“LIVING POETRY” AND RHYTHM

“Rhythm underlies everything” in poetry, writes Mary Oliver. As “Living Poetry” in motion, we all are, we subscribe to, and embody certain flow and rhythms that “underlie everything” in life. Rhythms in poetry are dictated by carefully chosen words (diction), sounds of words, lines, how the lines begin and end, and how the lines are constructed whether they are long or brief (among others). Rhythms are created in poetry through words and non-words (margins, my word). In poetry that has meaningful rhythms, we are drawn and invited to enter poetry. With rhythms that are unnatural and idle, we are dissuaded to enter and engage. As such, rhythms in life cannot be associated with mere routines, as routines tend to be perfunctory and rigid, whereas rhythms are natural and organic, or I would also say, alive and breathing, and thus full of life.

Establishing new rhythms in new places takes time. When traveling, as one is outside of the known comfort zones and surroundings, it requires inner patience to build a rhythm that is invigorating and meaningful. As my wife and I are currently outside of our normal surroundings in Southern California, both of us are quite mindful of establishing new rhythms, separately as individuals and together as a couple. Working to build these rhythms as a couple is like dancing as partners, sometimes dancing alone and sometimes holding each other and moving in such ways to create our own unique dance. With clumsiness and childishness hopefully behind us, having stepped on each other’s foot for many years, I would hope we have learned how to break out and do solo breakout moves and how to move together as seasoned partners. All for building rhythm that is unforced and grace-filled. . .

Physically and schedule-wise, Grace usually is packed with zoom meetings engaging with her spiritual direction sessions mostly in the morning hours. A few times during the week, I join in to facilitate and participate in group spiritual direction sessions with various groups we have been sharing our life with. She starts at 8 am most mornings. Silence, books, candles, yoga, and eating yogurt (among other things) are important building blocks of her daily rhythm. Sitting in a café, exercising, walking, writing, etc (among others) are important ingredients to my daily rhythm.

Since our current Airbnb is a small studio, I need to vacate the room and create space for her private sessions that start at 8 am. Fortunately, within walking distance is a Starbucks attached to a relatively outdated mall that opens right at 8. Usually, it is Aisyah, a big-eyed Malay girl with a black hijab and mask that match her black outfit with Starbucks’ signature green apron, that opens the store and greets me. I order my go-to Grande Americano with extra room. As customer number one almost every day, she knows my order now but spells my name, Cheong, with a smile on the cup. I tried to correct her but decided to remain as “Cheong.” She told me the first morning if I order a donut, then I could save 1 ringgit (about 20 cents) as part of the breakfast set menu. I told her “No thanks,” but she still gave me the discount. Now, I just take the donut and get a few bites in.

With no one else around until 10 am or so and even with sparsely populated Malays (our place is in the Muslim neighborhood) in the mornings, I am mostly by “myself” with no words spoken with others. This is my office and has become part of my daily rhythm accompanied by non-verbal words. These days, I write more words than I speak. When my wife and I reunite for lunch, neither of us is verbose or chatty and there is ample room for silence. As I was planning this trip back in the US, when I saw photos of the fitness room in the building (not to mention the outdoor basketball court), I must have clicked “reserve” without thinking carefully when reserving the Airbnb. When I or we are working out in the gym mostly in the afternoons, we are silent and without words. A few times during the week, we spend time with a missionary couple who reside less than half a mile away from our place, and that also has become a part of our rhythm. Silence, exercise (and walking), books, journaling (for Grace), and writing for me are some of our bedrock rhythms as a couple while in Malaysia.

As described above, words and “non-words” play pivotal roles in creating certain rhythms in life. Non-words are like margins on how the poetry is constructed, leaving plenty of room for introspection and reflection. This rhythm in Malaysia has become more about listening than speaking. And I do not mind listening over speaking. At the same time, I am fully aware that this is a particular season, and that rhythm can and will change depending on contexts.

The few spoken and/or written words, contrastingly, carry weight and gravity, especially with the background of silence and margin. I would like to think that I am “learning the unforced rhythms of grace” that Jesus taught (Matthew 11:29, The Message). My current natural rhythms consist of more listening and non-words than speaking and words. Otherwise, it would not feel natural and thus forced. By letting the context and the Author of context dictate the creation of rhythms, with nothing “heavy or ill-fitting on me,” I find myself in a good place. The unforced rhythms of grace naturally are about “keeping company with Jesus and learning to live freely and lightly” according to verse 30 (The Message).

As has been part of the rhythm, in a few days, I will miss Aisyah serving me a cup of Americano and being all alone for at least a good couple of hours. (We will hit the road in a few days traveling throughout Southeast Asia until late March.) I would not even correct her spelling of my name as that has also been part of the rhythm. :)