to live in this world
you must be able to do three things
to love what is mortal
to hold it against your bones
knowing your own life depends on it
and, when the time comes
to let it go
to let it go
***
This one. When I read it, I close my eyes and picture hugging my closest people. Arms around them. And it's comforting. And then, letting go. And it's life. We can't hold on forever. But it's comforting all the same.
if the ocean can calm itself
so can you
we are both salt water
mixed with air
***
I'd like to memorize this, it's kind of loose in my mind right now.
It is a good reminder.
I worked on this one for a little while one night while I was folding laundry in my bedroom. I remember standing at the foot of my bed, it was dark outside. What is it about trying to memorize the words and the physical actions that tie together so closely in memory? It's magical, somehow.
It comes unadorned
Like a phrase, strong enough to cast a spell.
It comes unbidden
Like the turn of sun through hills or stars in wheels of song.
The jeweled feet of women dance the earth, arousing it to spring.
Shoulders broad as a road bend to share the weight of years.
Profiles breach the distance and lean
Toward an ordinary kiss.
Bliss.
It comes naked into the world like a charm.
***
I learned this poem when I worked at AIT. I used to go for a walk after lunch every day.
I experimented with walking on the street, or in the parking lot behind the building but none of these felt safe and I was constantly in fear of getting hit by a truck. So I settled for walking back and forth on the sidewalk in front of the building. Get to the end, turn around and go back. It felt a little funny at first but then I got over it and everyone who thought I was weird got used to me pacing back and forth. Probably they still thought I was weird but they never said anything.
One day I saw a finch in the doorway of one of the other businesses along that sidewalk. It was barely moving. I don't know if it was injured or tired. The next day it was gone.
Hello. It has been 2 years, 7 months and 29 days since I last posted.
I don't even know where life went. I mean, one million things happened. I'm so incredibly proud of my family. I am so in love with this life of mine. If you want a scrapbook type thing, with pics and little stories, that's not why I'm coming back, at least not right at this second. Maybe as I come back here more often, I'll get inspired to share a story.
I've started a new hobby, it's memorizing poetry. And I want a place online where I can come find my little poetry treasures that I'm working on committing to memory. I've been doing this for a bunch of years now but it's a pretty solitary activity, so I haven't shared it much. So here comes poetry. Thanks all. Thanks me, cause I'm probably the only one who will ever read this. :)
