overheard while walking in circles, week 3

Deb Talan reminds me:
Now you only dream in peaceful blue
The morning doesn't even scare you anymore
You are a phoenix with your feathers still a little wet
Baby, the ashes just look pretty on your eyes.

The Cranberries picks up the pace with:
Oh my life is changing everyday
Every possible way

Frou Frou sings:
So let go, jump in
Oh well, whatcha waiting for

Keith Urban keeps me going with:
'Cause days go by
I can feel 'em flyin'
Like a hand out the window in the wind.
The cars go by
Yeah it's all we've been given,
So you better start livin' right now
'Cause days go by.

Kelly Clarkson invites a little grin with:
But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so movin' on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
What I want
Since you've been gone

Dashboard Confessional sings a few of my current favorite lines:
I watch you spin around
In the highest heels
You are the best one
Of the best ones

Tina Turner does what she does best with:
Cause I don't have no use
For what you losely call the truth
You better be good to me

The Dixie Chicks remind me of the truth:
Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself
I opened my mouth and I heard myself
It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself
Guess I could have made it easier on myself

But I, I could never follow

Paul Simon sings his sweet song:
I figure that once upon a time I was an ocean
But now I'm a mountain range
Something unstoppable set into motion
Nothing is different, but everything's changed

the "no one is going to stop me (not even me)" playlist

"Ashes on Your Eyes" by Deb Talan
"Let Go" by Frou Frou
"Days Go By" by Keith Urban
"Since You've Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson
"Stolen" by Dashboard Confessional
"You Better Be Good to Me" by Tina Turner
"The Long Way Around" by the Dixie Chicks
"Once Upon Time There Was an Ocean" by Paul Simon

a little post about an apron

There is something delightful about custom-making a creation just for yourself. You see the piece in your mind and imagine the little touches you want it to have and picture where you will wear it or put it in your home. With each stitch, you know you are making a gift for yourself. You can sigh with less frustration when you have to undo mistakes you might make along the way. You can smile with that "oh it is perfect" smile when you put it on or place it where it belongs.

Last month, I created an apron just for me...

I wanted a skirt look, so I made it large enough to meet at my waist in the back. The front pocket closes with Velcro, so that it can hold my wallet or needlecase and seam ripper or change when it becomes my cashbox of sorts when I sell my creations at shows. I added the side pocket at just the right length to rest my hand inside it and to have access to whatever I might need.

I have found it to be the perfect accessory when I run errands, especially when my hands are full. Like today when I needed to mail nine packages and fill out five custom forms and other things at the post office.

The top pocket held my wallet, Starbucks card (because morning PO runs means stopping at the drive-thru Starbucks, and today, I had the chance to drink up my first pumpkin spice latte of the season), and other items needed for the packages. The side pocket held my cell phone and keys. I felt like quite the apronista. I am also going to wear it when I go antiquing and thrifting. The pockets will easily hold my measuring tape, notepad, pencil, and other necessities, so that I don't need to find a place to put my purse when I need to measure something or open linens to check for stains or gasp with delight when I need to pick up the perfectly pleated vintage apron, like this one. (I had to get it. I just had to. Those pleats remind me of the kilts I wore for four years of boarding school back in Indiana. Love. Those. Pleats.)

Aprons as fashion indeed.

Today, I find myself needing an afternoon break from a bit of work stress. And, lucky me, because I work from home, I can give myself this needed break. I think I am going to spend time in the little room creating a few more of these aprons to sell at ArtFiberFest (and speaking of AFF, when I went to Teesha's site to grab that link, I saw that a few spots are left. You, yes you, should take a break from all that has been crazy in your life and head to this neck of the woods to spend time with some of the most fantastic people you have ever met in one of the most beautiful spots in the world...and get to learn while making a few things too). I think I'll tweak the pockets a bit to add some spots for tools the crafty+artsy person needs when creating. And, I am going to make these aprons in various sizes too because I do love that skirt look.

Oh and my apron is reversible. I will let Betty model the reverse side. (Though this apron is beyond too big for Miss Betty—a gal who has never seen a carrot stick she didn't like. The perfect pleated apron is more her size.)

And one more thing: Thank you so much for your kind comments on my Wednesday post. Thank you for reading my story, for understanding, and for filling me up with your words. Thank you.

