Friends,
This year, I wanted to surprise you with something really special. I’ve asked a number of my friends who are incredible poets to join us this month, and we begin with someone I so deeply respect as a poet: James Pearson.
I deeply, and I mean deeply, encourage you to purchase his book of poetry called The Wilderness That Bears Your Name. It is medicine.
James wrote a poem for today’s prompt, RECEIVE.
Enjoy, give James some love, and can’t wait to read your poems!
This morning the sun warmed my back and made a shadow for my little boy to run in. The trees marveled at their new leaves and breathed out great sighs of life into the air. Forgive me. I’ve done nothing to earn the bounty of this breath. Sometimes I'm afraid it’s so full of beauty that it would break me wide open just to turn around and receive it.
And one special thing I’d like to share with you today: the anniversary of my award-winning book, Native.
I can’t believe it’s been six years since this book came out. It could have been totally eaten up by COVID and all that was happening in the world, but because of my reading community, it wasn’t.
It found homes among so many people and continues to do that today.
So thank you! Celebrating this beautiful journey today.
Uncurl your fingers where your nails
have left parentheses in your palms.
Lower your shoulders that have risen to kiss
the lobes of your ears
but never quite reached the nibble.
Lay wide your heart
in unbuttoned candor
And let me sup your sweetness.
Spring Morning
*
Listen, the dawn chorus is back
And love was never something you
Needed to earn
Love is simply
here, available
to be received like steam rising
From your tea
And goldfinches glinting
Across the marsh after
The winter that stripped
Every ounce of warmth
From your breath
Even then, you didn't have
To earn love
Even then the sun shone
On the expanse of snow
And glittered the days
Into being
Now, here you are
On the edge of a field still
Dull from the cold months
On the edge of a field just beginning
To reawaken
Listen, red-winged blackbirds
Song sparrows, robins
Listen, chickadees and titmouse
Listen, their songs a love to receive
And your own exhalation
An offering of renewal