How is it that sap shines like tears but tastes of sugar? That running again after all this time feels like a pulsing stillness? There are no straight lines through the woods. Butterweed builds golden walls, I bend through buzzing doors. The earth aches aliveness—or is that me? I am a heart beating out of its chest. All day, I bang against ribs. All day, sugar pours from wounds, and light falls to the dark ground like something spilled and sticky sweet. When my bones join the puddles, I hope they’ll be a trellis.
This poem feels like a great big invitation to slow down -- to notice the tiny worlds out there under our nose "all day," to wonder about them, to feel the coming rain. It's a meditative antidote to the rushed pace I've been operating in recently. Thank you, A!
I so enjoyed taking this imaginal journey with you. I love the idea of spiders crossing their legs in the way we cross our fingers to hope or wish, and also the way you held your breath the way the sky held its drips. And of course I loved your brilliant rhymes ; )
Lovely words for those little guys we tend to fear so much. Although the wooly black one that decided to join me on my hammock yesterday was not well received!
I love the question of whether it is the earth or you aching with aliveness! Also love the image of you as a heart beating out the earth's chest. We are truly one, and this poem captures that essence so beautifully. My offering on the prompt:
*
All day long the trees receive with magnanimity
the burdens that fall to them under the gravity
of greed.
They suffer without complaint the weight of hate-
fully heavy demands we’ve reframed to name
as need. The incomprehensible, indefensible need
for more.
More now.
More, faster.
More, bigger,
More, cheaper.
Even though more is still somehow
not enough, never enough, no matter how much,
and the trees just keep taking up
our carbonaceous slack, getting absolutely nothing back
except
more of the same.
Where is our shame?
Alchemized like carbon into oxygen we breathe freely,
I love this. It's like the sequel to the Lorax. On the one hand there's the greed and the need for more, more, more that's led to deforestation. And then there's this other greed for more, more, more that's pumped ever more carbon into the atmosphere with fewer trees to take it up.
Ooooph. Yes, the beast known as consumption is truly a hungry ghost. Thanks, friend :)) I hope Denver is great, and it feels better knowing your forest poetry gathering will likely give something beautiful back to the magnanimous Colorado trees <3
What a treat this was to read! The lines “hips touching, house silent” and “nobody calls my name to come help” are a balm to every weary parent’s soul!
Thank you, Lisa. It was funny that the prompt basically led to a vision of a day without parenting (as much as I love my crew). I’m kind of worn out right now.
That makes so much sense to me! If you spent a few weeks without your kiddos, I'm guessing you'd be dreaming of a day with them, but when the day-in-day-out of your life is caregiving, it's so natural to dream of quiet! I'm wishing you inner libraries of calm and peace!
This is so lovely, Margaret. What a beautiful way to spend a day. I tend to read things literally, so I have to ask - do you really live in a library? That sounds like a dream.
Wow—thank you! This was definitely a vision of an ideal quiet day. Life has been more chaotic than usual lately. No, I don’t live in a library, but as one literal reader to another, I’m surprised I settled on that verb 😊. I was in the library when I was writing this prompt and it was such a wonderful break, lots of soft sounds but no real noise.
This is so lovely! I love how the simple question “what will you do all day” acts like a door within this poem, inviting us all into a really spacious kind of imagining.
Hi A.! My plan is to retire from full time work when my current interim stint ends here. I’m not exactly sure when that is, this summer or fall, but after 48 years of working, I’m ready! !
How I got to what you see here. I started with the all day prompt and couldn't get anywhere this weekend. Because I mostly finished it with "I'm tired." lol.
But then yesterday was, of course, Memorial Day, which is kind of my "soberversary." I say kind of because the date would actually be May 31 (Memorial Day 2021) but the holiday is what holds the significance in my mind.
Karri, this is so powerful! You have me in tears. Thank you for sharing so beautifully and completely. And your ending - so simple and matter of fact - packs such a punch. “So that was that.” Congratulations on three years, friend!
Lisa! This is so gorgeous, wow. This line resonates with me deeply: “The earth aches aliveness—or is that me?” And the last stanza. Thank you for sharing. ❤️
So glad you were able to go on that run - and thank you for taking us along. I tend to think "oh I can't write about "x, y, or z" again because I have already written about it. But of course we can!
Where do spiders go when it rains?
I have heard of the one
who fell down the drain and
somehow climbed back up again
safe and sound
once the rain had dried out,
but I doubt
most would fare so well
in such a risky scenario,
and would likely drown.
.
All day, I have awaited
the rain, thinking again and again
of the spiders I have glimpsed
in the garden, and wondered
about their fate.
.
Do they tuck themselves
under branches and leaves
the way that we sometimes duck
under eaves to get relief
from a downpour?
.
Do they have their own version
of our indoors
outside, where they hide
until the wetness has finally subsided?
.
Do they simply settle
into their webs and hope
for the best, legs crossed
this storm isn't their last?
.