(I am so blessed.)

poetry

just a quick note to encourage you to visit tracie lyn today if you have written a thursday post about poetry or want to read some thursday poetry posts.

love and truth

I cried my way through parts of today's Oprah as I listened to:

Phrases like "The kids think they have to keep things stable"
An 11-year-old boy saying, "when I found out they were getting divorced, it was like a dream died."
A mother saying about her (at the time) 9-year-old daughter, "We treated her like an adult. We didn't even think it affected her."

Yesterday, a post started writing itself in my mind and watching this show today has pushed me to write it here. Previously, I wrote about my feelings leading up to my trip back to the Midwest in April. I wrote about how "stuff" from my childhood, thoughts about my parents' divorce, feelings of anger and deep sadness were what came up for me when my dad told me he was going to get help for his drinking problem. The level of these emotions surprised me as I thought I would feel only relief if I were to ever receive that phone call. (I won't go into the details of my reaction again here; you can read it more in context in that past post.)

When I went to what is called "family week" back in April, I had very low expectations about the experience. I did not want to be there, not even a little bit. The counselors gave the family members homework for that first night. Mine was to write a letter to my dad that would explain my feelings about his alcoholism and how it affected me, along with a whole long list of other things. When I called my friend Heather to tell her about the homework and all the items on the list, she said, "So, this is due in a month right?" It felt like I was supposed to write the thesis of my life or at least of my childhood.

That night, I sat in my hotel room and let the emotion pour out of me as I sobbed through each sentence. Today, as I write this, I realize that I had actually never put on paper the feelings I wrote about that night, let alone said them aloud to someone who needed to hear them. Though, I have to credit all the writing I have done on this blog with giving me the courage and "clearness through emotion" to write what I wanted to say. When I finished writing, I felt I had accomplished sharing the truth of my experiences without placing blame but instead by just saying what it felt like and what my experience was.

As I wrote in the post here last May, being a child of divorced parents fractures you. This does not mean that as an adult I have a need to place blame (because I know I do not have this need) or that I am not thankful my parents are not together (and I am thankful for this) or that I wish my life had gone differently (because I am happy to be in this place and know I would not be here without my experiences…all of them). What is does mean though is that I will not apologize for the feelings I had then or the ones I have now. Those feelings belong to me. They are all about me. And, the experience of writing that letter helped me to realize that my need to play a certain role or protect the feelings that I perceive others have needs to stop being more important than the truth of my experience. Meaning: It is time I start being honest with myself.

Part of the letter I wrote my dad included the assignment of setting specific boundaries. Goodness me. If I had a dollar for every time I have encouraged other people to set boundaries or said I needed to set them…but to be forced to write, "When you do this, I feel this, so I am going to have to do this to feel safe" was quite an experience. To read it aloud was one of the most powerful moments of my life.

I read the letter to my dad on the last day I was there (family week is only three days long). I shared my experience of being a child in my family. I shared what it was like for me when he left. I shared pieces of who I am now. I set boundaries I needed to set. And, I asked for what I needed knowing I may not receive what I need.

It was possibly one of the hardest things I have ever done.

But, it is one of the things that makes me the most proud of me. Because I knew that it actually didn't matter how my father reacted. I had finally shared some of the heavy stuff I carry around in the backpack that is the baggage of my life.

And, something incredible happened that day. My father heard me. He heard me and listened to me. And, part of what I said resonated deeply enough that what he said in response gave me a true gift. Someone in my family, the last person I expected to, understood what it was like to be me when my family broke apart. Someone who most needed to understand, understood, even if just for that moment.

God lifted something off my heart that day.

Watching Oprah today, hearing M. Gary Neuman say how important it is for parents to simply listen to their children when the family is breaking apart, invited me to think about part of what I said in my letter to my dad. I said something about how even though my feelings leading up to this moment were filled with anger and resentment because I had to talk about all of this now because he had decided to get help (so things were once again on a parent's terms and not mine), I knew that I had been given the gift of this moment to share how I was feeling. Because the truth is, I have been wanting to share what I said that day for over a decade. And, today, after watching Oprah, I realize how that was the first time I had been able to really share the truth with someone in my family.

We must be able to tell our stories. We must be willing to listen when someone needs to share her story, even when it is about us, even when it might hurt us. We cannot forget that we have our own truth of the experience regardless of what the other person says her experience was.

Even though I have my father's blessing to share what I want and need to here or with others, I haven't talked much about my experience in April for many reasons. One reason being because it feels like it sits in a sacred bubble back in April, and I, probably like any child of a recovering alcoholic who experiences family week, worry that to talk about it with my family, my dad, others, might make it not real or might take away from the experience or might make my dad's recovery not real somehow. I worry as I write this that if I honor the experience publicly here, I might affect my life in ways I cannot anticipate.

