I was strolling through an antique shop
a few weeks back
when I spotted a tiny book
— the size of my palm—
on the shelf of a dollhouse.
The title—
The Embrace—
caught my eyes
and I pulled the tiny book from the shelf with my fingers.
I flipped to a random page and mouthed these words:
…with the most infinite tenderness I
have ever known in my life, he put
his arms around me, gently, gently,
and I embraced him around the
neck and we touched.
(Katherine Anne Porter 1890-1980)
The most infinite tenderness washed over me like warm laundry.
I liked the book at first sight
However, between the
book I’m reading on my Kindle,
And the paperback on my night table
I surmised I didn’t need another book in life.
I put The Embrace back on the shelf.
That night, as I closed my bedroom door,
ready to embark on my nightly selfcare routine,
the most infinite tenderness washed over me again.
I was looking forward to this moment all day–
warm water like a river,
lavender bath spray making me feel like I was gliding through a lavender field,
time all alone with– just me in body, mind, and being.
As I applied Vitamin C to my face
rubbed honeysuckle oil over my body,
looped the strands of my hair between my fingers,
and wrapped my head with a silk scarf—
I thought of the years I was unkind to my body
And how deserving my skin is of the most infinite tenderness—
I wonder what other secrets were hiding in the tiny book …
“Is this really what you came back for?” Ontonio asked,
when I leapt for joy and pulled the tiny book off the shelf.
The most perfect words struck me on page 110
and I read them to the lovely man who has embraced me with the most infinite tenderness I have ever known —
Throughout our years together
we had built up a history and a
closeness so subtle we didn’t
even know it was there
(Erma Bombeck, b. 1923)
May you embrace yourself
and the ones around you
with the most infinite tenderness.
May you also embrace
the most infinite tenderness in return.
I LOVE CONNECTING WITH YOU
When was the last time you felt EMBRACED with the most infinite tenderness?
ON WRITING
Revisions!! Revisions!! Revisions!! The writing process is…mmmmmmm…. a lot of revisions.
WHAT I’M READING
I’m seriously reading three books: The Embrace(the mini book I purchased from the antique store); Black Cake( a gift from a dear friend. I promised I’d read through it slowly but I don’t know if it’s a promise I can keep:-). Finally, All Signs Point to Paris, A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Destiny by Natasha Sizlo. As someone who have been enamored with the horoscopes since college, it really thrills me to be reading more about the rising planets+moon. Hello, I’m an Aries. What’s your sign?
POEM OF THE WEEK
Excerpt from my new favorite book, The Embrace.
Thanks again for sharing the poems that are near and dear to your hearts. Keep sending me your favorite poems and I will record them in the upcoming weeks.
Until Next Time, Enjoy Your Next Breath
Kadine Christie
