How do we bring people together in ways that matter ?

The People I want to Hold Onto

Polly Carr, 2/26

The kind of people I want to hold onto:

Those who fill the first ten minutes

at the party with questions, curious.

People who love gathering: wood, water, friends. 

People who look at the quiet child on the bench, 

or the lone adult who is not in solitude, and say 

hi there, how are you?

People who box up leftovers, 

Get in the car, and drive until they reach 

the corner where that man with his sign is standing, again.

I want to hold onto people who talk as they plant, 

nurturing ideas of hope and possibility while they 

dig and drop the seeds,

Those who see the sacred 

in the mundane coffee shop, 

anticipating. 

People who walk out into the dark night, unafraid, 

gasping look at all of those stars, 

I think that’s the big dipper!

People who say, I know you’re scared, 

but I think you want to try this

before they turn and hop, their ski tips in the air 

as I stare at the space they left behind.

Those who say, I know you’re sad, 

I’ll stay until you are okay. 

I want to hold onto people who can help me 

remember me 

on the low days when I can’t find myself, 

and on the future days 

when I can’t find my footing.

Those who touch the matted fur of

Lost pets, despite the warnings 

against kindness. 

Those who touch the water whenever it is near, 

regardless of the temperature, 

moving like seals in its dark delight. 

The kind of people who care 

about other peoples’ children, 

who cry for the missing daughters and aunties, 

regardless of whether they know them, 

because that is who we are.

I want to be with the people who see 

the awful beauty of this life, 

And hold on hard.

Pre-survey: Who is in the room?

Arc of a Gathering

World Cafe

Circle Way

Proaction Cafe

Next Workshops

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