i, stone of beliefs
i, close-fisted, held it
sure as sun rising
everyday in my small tropical home
then tides came-
there are 4 seasons
storms
& silence
for a reason
in my mid-life
i, cup of water rivulet
i, palmless traveller
roots & being adrift
are good companions-
while a heavy luggage
is a pain to carry-
and getting older (hopefully) means:
i, sponge
i, seed
@ Grace
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Part 5 of 5th Anniversary Celebration, Hosted by Gayle Walters Rose. I have spent my vacation with my aging folks and I have thought a lot of my changing beliefs, and growing old.
Please check out the interview of Anthony Desmond here, and our short poetry prompt about changing beliefs. So this ends our week's celebration at D'verse. Thanks for all the visits!!!
I especially like this part, Grace: "roots & being adrift/are good companions/while a heavy luggage/
ReplyDeleteis a pain to carry."
Life has a way of uprooting us and casting us adrift. I guess the test is to see how we manage. This evoked strong emotions, Grace.
Everything has a purpose. This is hard for us especially in light of some of the disasters and large scale tragedies...to wrap our minds around...especially when there is a personal connection. ...I think the older we get the more well rounded our beliefs become
ReplyDeleteOh this is wonderful... to uproot yourself means to find new soil... truly great the way you use the short lines to show the change of purpose.
ReplyDeleteBeing with our elderly parents does this to us. Carry burdens for other people is so very heavy and hard. It is hard enough for us to carry our own burdens.
ReplyDeleteLove this... def when you're younger and still figuring things out, you go back and forth; beliefs switch up quite often for sure... as you get older, you're more firm and confident in what you decide to carry in your heart.
ReplyDeleteThere is such wisdom in this piece. Beautifully penned, Grace.
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
To be uprooted is a tremendous change in life. It was a major decision but worth it, certainly! Rightly so,Grace!
ReplyDeleteHank
Words of wisdom Grace. Our experiences of life change who we are, alter our beliefs, yet often we gain strength because of it.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you are well-rooted, strong as you appear to be.
Kind regards
Anna :o]
Yes, being forced to start again, then again, in a new place, with a new mind set--that is the stuff of life. Many of us who run with the dVerse pack of poets are in the autumn of things, & your words resonate with insight & truth & wisdom.
ReplyDeleteSuch poignant words. As I come closer to being 64 I understand and relate.
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with your little (i) eyes. And it looks like they're even crying.
ReplyDeleteThese are my favorites:
"i, close-fisted, held it
sure as sun rising
everyday in my small tropical home"
"i, sponge
i, seed" ... This makes me think that you have to soak up before you can give.
Today, I realize that your hidden title is "Retro, I speak (t)." I speak of/in the past.
DeleteAlso, "Retro eye: speak." Maybe even "Retry I (me)." Or "Retry, eye.'
A wonderful poem. I echo your hope.
ReplyDelete"i, stone of beliefs / i, close-fisted, held it"..." life begins this way & time gradually loosens the fingers...love this journey Grace, learning through experiences...so insightful...
ReplyDelete'i, stone of beliefs
ReplyDeletei, close-fisted, held it'
Yes,beliefs are like stones and they can weight us down. I love the way you have encapsulated this in the opening line - a firm statement until 'the tides came'. I love the transition from stone to tree.
Very good description of your journey thus far Grace, although as I age, I see myself not trying to soak up anymore, but remaining close fisted to what I see and know to be violations of the eternal being of man.
ReplyDeleteThe older we get the more open we do seem to be. Or maybe we just forget things easier lol
ReplyDeleteLove the transition from stone to seeds.
ReplyDeleteLoved the idea that the older we get the more we can learn.
ReplyDeleteWeLL.. my friend
ReplyDeleteGrace.. as we gracefully
Age as Maslow well puts..
there are two paths
one of stagnation
and the other
of rebirth..
yes reborn..
no different
than that metaphor
of Jesus2.. where we self
actualize and the God head
i becomes one with I.. every
culture talks to this.. some in
religion some in voice with
Nature.. but the bottom
line is.. when one is
in balance with
God one grows
from birth to
death
and grows
again.. it
doesn't take
a rocket scientist
to see inside to
outside.. to above
to below.. to all around
but sure books can hide
it all
in words
that never grow
uP
with
God
more
as a greater
force of liGht
and liFE as co-creator
toGetHer in a grace of
age where age is only illusion
of humans hooked on form
instead of essence
of what
we sense
and FeeL
of liFE of intelligence
before collected words
of yesternows
that
hold
no
new..
of iSREaL with GOD..
smiles.. and thanks for the
inspiration along the way..
i have to give you credit..
winks.. at
least you
don't delete
my poetic
comments..
as if any of that
matters in the real
Kingdom of God and
Nature now same that
focuses all
on giving
and
sharing
rather
than
taking
in ways
of likes
and follows..
money..
etc..
big houses
that become
God and
cars
that
are
Ladies
in Red
for Lovers..
and suits with ties the same
without
human
being
before
the
Apple..
with so much
greater fearless Love iSREAL..:)
Lovely, Grace. Change - it can be tough, generally is, but it can be so worth the effort (even if we only realise that in retrospect).
ReplyDeleteThis is quite wonderful, being in the late stages of my life, I can relate to your journey and say that, for me, your words ring true
ReplyDelete" and getting older (hopefully) means:
i, sponge
i, seed "
It does for me, I hope it will for you :-)
This is just wonderful, Grace. That transformation from stone to water is the work of a lifetime. I do love the wisdom and truth in this.
ReplyDeleteAh, this is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteRetrospect is what you have with each year you pass. Nicely done.
ReplyDelete