feet grew
roots deep & mighty
ropes to anchor a ship
And my belly heard earthquakes
& animal cries before fear could strike
And my fingers trembled like a leaf when
when you rested under my shade of blooms
And my thighs became strong to wrap around
the man & hold him here, and my breasts heavy
with milk dripped before my child could utter a cry
And my hands soft as feathers nurtured the fire of nests
My spine tingled with distrust and healed with care
and my bones heard darkest of storms coming
Under every line, freckle & wrinkle, I relished:
seeds, sap, cracks, decay & fruits
Then, I echoed back
mother's words :
I love my tree!
Update: This has been selected as Poem of the Week by Poets United
“The body knows things a long time before the mind catches up to them. I was wondering what my body knew that I didn't.”
And I thought of sharing this lovely poster ~
Credit: TreeSisters
:) The shape of leaf and the poem ,,,,,say it all
ReplyDeleteThank you ~
DeleteI like and had Kidd's that book (borrowed it and haven't gotten back yet) your poem touched my soul.
ReplyDeleteThank you ~ I think its important to see the beauty inside all of us ~
Deletewow a great display of rich imagery.....
ReplyDeleteThank you Sumana ~
DeleteMy spine tingled with distrust and healed with care
ReplyDeleteand my bones heard darkest of storms coming
great lines showing both sides...and i like as well
the turn in the end to loving yourself...
Thank you Brian ~ It's an important lesson for all of us ~
Deletehappy sunday grace...smiles.
Delete...what Brian said!
ReplyDeleteThis was beautiful.
Thank you Gail ~
DeleteSensual beauty in this rich profile of the self as a tree, grounded but flying.
ReplyDeleteThank you Gemma ~
DeleteI feel grounded after reading your poem~
ReplyDeleteClever and stunning-I had to read it again..
We weather many storms using our branches to brace and hold
our truth!
Beautiful!
The tree is a lovely metaphor ~ Thanks Ella ~
DeleteWhat comes due can sure be a pain, but stay in the lane and as a tree we can be
ReplyDeleteNo we can't be a tree Pat, smiles ~
Deletethis sounds beautiful Grace!:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Gloria ~
DeleteWow Grace, this is amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa ~
DeleteOn so many levels, wow...Grace this is such a thrill...I love the extended metaphor you use here...it really works!! Lovely image and message, too. :)
ReplyDeleteThe shape was fun to do ~ Thanks Hannah ~
DeleteWow! Yes, first we must notice and honor each part--and not only the physical--and then when we say it and mean it health glows. And that applies to the intangible as well--what a sensual piece and perfect for our carnal time, the incarnation which is our time on earth and in water.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely comments Susan ~
DeleteGrace, this is fantastic. "My spine tingled with distrust and healed with care" This line I really understand...the whole piece is beautiful. Thank you so much for taking part in the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely challenge Susie ~
DeleteGrace, first of all, I admire anyone who can accomplish a SHAPE poem; and then I loved the images of strength and love and care that I read within your poem! Perfection!
ReplyDeletebeautiful dear Grace...one with all that is... so easily we forget, and with a deep inhalation, eyes wide open, we just as easily remember.
ReplyDeleteI felt this with my roots. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI love being anchored like a ship...
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful an invocation of womanhood as I've ever read, Grace. Stunning poetry. It should be published and acquire a life of its own beyond the blogs.
ReplyDeletewow, Grace. really strong, just like you and your tree. i love this, experience this myself... the wonderful universality of what you've written.
ReplyDeleteI love the interweaving our bodies with nature here. Beautiful, Grace.
ReplyDeleteOh, that it does. That it does. Loved the Shape Poem. Beautiful wisdom.
ReplyDeleteGrace
ReplyDeleteI have rarely visited anyone from Pat's blog but I'm glad I stopped by yours today. You put into words, my feelings for life and trees, feelings that I could not put together. Thank you for commenting on my rhyme today.
WOW! This is my very favorite of yours, Grace. How absolutely glorious it is. I also so resonate with the quote about how women and the land are treated. The earth so needs to turn towards a matriarchal culture. This poem really impacted me. I am blissed out reading it. It is a gift. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shape poem Grace. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteawesome poem, Grace.... love the shape, the words, the metaphor
ReplyDeleteOh, this was so delightful. When I got to the last line, I was grinning from ear to ear. :)
ReplyDeletewhat a delight to read this. I loved the leaf shape as well
ReplyDeletei like how you entwine the imagery.. my fav picture is "and my bones heard darkest of storms coming" - a very strong line.
ReplyDeleteThis is really beautiful, Grace.
ReplyDeleteLove this connection between land and woman, lovely tree, beautiful poem :)x
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you, I didn't really understand that quote till I read your poem. It really opened a whole line of thought. This is so good!
ReplyDeleteYou've braided all verities and versions of diverse ties! Amazing gracefulness ! I loved the quotation as well ~ Faithfully Debbie
ReplyDeleteFascinating about the link between the land the way women are treated.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is wonderful, perfect for the line you chose from The Secret Life of Bees.
K
I felt this deep within me. The protectiveness of motherhood - womanhood is so beautifully expressed here... (I have bookmarked it!)
ReplyDeleteLiked the tree shaped motherhood piece but LOVED the correlation between the way women are treated and the earth. Ya'll better get to bitch slappin' some men folk around fo sho.
ReplyDeleteThen as always it is about education. Beautiful piece/peace Grace. I enjoyed it immensely.
ReplyDeleteHa. Very charming and surprising! A lot of fun here as well as the deeper message. Thanks, Grace. k.
ReplyDeletegravid; then released. a good pen, Grace
ReplyDeleteThere is that tenderness in this poem, along with the strength that was endearing to me. A beautiful write. And the shape is cool.
ReplyDeleteSuch charming poem. Loved it and for it's message.
ReplyDeleteNas
This is wonderful Grace--I love your work
ReplyDeleteHave to say again that I love this piece Grace!
ReplyDelete