A Poem - 3/31/22
I had mentioned in an earlier post this month that I have been working on a new poem.
I thought that is was not anywhere near finished, but a few days ago, I realized it was ready to be out in the world.
I found this out in a strange way. At least I thought so.
Each Monday I am blessed to participate in a weekly examen group. We have been together for some time now, and each week we take time to review the week that has passed, take some time to listen into the invitations for the coming week, and ask for a few graces - either for ourselves or for others. We rotate leading this reflection - and given that we are all a creative bunch - the questions often take new shapes and lenses each week. This past week we were invited to view our weeks through the lens of creativity. Asking where creativity had met us in the past week and where she wanted to meet up in the coming week. As I reflected on this, I realized that creativity had been hanging out with me and my poem for a number of weeks. And she was ready to move on. When I tried to explain to her that that the poem wasn’t finished she disagreed. She said, “trust the poem”.
So later that day I posted the poem in the Light House, the online contemplative community that I belong to and the place where my examen group is rooted (if you want to know more about this community and how to join check it out here).
And, even though I thought the poem was less than finished, it received a very good response. Surprising me and making me think that I have to listen to creativity’s voice more often.
I feel it is one of the strangest poems I have ever written. I kept wanting the poem to be more - but really it is just a conversation I have been having with the wind this past month.
The Forgotten Coast of Florida is a really windy place this time of year so we have had lots of conversations. Including this morning when gale force winds blew in and shook our camper and rattled our nerves.
So here it is. I hope you enjoy reading it. Or at least I hope the words blow something that you might need to hear. I am sure the wind and I will continue to be in dialogue for many moons to come.
Wind
As in
restlessness
my own
yours
rustling trap doors
curtained windows
hinting at escape
new destinations, freedom.
Wind
As in
threshold
blowing in the unexpected
encircling
a tornado
a turning point
a welcomed leaning in.
Wind
As in
meandering
a crooked path
paper rustling the ground
tin can tumbling
no foreseeable arrival anywhere.
Wind
As in
release
letting go
moving on
never intended to leave
opening a tightened fist.
Wind
As in
Ruah
feminine breath of God
Spirit
Ancestor
the seen
the unseen
a trinity hungry for feminine words.
Wind
As in
finished
battered
swept clean
as powerful as it is destructive
decisive in its wiping out.
Wind
As in
thunderous and calm
a conundrum of
typhoon and hurricane
a gentle force
a cooling breeze.
Wind
As in
Mother Nature
the Earth
Gaia
Universe
independent of all our human needs.
Wind
As in
conversation
nature’s dance partner
swirling
stumbling
as elegant as she is clumsy.
Wind
As in
pay attention
listen
beware.