Seeking Yourself
Hurled into the universe
helpless, small,
How do we know where to go
Is it coincidence or design?
I believe that the little spirit is drawn
to love in abundance, to care beyond call.
A seed inherent that grows, that blooms
as the helpless newborn says hello.
Yet, why did I choose an island in the North
or you a town in the South
and why these particular parents we love?
Do we have a purpose to fulfill, a gift to explore?
do you believe it is a random act.
Is the seeming randomness just fear,
fear of seeking, of fulfilling our destinies?
Like heat seeking missives we were hurled
to the parents perfect for us;
Are they kindred spirits we sought
or a cradle to further our growth?
I know this seems cruel to those who struggle,
yet history shows;
Strength and love,
Leadership and wisdom from many once deprived.
© miriam ivarson
My Window 
A searching and sensitive expression of the ‘Who Am I?’ debate. I love the thought-provoking illustrations too, Miriam.
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Thank you Roland for your kind and appreciative comment. You are so righ,
many of us wonder who and why and s forth. So many questions with many diverse answers.
The illustrations are courtesy of Pixaby so I just spent time searching. 🦋
Miriam
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Miriam, this is a question , that has always intrigued me and am yet to find a satisfactory answer. One thing I’m sure though, it definitely is not a random act.
Loved th picture accompanying the poem. ❤️
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Radhika, I thank you for your lovely comment. Thank you for stating your answers and I agree, it doesn’t seem random and universe isn’t random.
I am so glad you liked the poem and the pictures.🌈 .
Miriam
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This is a beautiful poem, Miriam. We are the lucky ones who get the perfect parents.
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Thank you Robbie for your lovely comment. Yes we are, at least so many of us. As you can see in my last stanza I am well aware of those who do not
grow up with such blessings.
Miriam
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The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. – Joseph Campbell
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Thank you Phil, Joseph Campbell is both clear and to the point. I do like his writing. One snag, to be who you are you have to know who you are.
Miriam
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On that thought, here’s a great quote –
Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you’d like to act. – Bob Dylan
Sublime or superficial? Depth or suspended on the surface? We know who we are by the choices we make, eh?
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Thought-provoking and candid! Seeking has been the passion of man since times immemorial. He has answered this question according to his choices and capabilities yet all may not agree that the purpose of all on this earth is love and peace…two simple words, which have been exploited in each era!
Thanks for a lovely poem Miriam.
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Thank you for your lovely comment Balroop. Seeking is quite natural to man
and especially to questions where they can find no easy answer.
We get glimpses through the ages and from all cultures. Yet so many still seek. Love and peace might be used wrongly too frequently but short of inventing new words we could find the origin of love among man and peace
between us as we meet.
Miriam
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I, too, have asked myself these questions and have come to the same conclusion. “Strength and love, / Leadership and wisdom” are all the fruits of overcoming life’s struggles.
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Thank you Rosaliene, your answer is wonderful. ” Strength and love, / Leadership and wisdom” , what wonderful and enriching gifts to all around
and the universe which will get richer from it.
May we always treasure the gift of life and send out positive vibes.
Miriam
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How hard we look – in the mirror, in the family albums, in scrapbooks and saved newspaper articles – trying to find our own images in those of our ancestors, wondering if mom also lisped as a child, if dad also was as clumsy on the baseball field. Some of us trek far beyond our beginnings and others never reach their dreams. Sometimes we rise despite difficult beginnings while siblings are hobbled by the same. You made me think, Miriam.
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Thank you Sharon for this deep and thoughtful comment. I too like looking at old albums and see myself in childhood and particularly to see the faces of loved once and their smiles. I look out for the shine of love, of sadness, of
quiet thoughtfulness and care. So much to learn.
Like you I have thought of how different siblings of the same parents can be and felt it proves it is not all genetics or nurturing. Maybe the spirit each one brought?
Miriam
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An intriguing question that could be debated forever. I like to think things happen for a reason, but of course we don’t realize it until after the fact. Whether by chance or design, I am grateful for my families, the one I grew up in, the one I married into, and the one we created. Well done, Miriam!
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Thank you Julie for sharing these deep thoughts. The question has indeed been debated for as long as we can ascertain and yet –
we don’t realise until after the fact – .
Like you I am grateful for the family where I grew and for the strength of love and care they gave. Not all are born with this but still go out and stand even stronger. Magic is the human spirit.
Miriam
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Miriam very thought provoking… and I see I”m in the same boat with others. Some days we see through a glass darkly, other days we sail a ship of fools and still others we see the world through a grain of sand. And through it, my father is there to catch me and push me out further. Somehow this all makes sense and I embrace it. And how do I know but for the little bird singing by my window… jc
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I am glad you found my poem thought provoking, JC.
As you are quoting ” through a glass darkly ” , title of Ingemar Bergman’s book and subsequent film, I worry that you have seen dark in my poem. It wasn’t meant to.
However, Ingemar Bergman was born into a family with a very strict and religiously dark father. He was affected by the punishments meted out for the smallest thing.
What can be relevant to my poem is that in spite of all Ingemar Bergman became a famed authour and film maker. Most books explored the dark side though.
I think I will read up what happened to his two siblings …
Miriam
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Beautiful poem, dear Miriam 🌹
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Thank you Luisa. 😊
miriam
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I also ask such questions in life, Miriam. I’m thankful for my loving parents. Thank you for sharing your great thoughts.
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Thank you for your lovely comment, Miriam. I am glad to hear that you also ask these questions. Quite normal for us humans I think. We are questing and deep down spiritual.
Like you I am very grateful to the parents who loved and cared for me. That is a blessing.
miriam
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beautiful-I think on such things, too.
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Thank you for your comment, it makes me happy to know that we are many
who share these thoughts.
miriam
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Miriam, you’ve captured my questions perfectly, especially these: “Are they kindred spirits we sought
or a cradle to further our growth?” I suppose either way, they’re destined to be our parents for a time.
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Thank you for your heartfelt comment, Kate. It is wonderful each
time we reach someone’s inner self and I can see why this particular
stanza rang true to you.
Miriam
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gentle words of sunshine
and watering for my happy
wholesome seeds, thanks 🙂
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Beautiful and poetic response, David
May your seeds continue to be nourished,
as they were from the beginning.
miriam
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Miriam, a beautiful poem on so many levels. From the very first of ‘Hurled into the universe/
helpless, small’ you draw us into your work and immediately ask a question. This format nearly becomes an initimate conversation between you, the poet and us, the reader. Along the way you cause us to stop reading, consider our answers, reflect on yours. Your innate wisdom guides us along the way of finding ourselves, whatever the circumstances.
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Thank you for your wonderful and literary reflections, Annika. I am
very touched by your positive words. I want to quote following by you:
” This format nearly becomes an initimate conversation between you, the poet and us, the reader. ”
This is something I seek, however else will we learn.:)
Miriam
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Miriam you have written these words so truly and captured all stages of our life in her beautiful nutshell. I absolutely agree with your words, where, why and from whom have we come and was it our decision right or wrong.
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Thank you Kamal for your appreciative comment. I read your thoughts with
pleasure and understanding.
miriam
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Thanks Miriam so much.
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Simply gorgeous
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Thank you so much, Kate. 🦋 .
miriam
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