where I was lucky enough to be in snowy (very cold) Vermont to work on my third book of poetry.

I had moments of blissful silence, longs walks with the beautiful falling snow, moments when the old voices in my head got painfully loud, and all kinds of moments in between. It was a time that felt hard, holy, healing & necessary.

And also, it’s good to be back home in Oregon where the sun is shining bright, the birds are singing sweetly, and the daffodils are already lifting their heads to the sun.

Below is a poem I jotted down in my notebook a few days ago and was able to return to this morning.

I am sending rays of kindness your way.

Julia xo

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Grand Isle, Vermont

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Rays of Kindness

Let's let ourselves imagine a world 
where kindness becomes the water
we drink, the air we breathe, the ground 
we walk on, the seeds we sow—
the river that flows through everything.
Let's pledge our allegiance to kindness, 
cast our vote for kindness, worship
kindness—allow kindness to become 
our north star, our guiding light, 
the way to measure success,
the only meaning of right—
the compliment, the warm smile, 
one hand reaching for another, rays 
of kindness that reach out 
and out and out—sky 
that opens wide and waters 
every parched inch 
of this holy, hurting world.

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SPECIAL NEWS

For paid subscribers of Julia’s Substack page. Access all paid subscriber content here.

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I’m thrilled to share that the amazing woman & poet Ellen Rowland and I will be in conversation on Wednesday, February 18th from 9:00—10:15 AM (PST). I so hope you can join us.

More information coming soon.

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