Poem: The Invitation

Can you meet the joy, the ecstasy, the beauty of being alive – as well as the grief, the empty moments, the failures, and betrayals you might encounter? Can you be present with all of life's invitations? This is a beautiful and insightful poem on an invitation to review what really matters and what it means to live fully.

The poem was written by Oriah Mountain Dreamer and read by Jeremy Lim. This recording features the music track "Motif" by Swedish composer, Heim.

Transcript

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,

For your dream,

For the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.

I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow.

If you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain,

Mine or your own,

Without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy,

Mine or your own.

If you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes,

Without cautioning us to be careful,

To be realistic,

To remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.

I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself.

If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.

If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty every day.

And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,

Yours and mine,

And stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon,

Yes.

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.

I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,

Weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here.

I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.

I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Reviews

Very beautiful and poignant. I also loved the journal prompt and intention afterwards. Thank you so much for sharing 💜

Beautiful poem that touches my soul ❤️ beautifully read too. Thank you 🙏

Love this 💜🌱🌊yes!shouting yes at the silver moon 🌕 💫

This is a powerful poem. It doesn’t interest how you came to write it. I want to know - do you know it’s beauty? ❤️

I haven’t heard this in a long time. I wonder if she is still writing ✨✨

This was a very rewarding reflection of one self and what a person is willing to do in times of getting the important things in life done.The questions are mind reflecting and worth pondering. Thank you for the talk.

Wow! This came at exactly the right time for me. Not comfortable, but profoundly comforting. Thank you

Beautiful questions. I am more curious about myself. Thank you.

Thank you for asking the sometimes hard questions and reminding me I have a choice . Exactly what I needed today.

A lovely poem to reflect on, and recited so beautifully. Thank you.

Thank you for this reminder to me of importance to be authentic, true to my Self, and have integrity. 💝

I love the perspective of your poem. Very moving and meaningful, from your heart.
Thank you 🙏 for sharing 💗💗💗

Incredibly beautiful. Brought tears to my eyes and movement from my heart. Thank you

Wow, so beautiful and well spoken. Thoughts I have had but not heard, yet.

Stunning. Thank you. I find poetry so very healing.

It touch my soul ! just wath I needed the most today 🙏

Much appreciation for you creating this❤ and for it to arrive here

Thank you for this. I'm sitting with my early morning coffee, on a boulder overlooking the ocean along the west coast of South Africa, with the fog horn blowing In the distance and the seagulls flying through the mist.

This poem brought a tear of gratitude to my eyes. Thank you.

A lovely presentation of a beautiful poem. Thank you.

Thank you so much for this. It made my day to listen to these words. Thank you.