Kaitlin, I found you May of 2024. I was broken over the death of my middle child. I have found being here, participating in your May poem prompts to be a powerful tool in healing. I will never be the person I was before my daughter's death. But I am learning to walk in companionship with grief. I appreciate what you bring to the table every month, but May has become a special month each year. Thank you.
.
It is within our power to help heal the world.
Through deeds and actions,
Through prayer,
Through the healing practices of our ancestors.
.
It is within our power to help heal the world.
Through acts of kindness, we extend towards others.
Nancy, thank you for helping to heal the world in the midst of your own deep grief. I have loved every one of your poems so much. You are a beautiful instrument of peace and love.
Thank you so much, Elaine. I read so many other poems and immediately think mine don't measure up. But I suspect there is a bit of imposter syndrome going on within. The reality is the width and breadth of everyones poems this month has been moving.
I'm so grateful, again, to be a part of this. I look forward to this month and this community every year. Thank you to everyone for your beautiful words and kind encouragement. And thank you, Kaitlin, for creating this space and bringing us together. I'm excited to read your poetry book. 🧡
This is a wonderful poem, Phoebe, and speaks to my heart. Yes, this past month of quiet, noticing, and creating has made a transformative difference in my life. I love the image of a dandelion. I think that would be an amazing tattoo, also, right next to “healer.”
Thank you deeply, Kaitlin, for this healing month, especially since May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Now it is Soul Awareness Month. Poetry + Spring = transformation! This also has felt like the month of permission and possibility, when anything growthful “may” happen. Thank you, everyone, for the communion and community of kindness.
Thank you so much, Kaitlin, for making this space, and to everyone here for the time, love and support in the likes and comments. It is a privilege to be here.
Thank you, Kaitlin for starting and continuing the poem a day. To you and all of the community, thank you for sharing parts of you. I truly enjoy hearing your voices. You all broaden my thinking.
Thank you for this month of poetry. It has helped me stop for a bit and shut out the noise. Even on the days when I could only slow but not quite stop, could only read but not quite absorb, scattered words and images still caught me and kept me from sinking.
I'm so excited for your poetry book, Kaitlin! Thank you for holding this space. Though I haven't been in the comments much, I love seeing these prompts and poems each day. Here's my poem for today:
They gave me books and papers to write
666 pages it was, exactly
by the time I took my degree.
The temptation to add one more page
was tamed by the perfection of the number.
Now go forth and heal the world
with liturgies
theologies
of the dead white men.
But one wise voice whispered in my ear:
Take it.
Take the ordered oaths
the title and the robe
and be the heretic you were meant to be.
Find your teachers in the poets who speak to the deep and growing parts of your being.
Know your mentors in the rivers and the trees.
Raise your hands to grandmother moon
and let her bathe your words in wisdom.
Learn the tender truth
that the healer is in every one of you.
YES
"Be the heretic you were meant to be" is a great motto.
That’s what I thought!
"The heretic you were meant to be" can't love this more, situated in this text embracing the scope of it all. Thank you!
this is so powerful!
Kaitlin, I found you May of 2024. I was broken over the death of my middle child. I have found being here, participating in your May poem prompts to be a powerful tool in healing. I will never be the person I was before my daughter's death. But I am learning to walk in companionship with grief. I appreciate what you bring to the table every month, but May has become a special month each year. Thank you.
.
It is within our power to help heal the world.
Through deeds and actions,
Through prayer,
Through the healing practices of our ancestors.
.
It is within our power to help heal the world.
Through acts of kindness, we extend towards others.
Through dance, art, music…
Through our spirituality.
.
It is within our power to help heal the world.
Call upon your creator.
Call upon your high power.
Call upon your spirit guides.
.
It is within our power to help heal the world.
Oh, great Creator,
Fill my soul with abiding love,
Make me an instrument of your peace.
Nancy, it’s an honor to walk alongside you in your grief, as you hold this sacred space. You are not alone, and I’m so grateful poetry can be a balm.
Nancy, thank you for helping to heal the world in the midst of your own deep grief. I have loved every one of your poems so much. You are a beautiful instrument of peace and love.
Thank you so much, Elaine. I read so many other poems and immediately think mine don't measure up. But I suspect there is a bit of imposter syndrome going on within. The reality is the width and breadth of everyones poems this month has been moving.
Thank you, Nancy, for allowing us to share this space with you.
Congratulations 🍾🎊🎈🎉 What you have been doing is amazing and this one is one is just for you!!
Selfish is not who I see or feel
Encouraging is not even close
I was in a time where I couldn’t figure out how to get it out
Then I clicked on a post
That post that allowed me to be me
The person who step outside of themselves
Just to allow others to be free
We don’t have to speak
We don’t have to meet
Just know you have a gift
A gift through your words you know
Healer is someone or something that can cure an illness or make something whole again
So here I am to say to you
THANK YOU FOR BEING MY HEALER
You have no clue
This has been an amazing experience
This has been an amazing journey
Thanks to you I have been cured from fear that no one ever knew
I wake up ready to express myself
No worries about others
This time you gave me
Help me through a struggle
I’ve been Healed by you
No more struggles
You have the gift 🎁
Oh this made me cry. 🥹🌀 thank you so much, I’m
So glad your presence has been here this month, you are a light!
Thank you for having and accepting me!!!
What a beautiful, heartfelt poem, Lauren. I agree, Kaitlin’s gentle encouragement is such a gift.
Thank you!
I feel healed just reading these beautiful words of yours. Thank you for sharing! Just wow. My heart <3
Thank you so much!!!
