I've always been drawn to the number Seven.
I am not surprised, when I read about the importance of Seven in cultures around the world.
As a Christian, I try to follow Jesus' teachings that I must forgive Seventy times Seven. In truth, that means you forgive as often as someone hurts you, since you can't really go through life keeping a memoranda of how many times someone has hurt you -- in word or deed, consciously or unconsciously.
Motivational gurus advise us: Fall Seven times, Stand up Eight.
There are Seven days in the week.
There are Seven wonders of the world, although a child can count far more.
Snow White had Seven dwarves.
There were Seven brides for Seven brothers.
Highly effective people supposedly have Seven habits in common.
There are Seven colours in the rainbow.
Do Re Mi Fa So Lah Ti are the Seven notes in the Western musical scale. Just as Sa Re Ga Ma Paa Dha Ni are the Seven notes in the Hindustani and Carnatic musical scales.
There are Seven deadly sins.
Enid Blyton had the Secret Seven.
James Bond answers to 007.
And to cap it all, I got married on the Seventh day of the Seventh month of the Seventh year of this millennium.
I am not surprised, when I read about the importance of Seven in cultures around the world.
As a Christian, I try to follow Jesus' teachings that I must forgive Seventy times Seven. In truth, that means you forgive as often as someone hurts you, since you can't really go through life keeping a memoranda of how many times someone has hurt you -- in word or deed, consciously or unconsciously.
Motivational gurus advise us: Fall Seven times, Stand up Eight.
There are Seven days in the week.
There are Seven wonders of the world, although a child can count far more.
Snow White had Seven dwarves.
There were Seven brides for Seven brothers.
Highly effective people supposedly have Seven habits in common.
There are Seven colours in the rainbow.
Do Re Mi Fa So Lah Ti are the Seven notes in the Western musical scale. Just as Sa Re Ga Ma Paa Dha Ni are the Seven notes in the Hindustani and Carnatic musical scales.
There are Seven deadly sins.
Enid Blyton had the Secret Seven.
James Bond answers to 007.
And to cap it all, I got married on the Seventh day of the Seventh month of the Seventh year of this millennium.
And so when Corinne Rodrigues of The Write Tribe announced this prompt, 7x7x7x7, in which we were supposed to pick the Seventh book out of our bookshelf, then go to the Seventh page, pick the Seventh line on that page, and write Seven lines of poetry or prose on that line, I just had to go for it.
So here is the Seventh book on my bookshelf. Father Brown Stories by GK Chesterton.
The Seventh line is "There is in life an element of elfin coincidence which people reckoning on the prosaic may perpetually miss."
And here is my response to the prompt:
There is in life an element of elfin coincidence which people reckoning on the prosaic may perpetually miss.
Our jaded sight may fail to heed the marvels of the world. To see something anew, you must see with brand new eyes.
At every moment, something comes alive and something dies.
Miracles in plain sight, and yet somehow in disguise.
Life times drift by, we gaze too long at the lies.
And all along dead-ends lead to new paths, and even as you groan about answers blown miles away and gone amiss.
They show up on your doorstep, ah! The bliss.
Your post is quite insightful. Looking for complexity, I've missed quite a few simple joys, and regretted it later. Thankfully, I have caught some before they've passed the horizon and felt their bliss before it was too late. Thanks for this!
ReplyDeletewow ! Only you could have taken that complicated first sentence and used it as a prompt !
ReplyDeleteAgree with Ruchira... had to read the first line twice to understand it :D
ReplyDeleteThis a very nice take on a very intricate sentence. I liked the importance of SEVEN in your life.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Leo. I firmly believe that we miss a lot of joy when we try to control everything that happens in life. Some things we just must leave to chance, and to a benevolent God, believing that it will all work out right. I've seen evidence of this so often in my life.
ReplyDeleteRuchira, Your comment can be interpreted in two ways. One, as a compliment, and two, to mean that only I could be so harebrained. I shall take both of them as being true. :D Thank you for stopping by. I loved your take on the prompt too.
ReplyDeleteShilpa, I had to read that first line more than twice before it sank in properly. And then I thought what a charming coincidence that I got such a magnificently meaningful line.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Ma'am Usha, that number is quite significant for me. Thank you for dropping by.
ReplyDeleteThe first sentence you began writing with.. what does that even mean? I mean, how could you decipher such a long sentence and expand on it so well :)
ReplyDeleteWow that was amazing, thanx for noting down so many 7s and its importance :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful composition from a tough line, thanx for sharing.
