Month: May 2019
Secret Language
Every part of you is a secret language.
Eye, mouth, chin,
shoulder, elbow, hand
all speak,
all sing.
Together, you are a symphony.
Imagine what your hips would say
to those who will learn
and listen.
The first line of this is from a Rumi poem called Having Nothing” and translated by Coleman Barks. It needs work, but I like the idea of where this might go.
The Trouble with Time
I have trouble
with time.
It is constantly sneaking
away from me,
hiding in the folds of a book,
under a cup of coffee
or behind a daydream
Like a cat,
it stays just out of reach
until I turn my back.
Then it rubs against my legs
nearly tripping me up
Particles, sprinkled on the path,
crunch underfoot
Waves, crash into me
submerge me,
knocking me down
I cannot seem to manage
this time;
so forgive me
if I keep you waiting
Sunday morning thoughts
I have been reading Rumi and Mary Oliver; most recently “The Truest Devotion” and “Wild Geese”. They put me in a frame of mind to think of things like this:
There is love
And there are rules
And there is love of rules
Which of these do you worship?
Wordless Wednesday – Angels Among Us (or Don’t Blink!)
He Said – She Said
“Have been unavoidably detained by the world. Expect us when you see us.”
― Neil Gaiman and me
May 5
Sunday morning,
May sunshine
pours
through the windows.
Outside
there is a new
tenderness
to the air.
The breeze sings
in soft tones,
drawing us out,
urging us
to reach
for the sun.
Join the chorus
and sing.
This is a time
for birthing,
for growing
for beginnings.
This is a day to
be alive.
Keeping the NaPoWriMo Momentum Going
Do not divide
yourself.
You are not
a math problem.
You are not
a basket of eggs.
Do not worry about
where the world ends
and you begin.
That breeze blowing
is your inspiration too.
Claim it.
I am reading “A Year with Rumi” as part of my morning routine. I think that has influenced some of my poetry, including this one. I hope your morning includes something thoughtful and enjoyable.
Wordless Wednesday – Fern
A Fable for Our Time
Once upon a time there was an evil orange, and the orange thought he was the best fruit ever. He thought he deserved things the other fruits didn’t. He lied to all the other fruits and got them to make him their leader. (Because in fables fruits do have leaders.) Then he made crazy proclamations and all the fruit argued. Some though his words were brilliant; some thought they were crazy and hateful.
He even decided to build a fence around the orchard, and got many of the fruits to hate and fear the fruit from other orchards. And while all the fruits were busy arguing the Original Orange sneaked around changing things to bring him more of everything.
Some of the apples noticed the sky was changing and a big storm was coming. They tried to tell the others. Meanwhile, some of the grapes noticed that the Original Orange had a rotten spot and it was growing larger. When they tried to tell the other fruit, the Original Orange said they were just sour grapes who were fake and could not be trusted. Then he said it was an apple that was rotten and soon it would ruin the whole crop.
No one knows why so many of the fruits in the orchard believed the Original Orange, but while they were arguing with the fruits that didn’t, a big storm was indeed brewing. So, when the terrible storm came no one was prepared. Violent hail and rains knocked all the fruit to the ground and the whole crop was ruined; even the greedy Original Orange who thought he had everything.
* A bit of prose for you, now that NaPoWriMo is over.
In Other Words 