A Cauldron

Thank you, Barona.  Much appreciated.  

Very fitting for the times one finds themselves in.

Indeed, Terri.  It's a true turning point.

So.spot.on. ❤📝

It's difficult to know what the ingredients are in the concoction until you get a taste of it; by then, it's in your system. Wisdom teaches us not to reciprocate as if it was a chili cook off!

And for every one person who acts out of feeling threatened, your prayers bless you with ten people who legitimately care for your welfare.

💜💑💋  

LOL! You are spot on!  I LOVE this response as much as I love chili! ❤

But not as much as I Love You 💜💋💏

He's awesome, isn't he, Sky_dancer.  ❤

And thank you. 😊

I Love You back. 💜💑💋

💜💏💋

Exactly, Rose.  Life is too beautiful to live it any other way except as a blessing!  Especially when you have your health and Love.  

Thank you, Sweet Lady!  ❤

great sentiment, do you pray for me?

Infected ... conflicted  - very good!  I also enjoyed "the sad source ... ... tangible farce".

Neat idea for a poem.  I suppose that it does raise the question: are we an ingredient in another's cauldron?

Only if we allow ourselves to be, SeaCat.  
 
"Recognizing the chef ( as well as ingredients ) is half the battle."  
~ my father    
 
Gratitude and positive prayer are the greatest weapons.  
 
Happy you enjoyed the alliteration, assonance, and consonance of those particular lines.  I enjoy the subtle nature of half rhyme myself.  
 
Thanks!

My first reaction to the question “are we an ingredient  in another’s cauldron” is similar to Ahavati’s response.

But then I thought about how I can’t control how other’s feel about me. I can only control how I respond to it. So no matter what I do, I can’t control if they let me become something toxic in their life. Even if I’m doing my best to not be toxic.

But then again....I’m not really decided. :)

That perspective ( how others view me ) never crossed my mind when responding to SeaCat in all honesty, Daisy.  I guess because I cannot control or change another's filter.  It's a very interesting way to look at it.  

That being said, that issue rests in others who expect you change to suit them so they can feel in control vs working to improve themselves. I'm not judging them, on the contrary, I understand it comes from abuse, betrayal, unrequited love, and so forth - which in turn leads to many mental illnesses ( such as sociopaths who are created from circumstance vs psychopaths who are born as such ).   There's just nothing I can do about that, except live my own life the best I can, and stand firm against any attempt from a negative person to insert themselves or control me.

That is an interesting point.

Whilst some things are undoubtedly toxic to all, there are some things that will be toxic to some people, and not others.  

With this second category of toxins, it takes wisdom and courage to recognise when we are being a toxic ingredient, and then respond appropriately.

This is an interesting discussion.

If only it were common knowledge that it takes fewer muscles to pray for someone's happiness than to finagle retribution for evil works. I love your work. Thanks.

John

Misery loves company, John.

Thank you. Much appreciated.

I love the idea of this. I wonder, though, if it would be stronger if your second methaphor was about change that happens with heat/simmering/cooking as opposed to the carbon that is changed because of heat and pressure. Does that make sense? Or maybe I’m not remembering how diamonds are created. Which is possible. :) I can’t really offer any ideas at the moment. Too many bourbons to make my brain work well tonight!

And as always, please don’t take my critique/question as an attack on your work. (That’s more for the others who might read this and think I’m attacking when I’m just offering feedback.)

Firstly, I never take honest critique personally.  On the contrary, I relish it.  

Secondly, I did, ironically, consider the cooking metaphor ( as well as a mining/excavation one ); however, sometimes it takes an extreme heat and pressure of circumstance to altar something to the heart of its true form.  Such as people waking up to what's important after a terminal illness diagnosis, etc.  

Thanks for taking such an interest. It's truly appreciated.

Thank you for that thoughtfulness. Particularly in these troubled times, everwhere.

Thank you, Ammonite.  
Much appreciated.  

A beautiful piece of profound ink A. I heard the Dalai Lama say recently that the world is psychologically damaged at the moment.
Cheers...Harry

Like Mr. Rogers said, look for the helpers, Harry. There are always the helpers.  

Thank you, my friends. Much appreciated.