Lauren, what a beautiful, beautiful experience. Thank you for being here. So good to meet you!
Thank you and yes it’s a pleasure to meet you!
I'm so grateful, again, to be a part of this. I look forward to this month and this community every year. Thank you to everyone for your beautiful words and kind encouragement. And thank you, Kaitlin, for creating this space and bringing us together. I'm excited to read your poetry book. 🧡
I am often not
the person I want to be
but I am a tryer,
.
a perpetual crier,
dreamer of possibility,
seeker of peace,
.
fervent and free,
believer in us, together,
healer of me.
So grateful to see you here each year! Thank you for making this space so special 🩵🪶
Oh I love that 'I am a tryer, a perpetual crier' - I feel so seen :)
Thank you for putting this into words to meet perfectly to where I feel myself.
Thank you so much for this healing journey, Kaitlin. For planting this medicinal garden.And congratulations on your new book!
Healers
All of us
Sharing poems
Sharing wounds
Sharing hearts
Opening to others
Like slowly gently blooming
blossoms.
We are the sky
The earth
The garden of medicinal herbs
We are the healers.
Congratulations on your new book Caitlyn. And thank you so much for this poetry offering!
Healer
One day you will wake up
And realise all that medicine
The quiet
The noticing
The creating
Has made a difference
And what’s more
Has alchemized
Into a gift for others.
Not only Healing
(that will never stop)
But also Healer.
Like a child with a dandelion
Blow the seeds free
And trust the wind
To take them to places
Where flowers need to
Grow.
(And I published my piece about "Unfurl", 🌿with the final jisgsaw piece of inspiration from Caitlin's "Return" poem)
Thank you too to everyone here - you've been so encouraging and kind!! It has been a lovely place to share words.
Thank you for being part of this community!
This is a wonderful poem, Phoebe, and speaks to my heart. Yes, this past month of quiet, noticing, and creating has made a transformative difference in my life. I love the image of a dandelion. I think that would be an amazing tattoo, also, right next to “healer.”
Thank you, Elaine!
Thank you for blowing the seeds of the dandelion!
I like this image as it feels freeing - just release what you have and don't worry about how or where it lands!
Thank you for your kindness and gentle spirit. A month of healing.
Healer
We lay hands on one another,
the kindness and softness of old souls, intertwined, the vessel cupping our ancestors, their trauma and wisdom.
the healers that fell from the sky.
Thank you, Kaitlin, for the month of prompts and poetry. It has been an insightful journey ♥️.
We are all each other’s
Teacher, Healer, Mirror,
because we are not other
but the same, Human,
seekers of the divine
within us to be shared.
Thank you deeply, Kaitlin, for this healing month, especially since May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Now it is Soul Awareness Month. Poetry + Spring = transformation! This also has felt like the month of permission and possibility, when anything growthful “may” happen. Thank you, everyone, for the communion and community of kindness.
Thank you, Jeanette, for your presence and poetry.
Thanks so much, Elaine, and likewise!
A little more healed
for being here a little.
Thank you to all who shared
& for all those perfect prompts.
I tiptoe tenderly on with gratitude. 🙏
And continue to tend and sip the medicine.
Healers
All of us
Sharing poems
Sharing wounds
Sharing hearts
Opening to others
Like slowly,
gently blooming
blossoms.
We are the sky
The earth
The garden of medicinal herbs.
We are the healers.
Thank you so much, Kaitlin, for making this space, and to everyone here for the time, love and support in the likes and comments. It is a privilege to be here.
Healer
They say time
is a great
healer
But
I believe
it is not
time itself
Rather
how we fill
that time
that hollow space
of loss and pain
With new hope
With new love
With new memories
and connections
These new joys
that fill
the passing time
are healing me
healer
the sun can burn us
the sun can WARM us
the wind can tear down structures
the wind can REFRESH us
the rain can overpower us
the rain can NOURISH crops
we can demean people
we can UPLIFT people
we can take until the things are gone
we can REPLENISH what was taken
we can harm
we can also HEAL
is it a matter of choice?
is it nature or nurture?
gracious and vulnerable God
empower us to be HEALERS
***********
Thank you, Kaitlin for starting and continuing the poem a day. To you and all of the community, thank you for sharing parts of you. I truly enjoy hearing your voices. You all broaden my thinking.
And, from a bubblehead,
the water can wash us
the water can crush us.
Thanks steven for being here and tweaking my USN tinges.
Peace.
Thank you, Chuck. I appreciate another perspective from the silent service.
Peace with you as well.
Hands
Eager
And
Loving
Encourage
Relationship
Thank you for these prompts. It has been a spiritual practice each day, revealing and restoring.
Thank you for this month of poetry. It has helped me stop for a bit and shut out the noise. Even on the days when I could only slow but not quite stop, could only read but not quite absorb, scattered words and images still caught me and kept me from sinking.
I'm so excited for your poetry book, Kaitlin! Thank you for holding this space. Though I haven't been in the comments much, I love seeing these prompts and poems each day. Here's my poem for today:
when the rains thundered
down and carved away
roads, left nothing passable
we thought the water had
broken us
it took some time
to see where water wanted
flow, to remember the world
before concrete and pavement
sometimes healing
looks like destruction
sometimes there is no portage
only rapids and tumbling rocks
only our bodies plunging and
breath gasping and the water
carrying us
and the question: will we flow
or fight? will we trust the river
to lead us back
healed and whole
to calm waters
Trusting the river!!