But I want to say this: No matter who you are—a parent, a child, a partner, a friend, a sibling—you never know what might happen if you tell your story to someone in a way that is from a place of love and truth.

Because in many ways, I think this might be what it is all about: love and truth.

Thank you for reading…

time for a sale

The "First Week of Autumn Sale" has begun over at my etsy shop.

(All the bags are around 20% off.)

*******

I want to say thank you for all the kind comments on my last post. You all brought a smile to my face. It takes some time for the body to reboot from those middle of the night illnesses, and this morning my body is telling me that I need to spend yet another day in my pajamas. (Of course, who am I kidding, I work from home, I spend a lot of days in my pajamas; so I guess I mean, another day just taking it easy.) I hope wherever you are, you are remembering to take care of yourself and take it easy when you need to...

Days spent in pajamas taking it easy invite you to notice things because you are forced to slow down. I noticed that the sun is setting a bit earlier each day, that Millie's face is a bit grayer, how much an almost-too-hot shower cleans the soul. I took in moments in a different way and noticed how kind my husband is in the way that he talks to me and how grateful I am for this. I spent some time sewing and doing a few other creative things yesterday, and I noticed how accomplishing a few small things well at a slower pace felt good.

What did you notice during your weekend? What was one of the best moments of the past few days?

inspirations, september 23

the photos irene shares on her blog

time spent with a "blog world now dear real world friend" at the tacoma art museum (check out deb's post about day together)

spending sunday mornings with charles osgood (especially today's flashback about marcel marceau)

kindness

mugs of J. Garcia magic herb tea

the quirky world that is Season 3 of "Northern Exposure"

sketching ideas and making lists in my moleskine

today

holding hands on the couch, 9.22.07

Last night, around 2 AM, I became violently ill. (That worst kind of middle of the night "I am sitting on and cannot move from the very bathroom fixture toward which I need to be facing" kind of ill.) And, my husband took care of me in all my, well, let's be honest, in all my grossness. He never once invited me to feel worse than I already did. (Thank you my dear friend.)

So today has been a day filled with:

Glasses of Powerade and meals of oyster crackers.
An episode of the "History Detectives" (during which I announced, "I think I have actually found what it is I want to do with my life").
The "Nature" episode about hippos. (Two words. Holy crappoly. They are the wackiest, coolest creatures.)
A pick-me-up first quarter of the Notre Dame football game (the rest of the game, well, the rest of the game did not so much improve my spirits, me being a ND grad and all).
Holding hands on the couch.
Taking an "I don't think I moved from this position for two hours" nap.
Adding a few more rows to the scarf I am crocheting.
Eating a dinner of rotisserie chicken, corn, and tater tots (somehow this was the combination that sounded good…perhaps because it is a bit like a Thanksgiving meal in a way, which does seem to comfort).
Lots of very kind words uttered by my husband as he basically spent the entire day taking care of me.
Spending a wee bit of time on the sewing machine doing some quick rows of patchwork.
Being very thankful that I have not experienced additional rounds of whatever got me last night (we are thinking food poisoning from the fish I had at dinner perhaps…ugh).
More holding hands on the couch.
Watching an episode of "Dr. Who" followed by an episode of (what is becoming my new favorite sci-fi show) "Torchwood." Ladies, have you seen that Captain Jack Harkness?? My oh my.


I wanted today to be filled with:

A lot of sewing in preparation for ArtFiberFest vendor night (according to Teesha's site there are a few spots left...you should come out here for it...I'd love to see you).
Walking along Ruston Way.
Eating breakfast at The Spar (when you come, I will take you to eat breakfast there…the view of The Sound is incredible).
Another two hours toward completing "The Great Cleanup/Organization of 2007."
More sewing.
Prepping my shop for the "last day of summer sale that will last the first week of autumn" I planned to begin today (it is going to have to wait until Monday I think as I another nap is probably in order right now…but this is a little teaser to say: all the purses in my shop are going on sale Monday as I want to move on to some fall items/fabrics and all that good stuff…and I think it will just be fun to have a sale every now and then...)

Even though I didn't feel up to doing all that I wanted today, sitting on the couch and holding hands was just about the most perfect way to spend the day a girl could have I think...it's kind of an unexpected gift of slowing down and remembering...

