Happy Poetry Month!

[Diva667]

Who are some of your favorite artists?


this from Audre Lorde


A Litany for Survival

For those of us who live at the shoreline
standing upon the constant edges of decision
crucial and alone
for those of us who cannot indulge
the passing dreams of choice
who love in doorways coming and going
in the hours between dawns
looking inward and outward
at once before and after
seeking a now that can breed
futures
like bread in our children's mouths
so their dreams will not reflect
the death of ours;

For those of us
who were imprinted with fear
like a faint line in the center of our foreheads
learning to be afraid with our mother's milk
for by this weapon
this illusion of some safety to be found
the heavy-footed hoped to silence us
For all of us
this instant and this triumph
We were never meant to survive.

And when the sun rises we are afraid
it might not remain
when the sun sets we are afraid
it might not rise in the morning
when our stomachs are full we are afraid
of indigestion
when our stomachs are empty we are afraid
we may never eat again
when we are loved we are afraid
love will vanish
when we are alone we are afraid

[Falling Leaves]

I do not know the author but is one of my favorites:

THE WOLF

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said "my son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One wolf is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other wolf is good. it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:

"which wolf wins?"

the old Cherokee simply replied:

"the one you feed"

[Falling Leaves]

A poem written for a friend who graced me with true forgiveness of the heart and of the soul....


A SEASON OF SOULS

Seasons are changing,
the leaves are turning brown
Where soon a chill will kiss the air
Summer again seems passing by

Yet through the blades, the season’s told
The Summer air, is warm, and kind
I sought solace once again in nature
Thoughts of you came to mind

In my sanctuary I gazed in the afternoon shade
The breeze making leaves sing along as it plays
Once again you’ve released me and tears oh did flow
Washing away jagged edges that once pierced my soul.

Connecting to the earth, where it ends, and it begins
I lay at your feet, in reverence, my soul to the ground
My soul has no words as it rises….to face you again
Gazing at wonderment…as your soul still extends

For to err is that I am human,
to forgive is you, divine
The gifts of your soul are treasures
Of yourself, without end

[Katja]

My grandmother taught me this peom when I was very young. It incapsulates how I feel about our world.

I bless you, forests, valleys, fields, mountains, waters,
I bless freedom and blue skies.

I bless my staff and my humble rags.
And the steppe from beginning to end,
And the sun's light, and night's darkness,

And the path I walk, pauper that I am,
And, in the field every blade of grass,
and every star in the sky!

O! if only I could encompass all life,
And join my soul with yours.
O! if only I could embrace you all,
Enemies, friends and brothers, and all nature,
And enfold all nature in my arms!


Tolstoy