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)
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
32 Responses
Finding my fountain
has always been falling,
I marry the mist.
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.
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.
I am grateful for
this breath and then the next one
and then the next one.
River-floating leaf
quickly swept, submerged, held deep
dancing wet colors
garden fountain
this crisp autumn wind
baptizing mums
Bette Norcross Wappner (b’oki)
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
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
A gull hovering —
healed in that moment, aware
of her hesitance
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.