This is reallyl nice, A.M. I could see this wonderful scene in my mind, and love the image of the dripping--I love this phrase-"And juice, like July is supposed to taste." That is truly inspired and magical verse!
So very nice, Liz--I sometimes feel that all the powers and the provocateurs want us to see is the wars, the divisions, the rancor, turning our attention from the beautiful ways of community, healing, common ground, and crossing borders and bridges which are happening every day.
This is fantastic, A.! I love the flow back and forth--my first read I saw the lines as good or bad, positive or negative, but then I realized that I was too surficial and you were challenging us to see the cycles as natural, inherent and free of good or bad..just is. Thank you!
This is so moving and powerful, Jillian! Your first line: "I am a gratedful witness to the cycles of life." What a remartkable first line that connects me immediately and has me breathing in the joy, power and brilliance of each subsequent line. and what a beauitful ending--
"A melody and a rhythm,
A mystery and a commitment,
We are all carried by our cycles,
Certain we can be uncertain
As we expand ourselves and shine."
What magical verse and lyrical poetry. You have a remakrable ability to begin and end with such wonder, clarity, mystery and magic, truly enhancing the journey in between.
This is very wonderful, Trish. What wisdom it brings forth, and a thoughtful sense of letting goi, learning, acceptance and discovery. Your honesty and vulnerability are inspiring. Thank you.
Ahhh the moon. I love Luna. I was tempted to write about her here, but the writing went in a different direction. Yes to "she has so much to teach me about thriving."
I love how some days a word quickly forms associations and stories for me, and other days I let the word sort of rest on my heart as I go about living to see what it brings up. Cycle is definitely one I will carry around with me today 💗
Conscious
Yearning
Closing
Loose
Ends
Start again
Wonderful Jane! I love the cadence and flow you create!
Cycles, seasons,
wheels within wheels
to everything
turn turn turn
getting dizzy
feeling groovy
familiar path
deepened rut
not necessarily
the right track
but here I am
again
.
still
.
moving
This one might be my favourite you've written, Bob.
We eat ice cream,
fresh peach churned,
cycles of cream
and juice like July
is supposed to taste-
it drips down between
my children’s fingers,
a legacy so sweet.
I can almost taste it myself. I love this one!
This is reallyl nice, A.M. I could see this wonderful scene in my mind, and love the image of the dripping--I love this phrase-"And juice, like July is supposed to taste." That is truly inspired and magical verse!
Thanks so much- I wait for peach season every year 🍑
You have my mouth watering already! Our peach season is a ways off up here, but we'll get there!
bittersweet memories churned up with this one.
thank you for such an evocative piece.
Thanks so much- with so much needed dialogue about breaking family cycles, I like to remember that some family traditions are also needed to continue
Carousel
A carousel turning around and around,
The music unceasing calliope sounds.
Emotions the horses upon which I ride,
First high and then low until finally I slide,
To the edge of the platform to try and get down,
But I fear if I make the leap to the ground.
That things will not change for better but worse,
The fear of the unknown always a curse.
Maybe one day I’ll learn how slow it all down
And finally get off this merry go round.
Karri Temple Brackett
May 28, 2023
https://themarvelousandthemundane.com/2023/05/28/carousel/
This is wonderful Karri! I love the rhymes you make, and the way they flow and illustrate your creavity and passion. This is great work! Thank you!
You are too kind! I always worry about having what a professor of mine once called "rhyming virus...." lol
I understand! I like your rhyming, and as someone who does not rhyme very well, really appreciate and admire someone who does!
Living through cycles
I have much to learn, and yet...
Much more to forget
This is beauitful Aleesha! So powerful in such few words--that is real skill and wonderful thought and writing!
Yes, much to forget.
it gets easier as i get older.
.
I'm sorry.
What was the question?
Nature is full of cycles,
Moon, weather, plants,
Just to name a few.
Humans used to rotate,
Through war and peace,
It seems all we have now is war
ouch.
that sharp turn caught me.
painful truth.
Every day somewhere someone is at war.
We need saving from ourselves.
This is such a great reminder that some cycles are meant to be broken.
So very nice, Liz--I sometimes feel that all the powers and the provocateurs want us to see is the wars, the divisions, the rancor, turning our attention from the beautiful ways of community, healing, common ground, and crossing borders and bridges which are happening every day.
begin
.
inhale
rise
heat
expand
hurt
learn
sow
bloom
harvest
wither
heal
teach
cool
contract
set
exhale
.
end
.
.
.
begin
again
...beautiful...everything is in a breath...
This is fantastic, A.! I love the flow back and forth--my first read I saw the lines as good or bad, positive or negative, but then I realized that I was too surficial and you were challenging us to see the cycles as natural, inherent and free of good or bad..just is. Thank you!
I'm so glad you went there with me!
Moving tides washing the shores
Pulling me inward, outward
Each day, a year of cycles
Every moment a dying birth
Am I a chrysalis, a caterpillar,
a butterfly?
Or imaginal cells, unformed
Yet to be.
This is very evocative and moving, Julie! Thank you!
