Ep 103 Poetic Peace: I am Not Resigned (”Constance, Bind Up Your Hairs”)

2025-10-10

Avis Kalfsbeek takes a pause between series for a meditation on grief, war, and liberative compassion. She shares that she does a monthly creative project in her mini, free Shakespeare Sherpa Club (link below). As part of my monthly Shakespeare Sherpa project, I turn toward poetry and performance as a quiet ritual of peace. Today, that takes the form of two voices in deep lament: Constance, from King John by William Shakespeare (Act 3, Scene 4), a mother devastated by the imprisonment of her son. Edna St....

As part of my monthly Shakespeare Sherpa project, I turn toward poetry and performance as a quiet ritual of peace. Today, that takes the form of two voices in deep lament:

Constance, from King John by William Shakespeare (Act 3, Scene 4), a mother devastated by the imprisonment of her son.
Edna St. Vincent Millay, in her haunting poem Dirge Without Music, refusing to soften the sorrow of death.

In this episode, I also briefly reflect on a teaching from Ram Dass (Ep. 283 of Be Here Now) and the difference between righteous helping and liberative helping. Can we mourn and still be spiritually free? Can we serve peace while holding the full weight of what we feel?

Awkward Alert: I read Shakespeare not because I am a Shakespearean actor, or ever plan to be, but because this is my podcast and I can. As such, I remind listeners of the fast forward button.

Peace and love,

Avis

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