Taking A Breath

Taking an extended breath
Inhaling slowly and deeply
Before exhaling quietly
Releasing negative thoughts

Silencing the active mind
A moment of deep reflection
As chaotic thoughts quiet
Letting them subside, stilly

An intermediate pause, inert
Paralyzed from ardent progress
As neutrality lingers
A heart becomes despondent

A morose wave saturates
As cursive distress is etched
Doused with stagnant droplets
Infused with oceanic need

Listless silence calmly ensues
A choice to graciously give space
As mutism expands with days
Time effortlessly moves forward

Detachment solemnly climbs
Yet a fierce ache still resides
As a mournful craving scratches
Piercing the constructed walls

Navigating soundless waters
Gives way to needful reflection
A balm to the chastised heart
For this chapter continues on

Reviews

[Lorry]

Releasing that breath and the negative thoughts the mind can conjure is a truly beautiful moment of calm. It can be the only moment and reset our mind to less frantic thoughts that all too easily snowball and consume everything in its wake.
It is so important to our mental as well as physical health to detach from the noise and find that breathing space to recharge ourselves.
I found a handy way of doing it by accident during lockdown when I was suffering from sleeplessness one night and I just pictured a happy scene from my childhood of being at the beach, hearing the not to far off noises from the fair at the pier and even smelling the cotton candy wafting in my direction, with a warm breeze tingling my skin. Then as I exhaled, I imagined myself travelling to the horizon and turning round to look at myself, which was crystal clear in every detail despite somehow floating over the sea from a distance.
I think the only thought I could conjure was "so that's what other people see when they see me" and before I knew it I woke 6 hours later and felt 18 again when I woke.
Now it is my routine and although it doesn't work every time, it does sometimes and for that I am grateful.
It can make all the difference between being calm and losing control.
When your mind is unquiet, it is best to do whatever works for you to shush it back to sleep. And we all feel better for it when we do.
It is loke my secret chill pill, which if someone asks you to take, can be so infuriating that you secretly "mind kill" them with invisible mind Death rays!
Or is that just me? 😃

[Poetic Beauty]

So for me doing yoga and meditation/prayer help me to calm before bed and writing helps as well. read moreSo for me doing yoga and meditation/prayer help me to calm before bed and writing helps as well.

I have found saying prayers and then picturing breathing in the color purple and breathing out the color purple help. It’s a beginners technique to meditating. Purple is my favorite color and is calming

[Lorry]

It's Katie's too. I'll show her this reply! 😃

[Poetic Beauty]

😊😊😊😊😊😊

[Robert Trakofler]

Thinking literally read like the meditation followed by mantras in each succulent successive stanza :) whatever a nice reflection

[Poetic Beauty]

Thank you. It was meant to have that quiet calm about it.

[A.H.]

being calm, quiet and collected is very much needed to float through the chaos. this is so meditative to read the words, feel the silence and pause. thanks for sharing.

[Poetic Beauty]

I have a way of detaching from being overwhelmed with emotions sometimes. Meditation and taking a breath help plus yoga and writing

[A.H.]

yes, true that and writing is a therapy as well :) I like it too. we have to detach sometimes and find peace.

[Poetic Beauty]

I completely agree

[redd Brick Keshner]

Sometimes a single breath is sufficient 🙏🏻🕊

[Poetic Beauty]

Taking a single breath can be necessary and gives clarity

[redd Brick Keshner]

That is oh so true!

[andrew mitchell]

Taking a breath is sort of meditative in a way especially when controlled as slow and evenly paced movement which brings about that peace and a feeling of being relaxed. It’s a discipline the Buddhist monks do well.

[Poetic Beauty]

I do three part breath to calm down when I’m praying or meditating and different breath work while doing yoga. It’s amazing all the different ways we can breathe and how it affects our bodies and mind.

[redzone]

I hope you find the peace and calmness you need, Poetic Beauty. It is sometimes difficult to find this in our world today, too many things going on when all we want is to sit and watch the beauty of a sunset or rise to a new day.
-Curt

[Poetic Beauty]

Peace can be hard to find sometimes. I have anxiety so making my brain become still sometimes is a challenge but yoga, prayer, writing and meditation help

[Soren]

A poem of relaxation, calming, mind clearing, and cleansing. Very nicely worded

[Poetic Beauty]

Thank you for your kind words. This poem does have a stillness and calm to it

[Neville]

this is so cool it chilled me write out ..

[Poetic Beauty]

It is a calm piece but there is an undercurrent of sadness

[K. Louis]

The idea of taking a step back and letting go of negative thoughts can be powerful. The imagery is vivid and I like how it flows from one idea to another. I can sense the calm and quiet contemplation throughout. Nicely done.

[Poetic Beauty]

There is a calm with the taking a breath and a pause