How to Meditate: A Poem

Dec 02, 2016

A lesson from parenting

How to Meditate

Take your tired mind by the hand
and lead her,
grumbling and complaining,
to bed.

“I won’t!” she says,
but that’s where she needs to go
And you both know it.

Tuck her in,
perhaps read her a story
or sing a lullabye.

Wait ’til she closes her eyes
then tiptoe out of the room.

She’ll get up
multiple times
And tell you she’s not tired
That she can’t do this
That she doesn’t need to sleep

But you just smile,
take her by the hand again,
And bring her back.

Do this every night.

One evening,
possibly years from now
your mind will look at you,
yawn,
and say,

I’m worn out.
I’m going to bed.
Can you manage without me?

~Mary Poindexter McLaughlin