January Poems - 2024

January 2024

Below is a collection of poems from January of 2024 as well as the date each was written.

This is an attempt to update the blog and hold myself more accountable to the process and to the publishing of these pieces.

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It has always been true.

It will always be true.

Nothing can ever change it.

Nothing can nullify it.

You are the beloved.

May you be reminded of this truth 

in innumerable ways throughout the year.

Jan 01, 2024

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So it begins.

And so do you.

Tomorrow,

it will be true

all over again.

-bshivers

Jan 01, 2024

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To all my lgbtqia+ friends and family members . . .

I just wanted to remind you that you are loved in the beautiful fullness of your magnificent humanity exactly as you are for who you are. Nothing can ever change that. Ever.

You are

Fierce,

Courageous,

Fantastic,

Complete.

Shine, my friends.

Shine.

Jan 02, 2024

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The whole truth

in three words,

You are loved.

That is all.

-bshivers

Jan 04, 2024

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Behold,

the divine

in every person you meet

and in every place you go.

A true epiphany.

-bshivers

Jan 06, 2024

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In the frenzied pace

from here to there,

from now to then

the struggle and beauty,

the joy and sorrow,

of this one

magnificent journey,

of this single

wonderful life

become little more

than an unremarkable

blur.

Slow down

and behold

the becoming.

-bshivers

Jan 09, 2024

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You don’t have to solve it all right now.

You don’t have to have all of the answers.

You don’t have to know all of the things.

Take a moment.

Take a breath.

Take a nap.

Someone needs to be heard.

Someone needs to be acknowledged.

Someone needs to know they’re accepted.

That someone may be a stranger.

That someone may be near you.

That someone may be you.

You are loved.

You are enough.

You are not alone.

Believe it.

Live it.

Share it.

-bshivers

Jan 10, 2024

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Peace sought through the use of force may indeed lead to the cessation of a current threat, but it will never lead to lasting transformative peace.

This kind of peace requires a deep commitment to the long term flourishing and thriving of every individual and all living things.

This is hard work for it demands much. But it is the way. And we can only get there with one another.

Jan 11, 2024

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We must protect others.

All marginalized,

ostracized,

cast out,

cast aside,

forgotten,

oppressed,

suppressed,

denied,

mischaracterized,

silenced,

shunned.

It’s hard and demanding work.

It won’t always be done well.

Mistakes will be made.

But the work must continue.

-bshivers

Jan 14, 2024

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A commitment to love,

to always err on the side of love,

is not for the lighthearted.

The work is never done

and can never be done perfectly.

The way of love

is not the means to an end,

it is rather all things all at once.

Love transforms the world

one human at a time.

-bshivers

Jan 15, 2024

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You don’t have to carry it alone.

You don’t have to be strong.

You don’t have to know the solution.

You don’t have to solve all of the problems.

You don’t have to feel up to the task.

You don’t have to put on a brave face.

You don’t have to have your s*** together.

You don’t have to.

It’s okay,

in fact,

it’s important,

to feel . . .

wounded,

bone-tired,

lost,

uncertain,

road-weary,

frazzled,

frayed,

. . . to feel.

—bshivers

Jan 19, 2024

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Ours is to protect,

to ensure the thriving of

the most vulnerable,

the ones at risk

because they simply exist.

The work is to

stand up,

speak out,

sit beside,

befriend,

listen,

advocate.

We call them

neighbors,

friends,

family,

strangers,

those counted as enemies.

They are next door,

down the street,

around the world.

Ours is to protect

and ensure their thriving.

-bshivers

Jan 21, 2024

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Perhaps you have forgotten,

or maybe you’ve never been told,

you are a treasure,

an absolute gift to the world.

Never before has the universe

blessed herself with someone like you,

and it will never happen again.

Thanks for being . . .

you.

-bshivers

Jan 22, 2024

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When you doubt what to say;

when uncertain what to do;

before speaking or taking action,

wait.

Hold space.

Allow room.

Just

be

present.

That is enough for now,

and may be everything

that is ever needed.

-bshivers

Jan 24, 2024

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Beloved.

Read that again.

True at the dawn of time;

true `til the end of days.

You are the beloved.

-bshivers

Jan 27, 2024

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It’s the small things.

All those the other things,

the clutter and clatter,

that once seemed so big,

have always been smaller

than the ones

that actually are

important.

Those small things.

The fragrance of your beloved.

The crooked knowing smile

that accompanies finally getting it

(whatever it might be).

The sound of that one lyric,

the guitar lick,

the drum solo,

the unexpected yet perfectly placed rest.

The green grass in the early spring.

The dog’s tail when they hear their name.

The nightingale, the lark,

the morning songbird.

The door held for the stranger.

Please.

Thank you.

You’re welcome.

Yeah.

It’s the small things.

Those are the ones

to notice,

to relish,

to drink in.

-bshivers

Jan 30, 2024

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Don’t

forget

to

listen

to

the

rhythm

of

your

heart.

-bshivers

Jan 31, 2024