a song of mending

Hello Friends:

This is a last minute post, so please... please show some compassion!  

Welcome to this group of writers ... Spiritual Journey Thursday is our name.  Today is hosted by Kim Johnson, who provided the prompt of "compassion."

I'm thinking about relationships and how they change over time. A thoughtless word or irritation can make the whole house of cards come down, or feel that it is coming down. But a spirit of compassion by one member can stitch it back together again. And how precious that compassion is. How it is more precious than gold.

This past year I started a sewing project, but then lost impetus. Stitching is trickier these days. My hand is unsteady. My patience grows thin. But a conversation with an old friend has changed my outlook. Her words and laughter were healing balms to me. I feel renewed, patched together. In many ways she has shown me great compassion, and her friendship is a deep blessing. One thing we touched on is our sewing. We're both still sewing, still have fabric waiting for us.

Today I came upon this poem by Irene Latham, and stitches begin to fall into place. Perhaps, for today, my words will be stitches. Perhaps I can be the one whose words show compassion. Perhaps I can hum and stitch as I go.

Mending

And this is how

we shall remake

the world:

like a seamstress

with pins in her mouth,

steady fingers

coaxing thread,

a hum forever

in her throat

as stitch by stitch

the fabric is fitted, gathered -

until what was once tattered

now dances across the floor.

- Irene Latham

When I can't stitch or find the right words, I can pray. I can find no greater compassion just now. I can fit a prayer into a breath or two. I can remember a name, a face, a situation, and breathe a prayer as I go about the day. In the car or in the shower.  Prayer and compassion seem synonymous.

Today I am thankful for compassionate friends, kind words and laughter. I am thankful for this online community of writers. I am thankful for the challenge ahead. 

Thanks to Irene, whom I haven't thanked ahead of time, for her beautiful poem. And thanks again to Kim, who has need of our compassion after the loss of her father, for hosting. You can find her post HERE.

Many blessings to all.

The Moon, The Moon... How we love the Moon!

Evenings darken earlier now, and when I go out I notice the moon, right there, shining down on me.  This past week it was a waxing crescent, lightly clouded over and gauzy.  Leaves are beginning to turn, the air is nippy, and the moon looks spooky. Perfect!

Ted Kooser wrote a poem that I like very much, from his collection of poems titled "Winter Mornings: 100 Postcards to Jim Harrison." It begins:

Only a crust of moon is left

to offer the morning,

I can almost feel that crust, rough and dry in my throat. But in spite of that crust sounding like a cold dry leftover, it also sounds intriguing. There's something about the tiny crescent that fascinates and even amuses. Not much to offer the morning, perhaps, but much to offer the imagination.

Speaking of imagination, I'm dedicating some space to a new book by Irene Latham titled The Museum on the Moon: Curious Objects on the Lunar Surface. Myriam Wares illustrated it with just the right tones for the calm bright surfaces of the moon, and Irene wrote poems for each artifact that has been left there. I really like the premise for this book: curious objects that have been left on the moon. What a fascinating topic!

Irene's poems are delightful. I have several favorites, but I'd like to share a bit of this one because in just a few words it made me think about something I had not considered:

Forever Footprints

Human tracks tattoo

Moon's rutted face --

With no wind, no rain

There's no way to erase...

I invite you to find Irene's book and share it. It will be perfect for a classroom or that young person who is enthralled with space.  And don't miss the final pages, which are full of astronauts and timelines and many good notes about the moon and its visitors.  Congratulations, Irene! Stellar!!!

 

And now... 

How about a fun Moon craft?  I did this with kids ages 4 to 12, and they all loved it.  Mix paint with flour until it looks like paste, brush a thick layer on a paper circle and stamp it with various sized circles. After a day for drying: Tada!!! A moon with craters.  So fun!

https://www.cindyderosier.com/2014/07/the-cursive-project-moon.html

I wrote a moon poem some years ago, and decided to rework it for today's blog.  Today is a full moon, by the way... the Harvest Moon!  I hope the clouds give me a chance to see it.

Sister Moon

Come close

Sister Moon

Show me your 

Glowing face

Whisper to me 

Of your mystery

Of beauty, strength, 

And grace

What do you keep

In your thin crescent bowl?

When you melt away

Where do you hide?

What makes you blush

Bright as a cardinal?

What enchantment

Charms the tides?

We're sisters, dear Moon

We share a wealth

Of sunshine 

From above

I'm glad for your glow, 

Little Sister Moon,

And I send you

All my love.

© Karen Eastlund, 2023

It is Poetry Friday, and you are invited to join the gang at 

Jama Rattigan's where she shares some

hilarious poetry.  Click HERE to join the fun.

 

Poem Revision

I took Irene Latham's revision class a few weeks ago. It was excellent, just as I suspected it would be.  So... with a her advice in mind, and a poem I wrote in 2014, I went to work.  Here is my revision... I'm still monkeying with it, but I sense progress. 

Image by ykaiavu from Pixabay

Sweet Abyss

        

Like a bear 

snuffles for honey

I lumber 

sniffing

drooling

honing in

pining

growling

finally 

falling

deeply

heavily

 blissfully

oblivious

in

sweet

dense

sleep

August 2014, revised May '21

KE

Congratulations today to Mary Lee Hahn, an extraordinary educator and poet who inspires us all. My best to you, Mary Lee. Enjoy your retirement! Write more poetry! 

It's Poetry Friday again! The weeks seem to speed by. Find the Poetry Friday gang today at 

Christie Wyman's Wondering & Wandering.  Thanks for hosting, Christie, and thanks for sharing some of Mary Lee's poems. 

Sending good wishes to all, especially teachers and students who will be winding up a year.