During a dark time of my life I was sent a poem by Rumi called “You Were Born With Potential.” As soon as I had read it I found myself picking up my pen. It was a strange experience, as if my hand was writing automatically. When I saw what I had written, I knew I needed to make a big change in my life.
I felt like I wasn’t writing this poem. It was a stream flowing from my subconscious to my hand, and into the words that appeared on the notepad before me. When I was done, this was what lay before my eyes:
I Was Born With Wings
I was born with potential. You took it away.
I was born with goodness and trust. You told me to stop caring about others.
I was born with ideals and dreams. You crushed them.
I was born with greatness. You made me feel weak.
I was born with wings. You clipped them.
I am not meant for crawling, but I have to with you.
I have no wings anymore.
I wish I flew when I had the chance.
– Doc Bok
Subconscious Messages
My innermost thoughts had found a way to get out. I was trying to send myself a message. I had been stuck in a place where I felt like every piece of me had been chipped away. I was trapped, unable to escape. When I finally flew away so much of me had been removed it felt like there was nothing left of me.
But then I realised that I had simply been reduced to another shapeless mass. Another uncarved block. And though it would take time, I could carve myself out of it again. I had new potential. So I’ve slowly found myself again, though it’s taken a long time.
Now I have the chance to fly once more.
You Were Born with Potential
Since it’s in the public domain, I’ve included Rumi’s original poem below.
You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust.
You were born with ideals and dreams.
You were born with greatness.
Your were born with wings.
You are not meant for crawling, so don’t.
You have wings.
Learn to use them, and fly.
– Rumi
