Invitation to Poetry: Love Letters to the World

71 Responses

1. The World Speaks Now

   The world speaks now
   and now again,
   takes form just so
   for just so long.
   Momentary shift
   pulse wages on–
   is and is not as
   we are and are not
   what rises before us
   what lingers within
   we are at once both
   surface and depth
   just now taking form
   just so, just so
   cloud drift sun
   dance moon

2. soaring high
   attending invite
   above the watery flow
   breathing in stillness
   the mystery of flight
   birthing forth
   unknown possibilities
   basking
   in the gift
   love letters.

   With gratitude to Christine’s stirring the creative depths of the unconscious .
   Lucia Van Ruiten
   Feb 13, 2012

3. morning
   i sit at the computer
   with my coffee
   looking for my daughter
   flying for the army
   in afghanistan
   no news is good news
   but
   email brings bliss
   be careful out there
   my dear
   do know i want to
   reach through to
   touch you

4. Praise Above

   Sky can be so distracting,
   it’s a wonder
   we ever make it through a day
   without tripping over everything
   along the way, all unseen while we stare
   upward at the ever-changing scene –
   black and menacing,
   fluffy cotton white,
   stand-still-take-your-breath-away-blue.
   Oh the sun sets and rises,
   and there are stars and meteors,
   not to mention the glories
   that fall from above,
   white, wet and shining.

   Only the presence of houses,
   mountains and tall trees
   blocking the view
   allow me to get any work done,
   carry on a conversation, tear
   myself away from gazing
   at the amazements above.

   1. I really like the energy in this poem, and the rhythms.

   2. Wow. You win my prize this time. I love clouds too. They are to die for….. if you are driving and looking out the window at them!

5. WEBS

   My friend, Beverley,
   thought she could
   weave clothing
   out of spiders’ webs

   But her hands
   were too thick
   And her eyes
   too hot
   And the season
   passed

   So she went about
   in cotton and wool
   Surrounded by moonlight
   even in the bright
   of day

   And as she perfected her life
   she listened to music
   none of us could hear.

   It was the spiders,

   luring her back.

   1. sounds like my kinda woman! Love this!

   2. very nice…

6. Ode to Percy

   Big, beautiful, handsome Percy
   I know – he’s just a cat
   but I can’t help but love him
   even with all his devilish ways
   he bites, he’s stubborn,
   he demands to be treated like royalty,
   he only does whatever he wants,
   he sharpens his claws on the lovely white couch,
   if you forget to put the butter away,
   he licks the sides of the dish…..

   but he shows up here every day
   he’s the neighbours cat
   (well, now I think he has two homes)
   and he’s taken over my heart
   he’s such a ham – rolling on his back to show his big belly
   and turning up his chin so you’ll rub underneath
   when dad had his cancer surgery Percy prayed
   on the front porch at 6am
   then came in and lay quietly on my belly
   as I napped in my turmoil of unshed tears

   (and Percy’s not usually the affectionate kind)
   he’s a tough outdoor cat, a formidable hunter,
   not a lap cat, he can be abit wild
   but this slightly wild creature sleeps by my bed,
   wakes me in the morning, and smiles on my life
   his fur is softer than the finest silk
   he has seven claws on the front and a moveable thumb
   my little mountain lion, large and quiet
   playful & sullen, big, beautiful, handsome Perce
   my song of love is for you….

   Shelley

   P.S. See a photo of Handsome Percy at http://www.flickr.com/photos/75443928@N08/

   1. Lovely, unselfconscious Perce. What a good rendering.

7. Two Antiphons in the style of Hildegard

   1.

   O You Who
   made the sharp shinned hawk
   with red eyes
   rend the singing sparrows
   with the silent slice of death,
   Who fill the sunset sky with
   roses and crows,
   Who paint the breast of the warbler
   with flashes of Your Spirit,
   and crown the finger small ki
   with Your blood,
   bless me with wonder
   at the paradox of Your plans.
   Like birds,
   may my heart’s croaks
   and arias
   praise You.

   2.

   O You who squeeze the wind
   until she howls,
   who wring the rain until
   she gushes,
   send electric waves
   rushing through the cord
   to jolt the vacuum cleaner
   to roaring life,
   I praise your power
   moving in the homeliest of things.
   Roses on couch cushions,
   Lamp stands, small city gardens,
   bath water slipping down the drain,
   steel wool scouring egg crust off the iron frying pan.

   1. Wonderful! Full of wonder. What hymns of praise. Well done.

   2. I love this… Especially the stanza, bringing the sacredness of this right to the practicalities of daily living. “O You who squeeze the wind
      until she howls,
      who wring the rain until
      she gushes,
      send electric waves
      rushing through the cord
      to jolt the vacuum cleaner.
      FABulous. thanks so much.

8. Grace

   I imagine if I could look inward
   and gaze upon the precious,
   beautiful, delightful panorama of
   possible and ever changing and
   utterly trustworthy
   color and texture

   (Like this sunrise)

   I would find it in myself to
   glow and expand, wonder,
   transform, surprise and bring joy,
   be peace,
   expect miracles
   Unconditionally.

   And I imagine if I could
   bring all this forth
   day after day

   (Like this sunrise)

   I could perhaps
   light up
   the world.

   1. Yes, you could.

   2. Thank you for your words. Shine on…

9. Pingback: The Language of Love | Joanna Paterson: The Art of Everyday Wonder

   1. I can certainly relate to the crash at the end of the poem. So often, indeed, amen.

10. Fly
    Child of Mercury
    Glide
    Herald of Freedom
    Carry the ancient message
    Flap
    Morse code wings
    My heart
    Echoes across the heavens
    Let us both crash
    to the ground
    Like we had no idea
    where we were going.