Also it was nice to know about your marriage date :)
Ah the joy of leaving things to chance! That is a lovely line to use as a prompt
ReplyDeleteBhavya, I see what you mean. I felt that way too, and I had to read that sentence more than once to get the full significance of it. Cool line, don't you think? It fit in so well with my philosophy of expecting life to surprise and delight me.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kislaya, welcome to my blog. I have always felt drawn to the number seven. Even so I was surprised to know how widespread the significance of that number was across cultures, religions, literature, cinema etc. Thank you for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteHi, Ritu, that must be the Serendipity people are always talking about. The line was just perfect for me. I too believe in leaving the cursed "Hows" alone. Let the Universe forge the connections and the coincidences. Mine is not to reason why or wonder how.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post, Cynthia. I can see seven is very significant to you for sure. I agree that we need to take notice of those miracles happening around us and not worry so much about unimportant things. Great poem! What a fun prompt! I look forward to trying it.
ReplyDeleteYour post made me go to my book shelf, pull down the seventh book, go to the seventh page and find my writer's prompt.
ReplyDeleteI'll have some fun creating a poem with it over the weekend
Hi, Cate, good to have you on my blog. Seven is a significant number for sure. Do try the prompt soon. You never know which book leads you off in which direction. I look forward to catching up on your take on the prompt.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I look forward to reading your response to the prompt.
ReplyDeleteBy far the best lines on the prompt.. filled with wise meanings and deep undertones.
ReplyDeleteI loved this line:
" Miracles in plain sight, and yet somehow in disguise."
How many of us manage to miss little miracles in our daily lives?
Never thought about the significance of 7 that deeply!! Nice take...in fact, blissful..
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't easy to build up lines on that sentence...loved it, Cynthia...:))
Wow, I'd never recognized how much 7 shows up. Thank you for this very interesting post and bravo on your poem. I'm not sure I could do so well but after reading this post I must admit, I am tempted to try!
ReplyDeleteHilarie
Just out of curiosity I looked at my bookshelf for my #7 book. E.M. Forster's 'A Room with a View'. Maybe I'll check the page and line later today. Interesting post and views.
ReplyDeletenever thought about the number seven that way!
ReplyDeleteand that's an interesting line of thought! the dead ends leading to new paths....
How beautifully everything came together - your love for the number seven, Corrinne's challenge, the prompt that you picked up, and your response. Kudos!
ReplyDeleteMy first time visiting your blog. I'm sure it's the first of many!
http://reekycoleslaw.com/
How sweet of you to say that! Thank you, A Walk into the Woods, the lines just lent themselves to this poem, and actually, it practically wrote itself. Credit goes to the original author, GK Chesterton, whose writing was so good as to inspire me to give my best.
ReplyDeletePanchali, this is but the tip of the iceberg. If you get Google to guide you, you will be amazed at the prevalence of 7 in our world today. Thank you for joining me on my blog. So glad you liked my post. :)
ReplyDeletePrepare to be surprised, Hilarie, 7 does have a deep influence on all cultures around the world. I am so happy to know that you liked my post. I would like to encourage you to take it up yourself. You never know where it might lead you.
ReplyDeleteDenise, please go ahead and attempt the prompt. I have the book but haven't read it yet. Maybe your post will prompt me to go back to my bookshelf and read Forster. Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteLittle princess, I am a strong believer in the truth that when a door closes, another opens. The deadends lie in our minds, in our inability to imagine something positive.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Rickie, it does seem as if the challenge was designed to my specifications. Thank you for joining me on my blog. I look forward to seeing you around more often.
ReplyDeleteThe importance of seven is highlighted by you. very interesting
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kalpana.
ReplyDeleteAha! This is a really good insight/ really well thought out post! I really enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteSophie, I really would like to thank you.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I've heard plenty of interesting takes on the 70 times 7 scripture verse.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even understand the first line! And you write 7 sentences on it. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteJoseph, that is a verse that simply invites us to reflect. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteJyothi, Fikar not, as they say. I didn't understand it either the first time. I had to stare at it for some time before the meaning became clear. :)
ReplyDeletewe gaze too long at lies.... the line somehow runs so deep. Its a beautiful set of words. Cynthia I visit your blog through write tribe and this is the first time I have come across poetry stuff from you... its wonderfully flown through the rhythm
ReplyDeleteRicha
Very well said. It is true that people often tend to miss out on so much beauty all around them purely because they haven't opened up their eyes to see this beauty. Yes, their eyes are open - but are they really open to sense the beauty around them? Sadly, often not. It is a different type of sensitivity you need.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cynthia. Very well written and expressed.
I love the idea of answers arriving at your doorstep. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteDropping by from 7x7x7x7
And to think I almost missed this! Love the book choice and then your words! Profound.
ReplyDeletePS: What's the programme for Sunday? :)