Pause for Peace: Thanks

Episode Title: Thanks: A Midweek Pause for Peace with W.S. MerwinEpisode Description:In this week's Midweek Pause for Peace, Laura Davis shares "Thanks" by acclaimed poet and former U.S. Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin. Laura pairs the poem with soothing imagery in her signature style, offering listeners a moment of reflection on gratitude as a steady practice, even amid loss and uncertainty. This episode invites listeners to pause and consider thankfulness as a form of resilience.What Laura Covers in This Episode:·       Laura introduces W.S. Merwin and the poem "Thanks," including its origins and publication history·       Laura reflects on gratitude as a survival skill that persists through hardship and grief·       Laura explores how the poem's rhythm and repetition mirror the instinct to give thanks even in dark moments·       Laura offers listeners a grounded, imagery-paired pause for the heart and nervous systemAbout Host Laura DavisLaura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About the Featured PoetW.S. Merwin (1927–2019) was a major American poet whose body of work spans more than fifty books of poetry, prose, and translation across five decades. He won two Pulitzer Prizes, for "The Carrier of Ladders" (1971) and "The Shadow of Sirius" (2009), and served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 2010 to 2011. His work evolved from early formal verse to spare, unpunctuated free verse shaped by his anti-war convictions, later turning toward themes of ecology and Buddhism after he settled on Maui, where he restored a former pineapple plantation into a palm forest. "Thanks" appears in "Migration: New & Selected Poems" (Copper Canyon Press, 2005).CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe