In highschool I was introduced to a Slam Poet by the name of Bradley Hathaway. His emotions are real and he translates them well into words. I cannot write poetry for the life of me, but I love performing well done slam poems. This one captures what I think Holi (at its deepest level and/or what it will be for me) is about:
On Being Joyful and Content
I'm ecstatic!
and my thoughts
are
uncontrollably
sporadic!
Yet thier all centered around one center
Joy.
In plush ripe tones
joy is rushing through my bones!
If joy were a color
it would be purple
pastel
pretty
Like old women and young children
both wear on easter
Smiling while having deviled eggs
and drinking kool-aid
Chasing blown bubbles
in the backyard
The young ones' distracting hats
fly off…
And the old ones laugh
a contagious laughter
that is to be shared
by everyone there
The sun
shines down upon them
as all of their physical imperfections
gleam
beautifully
and inside
inside
I feel like this
and I look outside my window
and imagine the
future purple pastel pretty
moments of joy
that I will one day have with my wife.
My Children.
My friends.
My family.
I really look forward to those moments.
But I am thankful for the one
that I am having right now.
this morning.
Alone.
On my couch.
Overwhelmed by Joy.
-Bradley Hathaway
For those of you who don't know Holi is the Hindu festival of colors. They throw colored powder to celebrate color, joy and life. There will be purple pastel pretty everywhere (along with most colors). Even though it is a Hindu practice we can experience and give it (a celebration of color, joy and life) to Our Father.
So I'm excited to be covered in powdered color celebrating the Joy that Our father gives.
