62 Comments
User's avatar
Luis Rosa's avatar

Damn bastards. Dude you really have a voice for poetry, real nice to hear it.

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

thank you, my brother, that means a lot. glad you enjoyed it.

Expand full comment
Polly Walker Blakemore's avatar

I am very much enjoying your writing and look forward to your posts each week. The last couple of weeks I have had great opportunity to be still and present - just about laid flat with a really bad allergic reaction to poison ivy. I can't recommend the experience but I will say that it gave me many moments where I was doing nothing but being in the moment, tuning into how I was feeling, what my body was doing. It really brought me to focus on the situation at hand, not what was, or will be, but NOW.

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

sometimes little setbacks like that force us to pause and realize stuff we were neglecting before. life has a way of bringing us back to those moment of awareness. and thank you so much, it means a lot to hear you enjoy what I'm doing. cheers <3

Expand full comment
Victoria Barrett's avatar

Lovely to see you read this one--it was one of my favorites.

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

thank you!

Expand full comment
Linda Thompson's avatar

Hi Franco,

I'm new to your Substack and really enjoyed this poem. The message was clear, even before I read the backgrounder below it. We all struggle with self-doubt, so this message resonates with everyone. Thanks for sharing.

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you Linda. I'm glad you could relate to it ❤️

Expand full comment
Dusk Daughter's avatar

I really enjoyed the recitation and the explainer after. Love to see this. I’m drawn in to this sort of engagement! 💕🙏🏼💕

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you, Dusk :)

Expand full comment
Andrew Dancer's avatar

Excellent work, Franco! A well worded perception. Are you familiar with T.S. Elliot's The Four Quartets.

Much fun Andrew 🧐

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you, Andrew!

Expand full comment
Polly Walker Blakemore's avatar

If you can be in the present, you are not bound by the past and not afraid of the future. If you cannot be present, you are paralyzed and stuck in routines and habits and ways of seeing and thinking that have become self-defeating ruts.

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

that paralysis is a true sickness in our world, when the distractions make it so much more difficult to remain still and present. thank you for your analysis, Polly :)

Expand full comment
20th Century Fox's avatar

Glad to have discovered your work

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

Likewise, happy to have connected with you :)

Expand full comment
K.C. Knouse's avatar

This line is what I take from your poem, Franco: "the pull of the past

steals my attention

breaks an ironclad focus

on the truth that’s at hand". May I always remember the importance of the truth that's at hand.

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

I believe you will, you're the strong kind of person that knows what's real and what's true. It's about constant attention and mindfulness and compassion for yourself and others. Thank you, my friend.

Expand full comment
Catrina Prager's avatar

oh woww! Hearing what you sound like finally! This was so fun to listen to. You’ve got a great voice, very deep and resonant! Looking forward to more of these, Franco! :)

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you Catrina. It was great to hear your voice on your debut post as well. Keep up the good work.

Expand full comment
Karen's avatar

Never judge yourself against other people and their situations. What's okay for them could be so wrong for you.

You are where you need to be at this moment in time

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

Beautiful, thank you for that wisdom. <3

Expand full comment
Marisa's avatar

🤍🙏🌟

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you, Marisa!

Expand full comment
Frankie's avatar

Another outstanding piece. I needed this reminder! Thank you Franco!

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you, Frankie!

Expand full comment
мarialex g.'s avatar

I loved it 🥹🤍

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

thank you!

Expand full comment
Andrew Rohloff's avatar

Read them more often. Keep killing it

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

Thank you, brother. Means a lot. 🙏

Expand full comment
Elaine R. Frieman's avatar

🫶🏻

Expand full comment
Franco Amati's avatar

Thanks Elaine ❤️

Expand full comment