Poems? Okay, poems!
I said I would be busy with school. So, I promised you, months ago, I would check back in.
Well, this is me checking back in. First off, what a wonderful experience I have had with the New York Zen Center’s Contemplative Care program!! I didn’t have any idea what I was getting into last year, but honestly: Do any of us ever know exactly what we’re doing? I’m glad I stumbled into this “carepartnering” adventure. Learning what that term means, summarizes it pretty well - meeting folks where they are, being present, listening, letting go…..and more than I can explain using everyday words, as imperfect as those can be.
Speaking of words - One of the requirements of the NYZC program was to do a Final Project. It could be eight minutes of anything that showed what we learned, so, I chose to read six poems that I wrote. I felt really encouraged by the warm reception I received.
(Yes, I’m still painting too - thanks to a secret project I’m working on - shhhhhh, more later!)
Recently I got the opportunity to do it again - reading poems in downtown Portland at the “Field Notes” Verdancy Project event. It was an honor to read alongside such talented people.
After both events, I was asked “how can I read your poems?” Here’s one way —
a poetry zine with 20 pages of poems on the theme of our belonging to nature and the cosmos, plus a few meditative circle drawings, by me
featuring:
nightwalking - the gift - you and I - undermountain - separated - becoming - river - coffee grounds - wonders - your heart - sun/bird - summer - moon
Here’s another way: You can always read along as I keep them uploaded to my [newly updated!] poetry page. One summer project I have is to post some recordings of my reading them aloud.
You can also hear, and see, me reading “Your Heart” right here. What fun!
Life’s been full of inspiration. The “tiny people standing underneath huge trees” imagery somehow won’t leave me alone. I added another interpretation of that with a bit of psychedelic 70’s flavor.
NINE - THE RITUAL
One from each of the nine tribes gather for the final moonlit ritual beneath the tree of life.
Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 20 inches.
