When the world offers no mercy
Let poetry stand out
Stand out like an island of sanity
Midst the harsh seas of chaos
Breathing order
To bring about peace
To bring about joy
To bring about flow
This poem has been adapted from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book “Flow”. It’s fab – a really inspirational read – if anyone wants to know more about Optimal Experience
So wretched is the heart of man
Who strives to thus attain
A wealth in riches, money or
Extrinsic reward gain.
How flawed he is in searching for
Material luxuries
Summoning will for more and more
Hoping to be happy.
For such craving will only lead
To senses unfulfilled
And sours even the finest times
As such quest wrecks the thrills
For happiness cannot be sought
Cannot be chased; pursued
Yet more so is a consequence
That comes about; ensues
A quality or side effect
That resides in the flow
Of optimal experience
To leave its mark a-glow
And though perhaps it sometimes seems
Elusive at its best
Through conquest of one’s inner self
Shine rays of happiness
Based on the theory of “flow” as researched by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (2002)
Ginz&Tonic 