Hope you were able to slow down a bit this weekend too...

i come to the water

more poem notes (or maybe an early, early draft of a poem) on this thursday...

I come to the water
to breathe in
salt,
hope,
shadows
I come to the water
to remember
her laughter
I come to the water
because I fear
forgetting
everything
I come to the water
to open
a space
inside me
I come to the water
to find
pieces of the past
I come to the water
to grieve
I come to the water
to let go
I come to the water
to seize life


head on over to jillypoet's for another thursday of the traveling poetry show...

overheard while walking in a circle, weeks 1 and 2

Deb Talan sang:
Tell your story to anyone who'll listen
Tell your story
Don't stop talking
Just tell your story walking

Natalie Maine's reminded:
I know you said
Why can't you just get over it
It turned my whole world around
And I kind of like it

Neil Diamond encouraged:
Can't stand still while the music is playin'

Paul Simon picks up the tempo:
Gone at last, gone at last
I had a long streak of bad luck
But I pray it's gone at last

Tina Turner spoke her truth:
And I never lost one minute of sleeping
Worrying bout the way things might have been

Keith Urban kept me going with:
My troubles behind me
I'm alive and I'm free
Who wouldn't wanna be me

Natalie Maines pushed me forward:
Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself
I opened my mouth and I heard myself
It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself
Guess I could have made it easier on myself

But I, I could never follow

And, Deb Talan invited in healing:
Dry your wings in the sun
You have only begun to understand

The "do I really have to do this" playlist:

"Tell Your Story" by Deb Talan
"Not Ready to Make Nice" by the Dixie Chicks
"Cherry, Cherry" by Neil Diamond
"Gone at Last" by Paul Simon
"Proud Mary" by Tina Turner
"Who Wouldn't Want to be Me" by Keith Urban
"The Long Way Around" by the Dixie Chicks
"Ashes on Your Eyes" by Deb Talan

feeling quiet

dahlias at the pike place market, 9.3.07

Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.
Anaïs Nin

i almost...

Carolee is hosting "The Traveling Poetry Show" today, so please visit her blog to read her post, find out next week's prompt, and visit her comments to link to some posts about poetry.

*****

Yesterday, thinking about the idea of fear that Delia posted as the prompt last week, the writing prompt "I almost" sprung to my mind. I wanted to just write and write all that came from thinking about that phrase. Fears can spring from that word almost. The following phrases aren't current feelings necessarily, just thoughts that came to me as I wrote for several minutes without stopping or editing (much):

I almost

Sat until I couldn't feel
Closed my eyes to truth
Got in the car and never looked back
Quietly allowed the world to happen around me
Believed that things just seemed to happen to me
Stayed in a belittling, suckerpunch-filled relationship
Wished it all away
Felt so much envy I forgot me
Stuffed anger in until my belly bloated
Forgot to remember myself
Slept my way to stagnation
Thought I didn't have a tribe
Didn't believe someone could change
Didn't own all of it
Didn't allow for possibility
Didn't dream of something breath taking
Lost my footing


And from this free writing came the following little poem of sorts:

I almost slept
my way to stagnation
but instead
I swim inside
possibility
balance
and breath

tea, toast with jam, and some virtual window shopping

tonight, i made myself some tazo passion tea (it is purple...love that) and a wee bit of toast with jam, a french movie in the background, and sat down to a little virtual window shopping. this time of taking a break from working or well doing much of anything really while jonny grades not far from me and millie sighs with contentment, it is a time i am trying to give myself a bit more often. stopping the doing and just enjoying a little something for me...

my sacred life.

*******

and here are just a few of the things that caught my eye while glancing at several shops (and i just had to put them in categories...you all know i have been doing a lot of organizing lately):

{dreaming of brisk fall days}

this wicked cool orange cap by linda

the tumbleweed trail lariat and the blossom capelet from fringe's shop

the little green apples scarflette and the eden crochet beanie from boutique pink designs

{jewels for the neck}

this necklace by karibeth

this maple tree necklace and this gorgeous necklace from the silent goddess

{made from vintage fabric}

an apron
a bracelet
a cuff (check out this artist's blog...creating things from thrifted and found items - fantastic stuff!)