Or do they sneak
through the cracks of the closest
available shack, seeking shelter
in whatever home
they can find it?
.
I am holding my breath
the way the sky
holds off the drips,
hesitant to let any air slip
through my lips as the storm
slowly eases in.
.
And while I am wondering
and looking outside,
the small web in the window
catches my eye -- it is empty,
and I cannot tell if this news
bodes well for
the tiny spider who was there
just this morning.
.
At least I can surmise
that this ruminating of mine
implies a graduation from the hate
I used to claim against
all of their kind.
I love this, A, and found myself longing for illustrations to go with each of your ideas for what spiders might do!
Children's book idea!
This poem feels like a great big invitation to slow down -- to notice the tiny worlds out there under our nose "all day," to wonder about them, to feel the coming rain. It's a meditative antidote to the rushed pace I've been operating in recently. Thank you, A!
Thank you! That's such a lovely compliment. I feel like poetry in general is like that for me, and especially inside of this community.
I so enjoyed taking this imaginal journey with you. I love the idea of spiders crossing their legs in the way we cross our fingers to hope or wish, and also the way you held your breath the way the sky held its drips. And of course I loved your brilliant rhymes ; )
Thank you! 😊
Lovely words for those little guys we tend to fear so much. Although the wooly black one that decided to join me on my hammock yesterday was not well received!
Neither were the two very enormous (and possibly dangerous) ones we saw in the garden this week.
I love the question of whether it is the earth or you aching with aliveness! Also love the image of you as a heart beating out the earth's chest. We are truly one, and this poem captures that essence so beautifully. My offering on the prompt:
*
All day long the trees receive with magnanimity
the burdens that fall to them under the gravity
of greed.
They suffer without complaint the weight of hate-
fully heavy demands we’ve reframed to name
as need. The incomprehensible, indefensible need
for more.
More now.
More, faster.
More, bigger,
More, cheaper.
Even though more is still somehow
not enough, never enough, no matter how much,
and the trees just keep taking up
our carbonaceous slack, getting absolutely nothing back
except
more of the same.
Where is our shame?
Alchemized like carbon into oxygen we breathe freely,
courtesy of undeserved arboreal magnanimity?
I love this. It's like the sequel to the Lorax. On the one hand there's the greed and the need for more, more, more that's led to deforestation. And then there's this other greed for more, more, more that's pumped ever more carbon into the atmosphere with fewer trees to take it up.
Oh, yes! It does have that vibe. And I love "our carbonaceous slack" and "undeserved arboreal magnanimity."
Ooooph. Yes, the beast known as consumption is truly a hungry ghost. Thanks, friend :)) I hope Denver is great, and it feels better knowing your forest poetry gathering will likely give something beautiful back to the magnanimous Colorado trees <3
More is somehow not enough, never enough…
So terribly true.
Love the golden blooms and buzzing doors. The ache of aliveness ❤️🩹
My reflections from a lovely Saturday:
All day the sun shines.
Naps and dance parties, the hot grill
Means summer is here!
Naps, dance parties, and grilling - you just managed to conjure a lot of happiness for me in just a few words! Lovely!
All day
.
I lie in bed with you, reading books, hips touching, house silent.
.
I pet the new kitten, listen to her purr
watch her knead her claws back and forth.
Nobody calls my name to come help.
.
I live in the library, sounds of people checking out books
the squeak of a hidden door.
.
I sit in a meadow, grass and green weeds uncut, unmoving.
My knees are drawn up to my chest, held in place by my hands
holding each other. All day.
What a treat this was to read! The lines “hips touching, house silent” and “nobody calls my name to come help” are a balm to every weary parent’s soul!
Thank you, Lisa. It was funny that the prompt basically led to a vision of a day without parenting (as much as I love my crew). I’m kind of worn out right now.
That makes so much sense to me! If you spent a few weeks without your kiddos, I'm guessing you'd be dreaming of a day with them, but when the day-in-day-out of your life is caregiving, it's so natural to dream of quiet! I'm wishing you inner libraries of calm and peace!
Thank you, Lisa :). And thank you for another great writing exercise.
This is so lovely, Margaret. What a beautiful way to spend a day. I tend to read things literally, so I have to ask - do you really live in a library? That sounds like a dream.
Wow—thank you! This was definitely a vision of an ideal quiet day. Life has been more chaotic than usual lately. No, I don’t live in a library, but as one literal reader to another, I’m surprised I settled on that verb 😊. I was in the library when I was writing this prompt and it was such a wonderful break, lots of soft sounds but no real noise.
I love that! Thank you for sharing!
I love this prompt, Lisa. Well, I love all your prompts and your poems, but they are so distinctive that every one is a new adventure.
All Day
^
The long winding story
that bookends
a working life,
soon to come to an end.
‘What will you do all day?” friends ask.
I reply, “I don’t know…”
and I smile at the possibilities.
I imagine the joy of choices,
a delightful day with nothing
better to do
than
just be.
One more day with all day
as the recipe
For creating.