Cycles
.
I’m a grateful witness to the cycles of life.
The seed is scattered, catching in the dirt.
The grass grows long, sprouting buttercups madly.
The sun beats down, defying life to carry on,
Uplifting in its provocation.
Then the rains sweep in, sometimes soft and gentle,
Sometimes furious in their downpour.
Eventually, the water clears and clouds are left in its wake,
Humidity greeting the emergence into a fresh earth.
A rainbow shines on the fortunate eyes.
What’s left, then, but tall grass and wildflowers,
Mornings cool until they’re not,
A slate wiped clean to begin the cycle over?
A melody and a rhythm,
A mystery and a commitment,
We are all carried by our cycles,
Certain we can be uncertain
As we expand ourselves and shine.
This is so moving and powerful, Jillian! Your first line: "I am a gratedful witness to the cycles of life." What a remartkable first line that connects me immediately and has me breathing in the joy, power and brilliance of each subsequent line. and what a beauitful ending--
"A melody and a rhythm,
A mystery and a commitment,
We are all carried by our cycles,
Certain we can be uncertain
As we expand ourselves and shine."
What magical verse and lyrical poetry. You have a remakrable ability to begin and end with such wonder, clarity, mystery and magic, truly enhancing the journey in between.
that grass sprouting buttercups madly
one should avoid provocation
given this already frantic state.
What a wonderful image
thank you
Jillian, this is just gorgeous! Guided through a cycle, (yes and is it over?) in all is simplicity and complexity!
"I'm ok with it, really I am."
"But sometimes I wonder
what it's like on the other side &
i think I'd rather just stay right here."
"But, it would be really kool
to meet the one who made me
and really loves me."
"i hope it's all real"
"Birth is just too scary."
"Death is just too scary."
kindred ponders complete my cycle.
I like this Chuck--and the very honest and curious way you lay out the cycles of life.
Thank u.
I got no clue what I'm doing,
but I am having fun.
Keep it up my friend!
sitting with the paradox.
waves lapping against the shore.
both/and?
neither/nor?
Let me get back to you...
No poem or wisdom today but staying on point with the theme:
What’s the difference between a well-dressed man on a bicycle and a poorly dressed man on a unicycle?
..........
Attire
groan.
no, like really.
deep groan.
thank you.
Bravo!
Cycles
Observing the moon
in her nightly orbit,
I find she has much
to teach me
about living.
As she waxes large,
I’m reminded to inhale, too,
taking in a deep breath
of all that is and can be
truly wonderful in life.
And when she wanes,
I must also exhale,
choosing to see
what I can let go
and what may
no longer be needed.
In her fullness,
I can take up space as well,
believing it’s okay to shine
if I will just be true
to the real me.
And in her darkness,
I likewise rest,
reassuring myself
I really don't need
to produce
all the time
to be worthwhile.
Even in the
repetition of her cycles,
I find a rhythm
for life
that is sustaining
and encouraging,
comforting
and empowering.
Observing the moon
in her circular flow,
I find she has much
to teach me
about thriving.
I've always been drawn to the moon. I love how you bring her to life here.
This is very wonderful, Trish. What wisdom it brings forth, and a thoughtful sense of letting goi, learning, acceptance and discovery. Your honesty and vulnerability are inspiring. Thank you.
Ahhh the moon. I love Luna. I was tempted to write about her here, but the writing went in a different direction. Yes to "she has so much to teach me about thriving."
cycles of life
seasons to mark time
trips around the sun
plant, nurture, harvest, rest
spring, summer, fall, winter
one trip - one year
more births
and deaths
filling creation
with life
flowers, bees
leaves on trees
eggs in nests
babies wrapped
all across this
shared existence
each with its own
cycles of life
creation likes patterns
rhythmic and natural
what a wonderful world
Very nice Steven! A wonderful companion to a beauitful song--"What a Wonderful World!"
Cycles
Our love moves through cycles.
Shadow and light,
hope and helplessness,
sheer joyful delight and howling excitement,
tears of sadness, tears of rage, tears of pain.
A deep, pragmatic, magical love moving through cycles.
Our lives move in cycles.
Playful glee and despondent despair,
forward motion and sliding backwards,
freedom dancing into ecstatic dreams,
stumbling steps towards destinations unknown.
Lives of many sides, angles and layers, intricately drawn.
Our visions move in cycles.
Clarity and clouds,
brilliant revelations and deep, dense fog,
songs into symphonies,
untethered words turn to chaos.
Cycles turn and turn again.
Thanks Larry! Deeply felt the cycles with this, overlapping movements of life.
Untethered words turn to chaos. So true
I love how some days a word quickly forms associations and stories for me, and other days I let the word sort of rest on my heart as I go about living to see what it brings up. Cycle is definitely one I will carry around with me today 💗
I am right with you Sarah! I often need to move with the word through the day!
My belief system
revolves around cycles, soul
of all creation
The circle is my
sacred, shaping the living
new tree rings each year
Current of life flows
moving matter on its course
repeats in cycles