Peaceful Hawk
On Thursday, Sept. 21, the world will celebrate the International Day of Peace.
This is the one day where I have the most hope that humans will choose peace – not arms, not war, not hatred. But instead, they will choose to put down their arms, they will engage in personal and international cease-fires and embrace love.
Because that’s what this world needs the most: healthy doses of sweet love that spreads through a smile, a hug, a handshake, a bow, a helping hand.
And that’s all it takes.
In honor of this day of peace, I have written a poem. Good timing, too, because this month I am trying to write more poems.
Each day I write haikus to share on Twitter (and sometimes my Facebook page), but for the posts in this month, I have wanted to share poems.
I am hosting a peace meditation on Thursday at the school where I work. If you live in or near Asheville, let me know and I’ll tell you where to go!
I will begin at 5:30 pm by sounding a singing bowl and lighting a candle for peace. Then, I’ll welcome everyone, share a little about the International Day of Peace, and read the poem I’ve written below. I may add more to this poem. We’ll see what my heart says.
If you receive I & S newsletters, you should have received the link for a free coloring page with a peace sign. Print it. Indulge. Participate in a moment of peace. If not, sign up below and you’ll get a peace coloring page – just for the occasion.
This might be a “minor” holiday, but we cannot understate the importance of bringing peace and harmony into our lives.
I hope you enjoy this poem.
If you like, print it and include it in your own peace day activities. Or write your own. The sky’s the limit.
“The Peaceful Hawk”
I climbed up a mountain, snow still adrift
Sweeping views: a panoramic gift.
To take it all in, I sat on a rock
My eyes gazed at an elegant hawk.
He flew around and then swooped toward me–
Oh, to be a hawk and to fly free!
His eyes fixated and locked on mine
While he perched on a branch of white pine.
“You must feel such peace flying all around,”
I whispered to him with barely a sound.
In that moment he stood strong and tall
The air got quiet; I heard his call.
He spoke to me and I could understand,
Powerful words he’d carefully planned:
“The flight of a bird soaring so high
represents peace against a blue sky.
It is standing firm on a rocky ledge,
A squirrel eating nuts under a hedge.
Peace is also the chirp of a chick,
The sprint of a cheetah – agile and quick.
But peace exists not only out there.
It’s me, my gaze, so very aware–
It’s the heart, and joy with some perspective,
That what we seek is introspective.
It’s awareness in your soul and spirit–
Thoughts, words, in the mind – we must clear it.
Peace exists in the sacred and mundane–
It is the wind that turns a weather vane.
It is helping elders to survive,
Aiding the least among us to thrive.
It is embracing the excluded
So they feel welcomed and not secluded.
Peace exists from within and without
Starting with a thought from which love will sprout.
Breathing in and breathing out, you shall see
Inside all of us is bliss…harmony.”
With that, this eloquent bird had proclaimed,
With a heart so pacific yet untamed,
That feathers of wisdom already exist:
Thoughts of hope and peace always persist.
I waved good-bye as the hawk took flight.
He glanced back and I knew he was right.
Peace exists anywhere and everywhere
I just need to look to my heart right there.
I climbed down the mountain to return
To my daily life: to live and to learn
The ways of inviting moments of peace,
To live in the present without cease.
In honor of the International Day of Peace, I created a “peace mandala” – it’s a peace sign that you can download and print. Click to start the download. 
I love your heart, Lil Sis! Pax vobiscum, my friend, and let’s hope the message spreads near and far on Thursday…and beyond.
Hugs Lil Sis!
Big Bro: PAX VOBISCUM! I love that! Have you had latin, besides getting it at church when you were young? You make me smile! I hope the message spreads near and far for sure. 🙂 Sending you hugs and thank you so much! xoxo
Aw, beautiful poem and lovely way to start my Monday off here today always!! Love your peaceful reminder for us and definitely appreciate it more than you know. Happy Monday now and hope your week is starting off great so far, Cyndi!! xoxo <3
Janine – thank you so much and I hope that you had a lovely Monday. Got a have a little peace in our lives, right? I hope the transition back to school has been just fine, as well. I can’t wait to try some of that pumpkin spice stuff! What a brilliant post that was! 🙂 Happy Monday to you, too, and I hope the rest of your week is FABULOUS!
Wonderful poem and perspective Cynthia. Your poem has a very soulful and native american feel to it for me. I’m a peacenik too. May we hold peace in our hearts, words, and actions. Peace out! 🙂
Brad, your whimsical use of the word “peace” definitely made me smile today. Thank you for your feedback on this, I was going for a bit of a Native American feel. I so think that they were so progressive and so in touch and in sync with nature that we stand to learn a lot from them. Indeed, may we whole peace in our hearts, words, and actions. I hope you have a wonderful week, friend. Sending you love and light!
Beautiful Poem!
Sweet Susan – thank you! It’s so *wonderful* to see you. Hellooooo! I hope you’ve been well! <3 <3
That was very soothing, peaceful… I enjoyed the rhythmic feel as a result of your rhyming. Nice.
And I totally got the feel of the outdoors!
A beautiful message, Cyndi. Thank you for the reminder about International Peace Day.
Peace be with you my friend 🙂
Sweet Denise – aww, thank you. I was having fun doing “couplets.” I am really liking all this poetry stuff. I think I need to keep doing it…
And you got the feel of the outdoors!? BAM! My job here is done! hahaha. Thank you for being a person of peace: I always knew this about you. You are a kind, sensitive soul that makes others feel at ease. 🙂 I hope you had a nice Peace Day! 🙂 Peace be with YOU!
Your poem brings an image of peace and a rawness that only you could craft, dear friend ~ I caught up on your newsletters today and am in awe of them. Thank you for all you bring to the world, dear heart <3
Christy – Thank you! Coming from you, that means so much to me. You’re an incredible, INCREDIBLE poet! I love your words and they reflect your radiant beauty, my friend! You have a way with words that make heads turn. 🙂 Thank you for your thoughts about the newsletters. And thank YOU for all that you bring to the world. You bring incredibleness! xoxo
Dear Cynthia,
Beautiful reminder of what we can learn from the animals – peace is truly possible and yes, it begins in each of our hearts.
Love you, peace and hugs too,
Maria
Maria – thank you for your sweet words here. 😉 Animals have a divine nature, don’t they? I just love their silence that has the capacity to teach us so much – especially the idea of peace. Love to you, too, and peace and hugs, too! xoxo
Oh boy.. I missed this post of yours in September Cynthia.. and it was so so good.. So loved the poem
“But peace exists not only out there.
It’s me, my gaze, so very aware–
It’s the heart, and joy with some perspective,
That what we seek is introspective.”
Brilliant.. xxx <3
Sue – sweet Sue – thank you! I love it when you enjoy my poems because YOU are quite the poet with a gift for stringing words together in such powerful ways. So, to me, it is a special gift when I get a compliment from you on my poetry. Because you are so special to me. Thank you so much, my friend! Sending you big hugs and wishes for a relaxing weekend! xoxo