Welcome to our Poetry Party #43!
I select an image and suggest a theme/title and invite you to respond with your poems or other reflections. Add your responses in the comments section. Feel free to take your poem in any direction (ie, you can break the “rules” suggested below) 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)
On Friday, January 15th, I will draw a name at random from those who participate and send the winner a copy of Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write.
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Poetry Party Theme: Words for the Heart
I was so moved by the response to my New Year’s call for words to shape your commitments for the future. I loved the power that each word offered, how a whole world of hope was wrapped up in just a few letters.
My invitation to you for this week’s Poetry Party is to write a poem using only the words below (or variations of them) and connecting words such as and, the, is, etc. (and maybe a pronoun or two). You don’t have to use all 132 of them, but spend some time with them and see how they want to come together. You can click on the image below to enlarge it. If you didn’t submit your own word yet, consider choosing one and making it the title.
(you can see a larger version by clicking here)
** To see Jo-El’s poem from the comments in the original formatting click here **
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© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
13 Responses
Sing, Wisdom!
Nurture serenity
shed pain
order light-and-dark authenticity
on this threshold journey.
Freefalling, we surrender sanctuary
for spaciousness
discipline for courage
sacrifice for radiant lightness.
Grounded, we abandon victorious paradigms
for flexibility
humility
joyful trust.
Dance, Ruach!
Blaze wonder through these openings
and carve a bold YES!
in this unfolding pilgrimage.
Release an adventure.
A pilgrimage of presence
leads to a
freefalling adventure,
requiring courage
and radiant surrender.
Bold Serenity
A blaze of pain is birthing an adventure of sacrifice
Courage and gratitude nurture a blaze of His presence
Listen – and live
Gentle Water
Wisdom of release – freefalling into merry lightness
Spaciousness in a sanctuary of manifest reflections
Surrender – and abide
My poem, “Soul-Care: Songs for Journeying”, is here:
http://writingwithoutpaper.blogspot.com/2010/01/soul-care-songs-for-journeying-poem.html
Adventure is
Courage to live, to say yes to
unfolding Joy that shines upon the birthing
the transforming,
the threshold
Soar, expand and live the wonder of mindfulness
Hospitality like water flows:
Freefalling wisdom that comes with each
victorious Surrender
This poem is by Jo-El McLaughlin:
New Paradigms Released
Silence!
Be still…
Kairos is now
Bask in your Presence…
Savor the quiet-love….
Slowly listen…
Contemplate…
Open my spirit,
Surrender……
Journey within….
Reflections on serenity
Live the pain…
Shed the shadows…
Forgive the past…….
Through non-attachment,
abandon with intention to heal…
cross the threshold of amazing alignment,
expand spaciousness in my self-trust,
give me an awareness of discovery
so that freefalling mercy can create heartitude in
searching for order, restoration, and redemption.
Lectio-Divina, ground me, speak to the sanctuary of my soul;
send me on a pilgrimage of communion;
may courage place me in a mindfulness of inseparability and
responsibility in the sovereignity of my God
as His dominion births me to soar as a joybird, dance
in the lightness of happiness and laughter, shine with joyful
radiance, celebrate transformation, reach beyond the surface,
blaze a bold adventure that will manifest lacunas,
sing in jubilation, and enliven my creativity.
Carve a tree in me that nurtures: humility, simplicity, strength, hospitality, gratitude, gentleness, flexibility, trust, commitment…..
…… in my authenticity, grant me PEACE.
(See the original formatting by clicking the link at the end of the post)
RUACH
in my quiet space
i surrender to stillness
where Spirit Wind’s presence
manifests peace and quiet
one in communion with Creator
open to healing life force
like diamonds dance on water
radiate life-giving light
reach out to touch my very existence
supple roots nurture tree growth
grounded in Mother Earth
release creative juices
birthing word pictures
unfolding sanctuary
wher i listen with intention
mindfullness
love
filled with gratitude
transformed on my spiritual journey
perhaps into a dragonfly
symbol of life itself
2010
Pilgrimage ~
a radiant lightness
and adventure.
Unfolding intention ~
shed pain – shine peace,
celebrate authenticity.
Freefalling gratitude
nurtures redemption,
forgiveness, mindfulness
and wisdom.
Expanding sanctuary threshold
opens spaciousness, sovereignty, communion
and tribe birthing:
Basking in wonder, joy
silence, gentleness…..listening….
Soar!
Savor!
Sing!
Say yes!
Be bold!
AWARENESS
My Gentle Journey begins with Presence
Commitment to Mindfulness leads to Transformation
Authenticity Manifests Spaciousness and Trust
Birthing Enlivens, bringing Adventures of Joy,
Lightness, Laughter, Dance, Jubilate in all forms.
My Impermanence reminds me to Contemplate,
Heal, Forgive and Celebrate with Abandon.
As a Tree Soars like a Silent sentinel
so my Spirit and Strength in Stillness, Simplicity
And Wonder await His Mercy and Quiet Love.
In Gratitude I seek Non-attachment, Sacrifice,
Sovereignty and Communion in all that I do.
May I Bask in the Water of Redemption;
Peace, Joy, Humility Joyful reminders of Dominion.
May the Paradigms in my life give me the Discipline
To Release me from Self-love, resulting in Hospitality,
Unfolding in Amazing grace, to Blaze forth through
Light and Shadow, Grounded in His Intentions.
Follow
Release lacunae.
Savor the still unfolding
courage and journey
Birthing heal(ing) peace
Gentle authenticity,
creativity
Nurture openings.
Create sanctuary in
order and wisdom
Bask in quiet love,
Inseparability…
Reach transformation.