Cross-Training Body Mind Emotions Spirit | Rachael R. Resch

The class focus on Saturday, chosen at random from the basket of focii, was “Daily Connection With the Earth.”

What is the sensation in your body when you hear and feel these words?

My teacher, Robert Bly, taught me how to spontaneously tweak the language in a poem I am reading according to the promise of the moment, much like how in Nia, we tweak our movements according to our body’s way to find Joy. 

Here’s the poem as I read it in Saturday’s class:

When my daily connection with the Earth
is away from me, I am depressed;
nothing in the daylight delights me,
sleep at night gives no rest,
who can I tell about this?

The night is dark and long . . . hours go by . . .
because I am alone, I sit up suddenly,
fear goes through me . . .

Kabir says: Listen, my friend,
there is one thing in the world that satisfies, 
and that is a meeting with the Holy.

— Kabir

translated by Robert Bly,
The Kabir Book
(Beacon Press) 
version by Rachael R. Resch 

And here’s Robert’s original version:

When my friend is away from me, I am depressed;
nothing in the daylight delights me,
sleep at night gives no rest,
who can I tell about this?

The night is dark and long . . . hours go by . . .
because I am alone, I sit up suddenly,
fear goes through me . . .

Kabir says: Listen, my friend,
there is one thing in the world that satisfies, 
and that is a meeting with the Holy.

— Kabir

translated by Robert Bly,
The Kabir Book
(Beacon Press)