Welcome to our Poetry Party #41!
I select an image and suggest a theme/title and invite you to respond with your poems or other reflections. Add them in the comments section and a link to your blog (if you have one). Make sure to check the comments for new poems added and I encourage you to leave encouraging comments for each other either here or at the poet’s own blog.
Feel free to take your poem in any direction and then post the image and invitation on your blog if you have one and encourage others to come join the party! (permission is granted to reprint the image if a link is provided back to this post and full credit is given – © Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts)
On Sunday, November 29th, I will draw a name at random from those who participate and send the winner a copy of my newest zine: Crossing the Threshold: New Year, New Beginnings.
Book Giveaway!
As a special Thanksgiving to you, my wonderful readers, I also have several books to give away this week – books which somehow I ended up with two copies of each (please look up the titles online for more details). If you'd like one of the books, please post your gratitude poem or list in the comments (see theme below) plus a note of which title you'd like to have. I will cross the titles off this list as they're claimed, but please look through previous comments in case I haven't gotten back to my computer since someone claimed one. These are first-come, first-served. All I ask is that in the coming days you extend the generosity to someone else in your life.
The Everday Work of Art by Eric Booth
Living the Creative Life: Ideas and Inspirations from Working Artists by Rice Freeman-Zachery
Creative Awakenings: Envisioning the Life of Your Dreams Through Art by Sheri Gaynor
Entering the Temple of Dreams: Jewish Prayers, Movements, and Meditations for the End of Day by Tamar Frankiel & Judy Greenfeld
Praying with the Body by Roy DeLeon
The Inferno of Dante translated by Robert Pinsky
All the books have now been claimed – but please keep contributing your wonderful poems!
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Poetry Party Theme: Expanding the Heart in Gratitude
In the United States, this is of course the week of our Thanksgiving feasts. I decided to host a Poetry Party here even though I anticipate smaller numbers attending as people travel and cook and clean and prepare. But I am keeping the invitation simple so that you might be able to stop by even briefly to express your gratitude through the beauty of poetic language.
So my invitation this week has two simple suggestions:
1) write a haiku (or several) that captures the essence of a heart-expanding moment for you, something in the course of ordinary, everyday life
or
2) make a list of 5 simple, everday things for which you are grateful.
You are, of course, welcome to write a longer poem as well about the ordinary things which make your heart sing and overflow.
(Photo taken at a fountain in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City)
** The February 22-April 4, 2010 session of Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Practice is now FULL! I will be adding a second session later today to run concurrently with the second session of Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist from April 12-May 23, 2010. **
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
You may also like:
- Secret Spaces of Your Heart
- Seven Things Making My Heart Sing Today
- More Icons
- Pre-Order a Copy of Callings!
- Blessing the Bread
'A litany', since you asked:
there comes a moment
usually named a-ha!
and I can let go…
I root myself here
in haikus and gratitude
I rest in holy soil.
2009 gratitude list, written two days ago:
I am grateful when I see a turtle make it safely across a Florida road – or when a motorist stops to help it across
for mother ducks who lead their brood with such clarity of purpose
for restaurant servers – past and present
always for the Sycamore trees
for kind words and gentle, received and offered
for aging; for new life
for corn plants that bloom in November
phone messages on land lines
sonograms
a husband who cleans the tub
appliances that ease housework
the moon, in all its phases
tending; being tended
poetry!
celebrating birthdays – mine and everybody else's
our first great grand -daughter, arriving toute de suite
answered prayer and prayer that drives me crazy and to my knees
hair dressers; schools for hairdressers
Magnesium
BW photos; photos in color
email; snail mail
printers; scanners
haikus
[The Every day Work of Art]
his birth
pushing pushing pushed, then done
together breathing apart
child drawing circle to close
—————————————————-
The Inferno of Dante
Another 'litany'
Praise for the warm sun
light through the window
secure and safe in a soft chair,
lap full of a purring buddha
the music of my life aching
gratefully in my ears
and you my friend close
to mind, and heart,
a smile in my eyes and laughter
on my lips.
