Naomi Shihab Nye reads "Kindness"

Naomi Shihab Nye visited Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality on March 18-19, 2016. Here she tells the story behind her poem "Kindness," and then reads the poem.
Video credit: Kabeya Media

[@teresahall7469]

A beautiful poem based on real life...

[@shangelman]

Such a vitally important poem. I wish your recording did not add the music behind her voice - she and her words are so glorious...they need no accompaniment.

[@AngelalLloyd]

Good Morning Naomi, 2022 today, Wednesday, November, 23.Thank you for sharing your direct experience, and writing. Love you Naomi.

[@judydaniels6678]

This poem describes my own way through grief and mourning of the loss of two of my sons and some of what I learned - "...you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing." - my family, humankind, flora, fauna, terra firma, ocean, the living process have come into a sharper focus.

[@stephaniejeon5864]

so beautiful! Thank you for the poem!

[@mariabergman3813]

This poem is so very significant to the world we live in now, 2024. And also so very meaningful to me as I have just been advised of a very serious health condition. For so long I've been struggling with how to live in a world of interminable suffering of people and animals. Indifference and isolation from reality seem to be the primary practice in this culture by trying to protect oneself from the pain of this knowledge... And then loss and suffering or the grave potential of losing everything, including life, becomes a personal reality. This poem illustrates to me that "the thread catches all sorrows and you see the enormity of the cloth." I am so moved by this poem. It seems a way to approach the world, including my own now, to see the thread that includes me in all sorrows but resigns all anxiety to kindness to oneself and the world. "It is I you've been looking for and then goes with you everywhere like a shadow or a friend."

[@shakesrear7850]

where do you even get music that tired? did you slow down some 80s game tune? sounds like a fart in the middle of a prayer

[@jackilaird4249]

How absolutely wonderful 🌺🌸🌼

[@skarathanos]

amazingly powerful. thank you

[@karenfurey1956]

Wow ❤

[@matthew2000tx]

Who knew Kindness would be a mask in 2020

[@TERRA8581]

…or being accepted and cherished even if you cannot wear one…🙏🏽

[@helenaganderson9079]

powerful x