Chelan Harkin: Approach Thirsty

This is one of the stunning poems from her third book, Wild Grace, that Chelan Harkin read when my husband and I saw her on April 12th. Chelan's poetry, courage and wisdom, and deep and courageous heart touches my heart and soul so deeply and is now captivating increasing numbers of people worldwide. So needed and such a gift. Blessed be. 🙏💗 Molly

Chelan speaking at New Thought Center for Spiritual Living, Lake Oswego, OR. April 12th, 2024

Approach Thirsty

Lately I've been praying to Muhammad,

Moses, Krishna,  Buddha, Baha'u'llah, Zoroaster, Jesus―

why be choosy?

I ask any source of true love

and great joy

to throw me as many bones

as they might.

Sometimes I pray to Mozart, Bach or Galileo

to pour music or the stars

through me.

Often I pray to Tahirih,

a great Persian poet and feminist

of the 1800's who would remove

her veil when addressing men

and was martyred

for speaking the irrepressible truth

in her heart.

Her final words were,

"You can kill me as soon as you like,

but you will never stop

the emancipation of women."

I often ask Hafez for a dance

and we go for the most poetic whirls.

Sometimes I ask Rumi

that he pluck me an ancient,

everblooming rose

and I crush its scent

onto the page.

I have a crush on Kahlil Gibran

and ask that he pass me

inspired love notes.

I pray to Harriet Tubman,

that queen of heroism,

for courage

and to Einstein

for out of this world

ideas.

Inspiration is not elitist.

There is no muse

that is off limits,

no genius you should not approach

and ask to be yours.

Oh, beseech whoever you might

that the master keys

that open all hearts

are put in your care,

that your particularly necessary style of expression 

may open new portals of beauty

to the eyes of the world.

Hobnob with all the great

dead poets,

thinkers

lovers,

artists,

heroes of justice,

leaders of truth.

They still want a place

to pour their wonder

into the world,

and you are a worthy vessel.

It's an open bar in the sky.

Approach thirsty,

and ask!

― Chelan Harkin

From Wild Grace