{little guys to hug}

and how about some gorgeous stuffies like these and this adorable owl...oh and every. last. darn. creature. in. tiny warbler's shop.

inspirations, september 12

elizabeth edwards

the artwork of annie lockhart, especially this necklace

the newest issue of romantic homes

this honest post by futuregirl alice

This print and other artwork by Nathaniel Eckstrom

the hint of fall in the air

the songs of the dixie chicks (again and again)

remember

One of my favorite artists is Brian Andreas (if you do not know his work, stop reading and head over to www.storypeople.com and explore; right now). His words, his poetry, his stories, are a gift to me in their simple, deep truths. We have several of his prints and a few sculptures in our art collection. Pausing to read his stories that adorn our walls is part of my sacred life.

Early on when we were dating, Jon and I visited a shop that had Andreas' work and I was able to introduce Jon to a favorite past time: looking through all the prints to discover which one resonates deeply on that day. The story that day was "Real Reason," and days later Jon drove 90 minutes back to that shop in Valparaiso, Indiana to buy it for me as a "two-month dating" anniversary present.

A few months later, weeks before we became engaged, we had the opportunity to meet Brian Andreas at a signing and we bought the sculpture of "Real Reason." As we handed it to him to sign, he said, "who do I make it out to" and without asking each other, together Jon and I said, "Liz and Jon." He looked at us and said something like, "that's a big commitment;" in a way, it kind of felt like we got engaged in that moment.

Of course, the truth is that my Storypeople collection began years before I met Jon. I wrote about my first introduction to them here. I remember reading the stories aloud in the car with my mom and coming to "Fog People" and pausing and reading it again and again. I love that story and my mom gave the sculpture to me as a college graduation present. I wouldn't say that I think of it as a test when I show people the sculpture, but I always giggle a bit when people say, "but I don't get it." Another favorite print that hangs alone in our hallway so that you pause to read it is "Crayon Pirate." The simple wise truth of a child's world – that is what that story says to me.

Last week, I spent some time clicking around the stories at the website and the two stories that speak so deeply to me in this moment of my life are "Whales" and "More Fair." I hope to one day add those stories to my collection.

When the events of September 11, 2001 happened, I found myself, like so many others, trying to find something to help me wrap my brain around what had happened and the grief and helplessness. Sitting in my office one evening a week or so after the eleventh, I turned to the Storypeople website, seeking the wise words of Brian Andreas, and found that he had written a story to commemorate 9/11. The story is "Awakening." At the time, Storypeople was selling the story as a poster with the proceeds going to raise money for the people affected on that day. I bought ten planning to share them with others. And after framing one for myself and giving a few away, I did what I do best, I put them someplace and forgot.

As we have been organizing and cleaning and all that stuff over the last few weeks, I came across my carefully rolled up posters of "Awakening."

I am wondering if any of you reading this might want one. I have five and would be happy to mail one to you. Please just send me an email at waywardtulip at gmail dot com and let me know. UPDATED: The posters have all been claimed. Thank you...

Many blessings to all on this day,
Liz

inspiration palette, color (and a little organization)

1. button jars, 2. Rainbow 2-Ply Handspun Yarn, 3. my favorite ribbon~, 4. fabric rainbow, 5. 12色のクレヨン, 6. Rainbow of Thread, 7. over the rainbow, 8. reaching out ........., 9. Rainbow 3233, 10. Felt stash (Crafting 365, Day 5), 11. rainbow, 12. paint2, 13. Buttons Rainbow, 14. Button, button, who's got the button?, 15. New Markers, 16. Kauni yarn, 17. painter 01 v2, 18. Wow wow wow, 19. colored pencil DOF, 20. Rainbowness

conversation and quiet

september 6, on the phone with my dearest friend



september 7, a quiet hour before bed


time spent on the phone with friends who share their joys and struggles and truth and then also listen...these long conversations fill me up. yesterday, i had a talk like this with a dear friend. i first brought her up to date on some things in my life. as we talked, i took millie outside and stood talking while millie zoomed around in the yard chasing squirrels and imaginery creatures. i knew that this moment, of someone deeply listening, was something i wanted to capture as my sacred life photo of the day. and as i took the picture, the conversation shifted, as it should, and my friend began to share a lesson she is trying to unwrap; one of those lessons that seems to simply repeat for her without kindly skipping a year or two. and i listened. and i talked. and she talked. and it felt like we didn't solve it. and we like to solve things. in fact, i think we could open up a friendship shop of sorts where we solve things for people. but, we both know that this is friendship too. the not solving. the sitting in the quiet in a conversation, even one over the phone, when you realize it can't be solved. it is what it is. it is life.

tonight, after a really nice evening out with jonny that included a trip to borders, i sit in the quiet of our (newly reorganized) living room with my cup of tea, new magazines, and some twine and clothespins. don't you just love this twine? i remember seeing it in issues of martha stewart living back when i was in college and wishing i knew where to get some to use to tie my christmas gifts. you can now buy some at michaels in martha's new craft line. or, you can come to artfiberfest and get several yards from me as a trade. you might notice that i have, ahem, more than i need on that spool to the left. i use it to wrap my orders from my shop. i am happy to share. i am wrapping it on those clothes pins as a trade and will attach a little card with my info.