[Entering the Temple of Dreams: Jewish Prayers, Movements, and Meditations for the End of Day by Tamar Frankiel & Judy Greenfeld]
Gratitude always
A feast for the heart and mind
Breathe in joy and rest!
{Praying with the Body}
Those dreams we make real
can almost allow us to
forgive ourselves
the dreams we have lost
Living the Creative Life would be first book choice. Thank you!
Thank you!
I guess I should have added that I am grateful for the drams that are made real.
My sisters and I
dance like no one is watching
and my heart is full
First choice: Living the Creative Life
Second choice: Creative Awakenings
Thanks!
I am grateful for moments of peace during the day when I can read. Electing to leave my car at home and take public transit is one way to carve out time. Hence, my haiku:
the train doors open
pull out my book, find a seat
a reader's commute
[praying with the body]
why hello christine
a wonderfuf party dear
i have to go now
Gulping gratitude
To quell an alarming thirst
My cup flows with love
As Designed …
I see, and do not comprehend.
Shadow and light create a sense of wonder.
Are they stars? Are they bubbles?
Are they the texture of marble or granite?
The framing darkness is like the human condition -
More is unknown than known.
Are limitations a gift to mankind?
I see and do not comprehend.
Infirmity creates a sense of wonder.
Is there pain? Is there turmoil?
Is this an opportunity to serve?
Why did the other driver pull out in front of her?
More is unknown than known.
Are sufferings a gift to mankind?
I see and do not comprehend.
The vastness of Charis overwhelms.
A gull hovering –
healed in that moment, aware
of her hesitance
Christine,
Haven't chimed in for a while, but here is my lastest poem:
thank you
cynicism comes with coffee
as artificial as sweetener
we’ve grown accustomed
to the bitter aftertaste
negative is normal
critiques and criticisms
pass for conversation in
a culture short on courage
and long on loud
gratitude is hard work
to choose to be thankful
requires the tenacity
of a heart broken open
and willing to sit silently
on a starlight night or in
the shadow of a bee’s wing
the opposite of fear
is thank you — thank you
Peace,
Milton
The heart of humility
is nourished
by gratitude.
The mind of love
is the source
of gratitude
So song is born
from waves of gratitude
garden fountain
this crisp autumn wind
baptizing mums
Bette Norcross Wappner (b'oki)
River-floating leaf
quickly swept, submerged, held deep
dancing wet colors
I am grateful for
this breath and then the next one
and then the next one.
She gets unruly with things she don’t wanna do.
Stuck believing her dreams will never come true.
So, Baby, how’d you sleep last night?
Stop hanging on. It’ll be alright.
Let go of the stone in your heart.
But I don’t understand the touch of your hand.
You might think it’s easy being me.
Just stand still and look pretty.
Don’t wanna hurt anymore.
Can’t let go of the stone in my heart.
In every moment there’s a reason to carry on.
Sweet love flowing almost every night,
I’ve never seen such a beautiful sight.
Life is more than memories.
Let go of the stone in your heart.
Sweet surrender’s all I have to give.
Stop hanging on. It’s time to let go.
Dance, Baby, dance – child, wild & free –
Unruly one, come dance with me.
Embracing the stone in your heart.
The unconditional love of a dog.
Words that never bore.
A babies smile in a grocery store.
Storytelling and lore.
the what ifs and what for's.
Finding my fountain
has always been falling,
I marry the mist.
sit
still
silence
sacred
surrender
Great blog. Informative and some lovely shots. I teach on a few Photography Holidays around the world and I'll definitely be recommending this blog to my students who are always asking me about good photography websites!
Tails wagging… nonstop
Kisses from the love of their hearts
you're home again… with us.
Thank you, Christine! I played in prose rather than poetry this time, but it was a wonderful experience; despite the fact I've been blogging alphabetical thanks every day this November, the reasons for gratitude and joy are countless.
http://desertspiritsfire.blogspot.com/2009/11/poetry-party-41.html
Before the words are spoken
I fill my lungs with air
My heart is overflowing
I sing "thank you" everywhere.