For listening.
For opening.
For wandering.
For wondering.
For loving.
All day.
Each day.
This day.
This is so lovely! I love how the simple question “what will you do all day” acts like a door within this poem, inviting us all into a really spacious kind of imagining.
Thank you Lisa!
Larry, are you retiring soon? I love the idea of you getting to spend your days just being!
Hi A.! My plan is to retire from full time work when my current interim stint ends here. I’m not exactly sure when that is, this summer or fall, but after 48 years of working, I’m ready! !
I'm so glad for you!
On the edge of a holiday weekend
Reading the great summer novel
Is like drinking an all day I.P.A.
Poetry, the writing, the reading is like a high proof distillate
Hitting hard and fast
All day I pace the barren waste
Without the taste of water
Cool water
Water
Sons of the Pioneers
Echo in my daddy’s ears
Beating back the years
And countless fears
Train by day
Joe Rogan Podcast by night
All day
So many images in this poem! I love the idea of reading the great summer novel being like drinking an all day IPA.
How I got to what you see here. I started with the all day prompt and couldn't get anywhere this weekend. Because I mostly finished it with "I'm tired." lol.
But then yesterday was, of course, Memorial Day, which is kind of my "soberversary." I say kind of because the date would actually be May 31 (Memorial Day 2021) but the holiday is what holds the significance in my mind.
Yesterday
Was Memorial Day
And all day
I was thinking of
Memorial Day 2021
It was the last day.
.
The last day
That I pre-gamed
Before going to
A family gathering
Guaranteeing that I’d be
Buzzed when I arrived.
.
The last day
I ignored the pleas
From my kids and him
Not to drink too much
Oh of course I won’t
I effortlessly lied.
.
The last day
I kept a mental log
Of the drinks I had
And shots in between
Before I lost count
And gave it up.
.
The last day
I thought I had a right
To wail and cry and curse
A public spectacle
So embarrassing
When I’d had too much.
.
The last day
I said words I would
Have never said
In sober standard time
To those I claimed to love
But yet I'd never take the blame.
.
The last day
That I would go to bed
And wake up constantly
Stomach sick
Pounding head
Full of regret and shame.
.
And that last day
Was the first time
That I really saw
That I might lose it all
For that sake of what
Was in that bottle or that glass.
.
So that was that.
.
Karri, this is so powerful! You have me in tears. Thank you for sharing so beautifully and completely. And your ending - so simple and matter of fact - packs such a punch. “So that was that.” Congratulations on three years, friend!
Oh boy, this made me cry. What a powerful, raw poem. Happy three years, Karri. You are a rock star.
Wow. That’s some vulnerable and powerful writing. I’m glad you’re moving forward in a positive way Karri.
Three years is amazing, Karri. The ending of your poem really seals it - "so that was that."
Lisa! This is so gorgeous, wow. This line resonates with me deeply: “The earth aches aliveness—or is that me?” And the last stanza. Thank you for sharing. ❤️
Thank you so much, Claire! It was so helpful to get and incorporate feedback via CWC. The original version was much more sprawling!
These lines are so delicious:
"Butterweed builds golden walls,
I bend through buzzing doors."
Well, winding your way through flowers and bees is indeed delicious! Thank you, Margaret.
All day dollars flutter
out of strokes on a keyboard,
through windows open
and closed.
Some of them are marked for me.
They will feed me and
contain my life.
.
All day entropy
is also on the job.
She drifts through high places,
pulling old snow into itself,
filling every gully,
waking every lily,
asking me out.
.
When I fail to show,
she shuffles into my yard
where I can see her,
and sets about raising weeds
and driveway ruts.
She smirks at me
through the glass that
holds me fast.
.
When that still doesn’t work,
she pads up behind me,
leans over the back of my
chair designed for all-day comfort
and carves lines on my face
as I continue
getting by.
Ooh, this is so good. I can't get over the sort of cheeky and impertinent personality of entropy, and how she smirks, and carves lines on your face.
This one really spoke to me. Such incredible awareness in this.
So glad you were able to go on that run - and thank you for taking us along. I tend to think "oh I can't write about "x, y, or z" again because I have already written about it. But of course we can!
Thanks, Karri! I’ve tended to do that, too, but I’m learning that sometimes the biggest magic happens on the second or third or hundredth go.
"The earth aches aliveness -- or is that me?" Yes! And the last stanza - I just love the imagery.
I’m grinning like a total dweeb from all these lovely comments! Thank you, A!
Yet another experience we share! I'm always beaming when I read the comments here.
😃😃🤪
I love this poem so much! Especially the last stanza. Am memorizing it now to keep it with me.
That feels like the highest honor! Thank you.
Love this poem and your reading of it!!! <3
Thank you so much, DT!
Lisa, you are a gem! I am so happy you made that run again!
Thank you, Larry! Hoping to try another one in the next few days and keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out!
Me too! Sending healing and rejuvenating energy and love your way. 🧡
And I love the vocal, too!