Wednesday, July 2, 2014

At midpoint, assessing my life

I.     For Poets United

Stitched on these pages
Are letters written to myself

Their delicate threads 
Mirror the seasons quickly passing by 

In a single knot 
My hands bound the white papers 

The past falls away like brown dry leaves  
Into summer downpour

I pick up my needle & yarn &
begin a new canvas of the people around me-

a young lady stops walking on busy street
& buries her face in pink rose, poking out from wire fence-

a man with long blond hair stands on crowded subway 
& writes furiously on his notebook, one arm around the pole-

two young children eating a slice of watermelon, 
their black eyes full of contentment-

and ....
      




II.    For Poetry Jam


I write 

on water:
You do not quench my thirst. 

Even on hot summer day
Even on last leg of long journey 
  
I untie

my shoes & kneel
inhaling space & silence

Even when the day is not ripe fruit 
Nor the night resplendent in moonlight

I write

on page:
Thirst is a seed I am planting today.



Posted for Poets United - Midweek Motif - Half the year
and Poetry Jam - Thirst

Picture credit:   here

34 comments:

  1. thirst as the seed you plant...i like that much...also the writing on water...which is every changing and impermanent...and of course the reverence of taking off you shoes to kneel down....and capturing people...ha...its one of my fav things to do...smiles.

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  2. I too like that close. Taking off the shoes, kneeling, breathing in space and silence...all so restorative...and sometimes needed when the day and night are not so fruitful nor magnificent. Enjoyed your take Grace!

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  3. Just taking all in around you as you kneel about, sure reflective indeed. Like the thirst is a seed

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  4. I am most struck by "thirst is the seed I am planting today." Wow. I love the sound of the book you are stitching together in the first poem! I love the girl burying her face in the rose........

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  5. Assessing and reflecting on life are significant developments. Done on regular basis can be beneficial checks to maintain consistency! Nicely done Grace!

    Hank

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  6. O, Grace! How astonishing to change the view from backwards to forwards, to look outwards from your whole self--even to imagine another doing this! I love the stitching/writing, knot/period and the new canvass. And then to speak of thirst as a motivation, as a planting, even a hope assessed at mid year. I love the change in One and the drive in Two. I am glad you combined the prompts to give me so much to think about!

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  7. I love the image of sewn words and the tue to the seasons. the second piece feels quite refreshing, even though it speaks of thirst.

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  8. love this assessment at midpoint and the gradual filling up of the new canvas with colors of life...in the 2nd one inhaling space and silence & the image of thirst as a seed is awesome...

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  9. I enjoy the creativity you show in your poems, whether you are yarning or writing in good or bad days. Have a nice week too!

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  10. i enjoy all the references to the acknowledged aesthetics a human being attentive but what left me with a recognition that life is so fleeting is the notion ...the past falls away like brown dry leaves into summer downpour.

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  11. Both are your poems are thoughtful and full of simple and meditative actions.

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  12. Left me pondering, what will the seed of thirst sprout in my life today

    Much love...

    Thanks for stopping by my blog

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  13. 1) I think it is good when the past falls away...as only when it falls away can we then begin anew.

    2) I like the idea of thirst being the seed that we plant today, as it is the thirst that truly acts as inspiration.

    Happy weekend, Grace!

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  14. I love how you see your world and think your thoughts in words Grace. Your poetry is always deep and causes me to think. I really enjoyed your poem about your ancestors a few posts ago. Today while visiting your blog I looked at all the places your poems have been published. Wonderful!

    Thank you so much for your kind words on my most recent post. I really love that you stopped by.

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  15. What a wonderful pairing of verse..a flow through the senses..words and pages are everywhere inside and out..waiting to be written and stitched together..a mid point is a good place to be..a place to look forward and back

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  16. Grace I love both of these poems. I love how you so eloquently described a writers passion for the written word. "Thirst is a seed I am planting today"...what an amazing line. Beautiful!

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  17. Hi, Grace... I absolutely love both your poems here! Hope you have a great day.

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  18. I love these poems but especially when in the second you talk about the seed im plsnykng today slways love this image:)

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  19. i love that last line - Thirst is a seed, that is just magic and so powerful. Excellent.

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  20. I enjoyed your new canvas...sharp images. I especailly love your second poem...all of it.

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  21. I love the letter to yourself while you assess the mid-year.

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  22. These are both lovely and vivid poems, Grace. You have a definite thirst for life and expression. Thanks. K.

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  23. very cool image in the closing lines. I like both pieces ~

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  24. You do have a thirst for life Grace.

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  25. Yes, the past falls away... You write with style! Thanks for post!

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  26. Wise additions to the prompts, Grace. 'I pick up my needle & yarn &
    begin a new canvas of the people around me-' love this idea of absorbing each other experience' and second, about thirst, so wise line 'Thirst is a seed I am planting today.' ~ Enjoyed very much ! ~ Happy Independence weekend!

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  27. Is there intended irony in the post of money plant seed pods?

    Well done. You captured me and held me til the ending.

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  28. I love the idea of new beginnings in the first one. As for the second one, the idea of sustaining and teasing one's passions with words is tantalizing. It's certainly a different take the prompt Thirst.

    Ah, I am sorry for not visiting earlier - the summer heat is stifling where we are. Happy weekend, Grace. :-)

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  29. planting the thirst seed..and writing on water..beautifully done Grace:)

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  30. Grace, I love how you broke up these stanzas and these lines:

    Even when the day is not ripe fruit
    Nor the night resplendent in moonlight

    Are absolutely fabulous! Love the whole poem :-)

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  31. "Thirst is a seed I am planting today"... This line is amazing! It makes me think of thirst as a source of inspiration and the fact that you "plant" it is great. I liked your poem a lot, Grace!

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  32. Wonderful poems, "Thirst is a seed I am planting today." was my favourite line!

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  33. Loved it. The words evoke in me feelings of hope, trepidation, melancholy, and hope yet again. It feels like second chance at starting over at life. Beautiful imagery.

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  34. All well worth revisiting--thanks, Grace. k.

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