(and by little card i mean the wicked cool business card heather designed for me! i have been wanting to show you all for weeks, but the box that holds the card was, of course, put in another box in this great cleanup decluttering we are going through. i haven't uncovered that box yet. i will. and then i will share. cause you guys are gonna want her to design you a card too.)

thoughts from the last few days

I first want to say that I am delighted that so many people have participated in a Thursday poetry post over at Delia's blog. Thank you for keeping this community alive!

Now for some thoughts of a more personal nature: With the end of Poetry Thursday last week, I was sad but felt like my time to be connected to a specific poetry community as a leader of sorts had come to a close. However, when some emails over the holiday weekend let me know that the new poetry community was not moving forward, I started thinking about the possibility of continuing my involvement in new ways.

At this point, I want to be honest that I am sitting with what to do. The announcement of the new project not moving forward needed to be made before I have had a chance to catch my breath after a holiday weekend and some other things this week.

To give myself a little time while giving the community formed at Poetry Thursday a place to go, I have asked a few participants to host the Thursday community post for the next few weeks.

I recognize that this means that people who were happy to participate but wanted to have more of a role might start something else to attempt to fill the shoes of Poetry Thursday. From my perspective, the more of us spreading the good news of poetry, the better. I must admit though that I can't help but say this:

Please do not use the Poetry Thursday name, logo/button, or banner in a new or "reconstructed" project. A few people have mentioned in comments, emails, or blog posts their desire to do so. Poetry Thursday was a partnership between Dana and me. It actually began as a small project here on my personal blog in early 2006 before this partnership was formed. Please honor these things. Thank you.

edited to add: After reading the comments and a couple of emails, I realize that there might be some misunderstanding about what I meant in the previous paragraph. I meant that I would hope people wouldn't start a new poetry project (meaning a blog or web site) with the same name and use the button, banner, and so on. I also did not mean that people should remove the PT buttons on their blogs. It is wonderful that Thursdays have become a day for poetry for many in blog world and calling that day Poetry Thursday certainly makes sense (insert smiling face here). If there is additional confusion, please don't hesitate to email me. Thanks!

I am not ready to announce specifics yet, other than to say that I am sitting with a few ideas and asking a few people for guidance/advice and so on. I plan to make my decision very soon. I have been a part of "blog world" for a while now with a blog for two years and a reader of blogs for much longer than that. I know that people can easily start a new project and make quick decisions, especially because you can begin a new blog in a matter of seconds. I don't want to start something without an almost fully formed idea in place. I hope that people will continue to participate in the Thursday posts for these next few weeks and wait and see where this road takes all of us.

Thank you for reading and have fun in the world of poetry…today and everyday…

spending time with poetry

this week, the community formed at Poetry Thursday is leaving links to their thursday poetry posts at delia's blog...go visit her to find out next week's prompt and who will be hosting the next week of, in her words, the traveling poetry show. love that. at some point tomorrow (thursday), i plan to share some more personal thoughts about what's happening (a bit more than what i shared on the most recent post at poetry thursday) and why the community is going to "jump from blog to blog" for the next couple of weeks.

*****


september 5, a moment tucked in bed with the words of sharon olds.

to read the words of sharon olds in her collection of poetry in the book "the gold cell" is to repeatedly breathe in the knowledge that my story, although it is my story, is a story, a song, a path that is known by others.

feelings long pushed deeply into a little pocket inside me burst out of me each time i visit with this poet.

but i come back often because i am face to face with the knowledge that to examine the bits in the internal pocket is to examine the quietest, most truthful pieces of me. it is a raw, breath-catching experience that somehow makes me feel more whole instead of sad.

the gift of poetry.

(tonight's experience was with the poem "late poem to my father," which you can find here if you scroll down a bit)

still seeking the sacred

august 31, the organizing continues...




september 1, a moment with millie during the football game while jonny puts together the ikea "stuff"




september 3, loving those flowers at the market and connecting with friends (and taking a break from all that shedding of the clutter)