Carly's Ramblings Blog - Style

Poems In Time Of Social Crisis

30 Day Blogging Challenge

PROMPT March 27th
Someone shared the poem “The Trough” by Judy Brown with me today and I want to pass it on to you. I found it incredibly comforting during this time of global crisis. In your entry today, write about how the poem makes you feel, or write a poem of your own.

The Trough

Judy Brown

There is a trough in waves,
a low spot
where horizon disappears
and only sky
and water
are our company.
And there we lose our way
unless
we rest, knowing the wave will bring us
to its crest again.
There we may drown
if we let fear
hold us in its grip and shake us
side to side,
and leave us flailing, torn, disoriented.
But if we rest there
in the trough,
in silence,
being in the low part of the wave,
keeping our energy and
noticing the shape of things,
the flow,
then time alone
will bring us to another
place
where we can see
horizon, see land again,
regain our sense
of where
we are,
and where we need to swim.

I find it inspirational in that we must remember in this time of overwhelming uncertainty, much like the waves, we need to rest there and not let panic take us down. If we rest and breathe, we will be able to reorient ourselves and find our way out.
As I read it, I could feel the panic and disorientation that comes with that wave, just like I feel the uncertainty of our current global situation. But as the poem moves forward, I am able to remind myself to relax and let myself move through this because I know it is only a passing moment in time.
Thank you for sharing this.
Here is my own poem inspired by hers...

Just Breathe

We struggle.
Push and panic
Feel ourselves go under;
We flail,
Get entangled in the undergrowth
That threatens to pull us down
And hold us
Confined
Forgotten.
But relax.
Let your body float.
Breathe.
As you resurface
And wait for the panic
To subside,
It will
With time.
Breathe.
Fill yourself up
Your strength will return
Your way will emerge
And you will carry on
Stronger for the experience
Just so long as you see it through
And believe
You can make it
It is not your time
To succumb
To the depths
Of despair.