Battles – An Inspirational Poem to Calm the Inner War
An inspirational poem to calm the inner war
Lately, I have been at war with the world, disenchanted and roused by every injustice that finds its way to me. Maybe I have always been this way- always feeling the need to fight; for me, for others, for something more, for my hopes and my dreams. Perhaps I have allowed too many to trespass my heart with their heavy feet, giving too much of myself to people and circumstances that did not deserve or value my energy , my heart. So, I write, to cleanse and clear- find a way to breathe and remember me.
This is a poem called “Battles”, inspired by the African proverb “When there is no enemy within, the enemy outside cannot harm you”. I feel it has a deep resonance with many of us, trapped in human living, and we are naturally in a state of conflict with ourselves- our own inner war. But when we retreat back into the wisdom of our own soul- the actual simplicity we hold and often hide within, perhaps we can map a way forward that is calmer.
We become our own warriors of peace, lovers of dreams, inspirers of hope, and this extends outwardly.
Here is “Battles” which is in my book of poetry Beating Hearts and Butterflies. I hope you find some meaning and resonance in my words- Chrissy
“Battles” © 2018 by Christine Evangelou
You don’t need to fight everything
Or everyone
Fists clenched, heart in constant defence
The internal terrorist
Cursing every fall, each façade and pretence
And the opposing forces that living fully portends
Sometimes the wisest choice is to reset
Withdraw to your inner compass
Retreat inwardly as far as you can go
Focus on your heart
Beautify your mind
Stargaze and make wishes
Remain vulnerable enough to take a chance
Invoke every cell of magic within you
And pray that your dreams will be your reality someday
Because, sometimes, it’s just ghosts that you are at war with
Your own,
Other peoples,
The world’s hell of false living
The quiet invaders that perplex
The very human holes and conflicts that permeate and churn within
And the spectres that chill the warmest parts of your soul
Sometimes, victory is simply embracing what is
Loving yourself as you are
Meeting others where they are
And then through every hurt, misdeed, reckless act and crashed hope
Choosing to begin again
Becoming your own sage counsel
Strengthening your wings, setting your heart ablaze
Knowing that the biggest battle
Is not the one outside your door
It is the battle of self
And that is an inner war only won through kindness, empathy,
And enduring all the misty, murky pieces of life
So you can create a pathway
Your indomitable bridge to brighter things
As you forgo the trespass, these heavy treads upon your soul
Win your way through the struggle Mighty heart
Because this world needs its warriors of peace and lovers of dreams
And it will be charmed by what you bring…
Remember, when there is no antagonist within,
There is no war, no foe outside of you either
If you liked this poem, please share it 🙂 May it inspire you to seek some peace within and calm the inner war, Chrissy
Categorised as: Poetry, Well Being and Mindfulness