Poets stand vulnerable
naked of syntax rules
vulnerable to context
open arms
celebrate
emotional continuums
grounded in printed imagery.
Time to dress.
Clothed in reason
circumstance fabricated in pockets of theory
methodological layers of connections
discriminations pattern the clash of
racial colors
arguments well ironed into the seams.
Questions shiver for another layer
to cover the naked pilgrim
or make hot and uncloak
the dressed scholar.
warp me in your social definitions
until I can no longer breathe
regulate me with your legal jargon
until I have no space
box me in your psychological labels
until I have no identity
and then
educate me in your written histories
until my life extends your own.
The Irish and other Celtic clans people had many symbols, rituals and ceremonies that have been incorporated within Christianity, originally assimilated to bring the 'primitives' into the Christian fold. Many of the original spiritual intentions and functions of these rites are lost to common knowledge; the wrapping of gifts, the evergreen banners, the fires, ornaments and lights on the evergreen tree, and much more each have detailed meaning and function within various Celtic tribes, as well as other European tribal communities. Every December, these appropriations come together to form the materialistic secularized holiday that Christmas has become.
Pagans plays mystic hide-and-seek
around the economic gift wrappings
evergreen branches of earth ceremonies gone by
Bright ornamental orbs void of prayer dangle from
strings of light multi-colored missiles
warp ancient hearth ceremonies that celebrated
the longest night of the year.
Yule logs burn out sacrilegiously
before dawn's first glow
no thought of the Goddess birthing the new Son
- not the son of Christianity
with shepherds in September fields -
the Son of cycle, Son of seasons,
conceived on All Hallow's Eve
birthed by the fire ceremony of Lamas
forgotten under the snow white beard
of the 20th century Coca Cola Christmas.
fill all free time
avoid the burden of optional
death in life
protest life and laughter
heal others while
stopping the flow
to one's self
now
remove leadership roles
quota deadlines
projects and flow charts
eliminate volunteer demands
shut off the mammoth world
alone
consider the stranger
She cowers under the tree
sound of the car door ajar plinks
lapses into memory of a day gone by
twisted her life within a moment's shadow
woven into the present
she returned to the source to relive
memories of her dress torn from her body
the passionate anger in his face
ripped her soul to shreds
pieces of yesterday intermingle in today
to let go of tomorrow's sorrows
humiliation creeps, claws her everyday existence
shatters her up to this moment
strength wells up
uncloaks the fear
under the tree in the park she sits,
against the trunk, unfolds her arms,
reaches to grasp the night's shadows
watches the moon dance through its leaves
the eerie effervescence of the small cove
back to the moment where her breasts lay exposed
her nails sunk into hard ground
his thrusts repelled her power into the dirt
her blood stained the stones with silent prayers
to God who's saintly ears were full
she stands slowly and walks to the spot
legs moving involuntary
mind screams breathless and clear
heart erratic, breaks from its shallow grave
she lies on the spot and looks to heaven
accosting breathed deeply within
returns her to her self silent screams broken dreams
she lets out a primal cry
exposes festered wounds
heart mind essence
freed reconnected
the wind carries her screams away
as she breathes herself into today
i saw God today
languished against a filthy wall in a back alley
alone and barren of spirit
enthusiasm wet His lips as
alcohol fired His throat.
He said nothing; figured no one would hear what He had to say
nor take what He had to offer
unaware i was ready and willing to receive
but i did not know how to communicate with Him.
i saw God today
She cowered in a deserted doorway, invisible in Her actions
filled Her needle with prayers
tightened Her divine trappings injected Her arm
replaced the worship of the old tradition,
ancestral voices echoed inside her head
She lived in secondhand ecstasy, Her forgottenness.
She spoke to Herself; she did not know i could understand
but i did not know how to meet Her.
I saw God today
Splayed across the sky as the sun rises
a timelessness forgotten in daily schedules
humankind asleep to the birth of this day's mystery
I knew how to communicate with my eyes,
my heart, and my pen.
nikwēmē is a nēhiyaw (Cree) word for namesake. To receive an Indian name is an honour because a spiritual ancestor of the nēhiyāwak people comes forward to guide and protect the individual in their daily life. This name also comes with the responsibility to live appropriately, fulfilling one's purpose and honouring one's gift of life, given by the Creator.
i tremble,
don't know
how to follow
her example;
the seed within calls
i don't know how to cultivate it;
i cower in shame,
the presence of nikwēmē
flows through me, around me,
envelops me in her largeness;
i know not how to walk
in her footsteps humbly.
wapi-mostos iskwew
(For Deceased Marlyn Obey)
danced to a beat within
society's noise opposed her internal rhythm
dimples impish eyes
stinged as she wept.
dying every day was not new to her
comforting friends supported her decay
tasted life spiced with death
resurrected herself every now and then
to chase a butterfly
before she twirled away.
molded herself, stepped out of the lines
a colorful confrontation, she looked in the mirror
a dull reflection stepped on the
guilt and shame as
she fancy danced out the door.
slammed shut too fast
seductively she touched many of us
even after we pushed her away
life giggled in her, deflected us
from ourselves gave life to our own dances
took our judgments with her.
she danced through life on a teared laugh
consumed death long before her last breath
its coldness gave energy to choreograph paradoxes
into the ancestral drumming
of her Fancy Dance Song.
(for L.K.)
against the wind listening to you yet again --
You need to talk; You need to be heard
You need more and more --
lost on your one-way highway.
We pull over, I listen empathy turns to pity
(long for a relationship both giving both receiving)
come so far; I see where the hard road goes
one-way highway, no view
grey skies over grey broken asphalt
can't mend, no room to pass.
I'm turning left
toward the sunrise
drive in both directions
breathe green landscapes under blue skies
fastened seatbelt I'll follow the yellow lines
simple requests that take nothing from me
on a two-way highway
pick up speed
feel the breeze in my hair through the open window
pray one day you'll catch up
a smile widens on my face
the sun sets in the rearview mirror.
first sin hung a noose around my feminine neck
born a mistake in order to die – lost before I began
a mistake of illusion; of power and fear
I awaken from the mist of my forefather's beliefs
wipe the sleep of their ignorance from my eyes
I seek the wonderment of my inner woman
create from the expanse of choices
soul exposed unfettered of sin
body sometimes denies
I am sin-less
Don't make me feel;
I may realize I'm weak.
Don't touch me!
Please touch me.
Stay away!
Why does love escape me?
Don't give love to me!
I may realize I'm unworthy.
I need to do. Laundry needs folding.
Phone a girlfriend.
I can handle her problems.
I can get inside her head.
I can feel her pain.
It's safe. It's not mine.
Come to me, but don't touch me.
Fill me with your words,
leave your caresses at the door.
Come closer
BACK OFF!
Dishes. I need to do
the dishes.
You want to get to know me?
Come to my house where I am safe.
Kids distracting, house to be cleaned.
Your house? NO!!
I may feel for you.
To feel for you may be too much.
WATCH OUT!!
Make no promises to keep.
Stick a needle in your eye!
Prick my heart. Not you.
I will.
Let me love your shell.
Don't show me you're a nice guy
DON'T!!
Let me fantasize and love you.
Let me walk away.
Let me blame you.
you step up to the medium of my
dreams, enter slowly,
brush in hand, dripping
red paint on my breasts,
roll me over, the
small of my back your canvas
create landscapes life's pain mixed
in hues of greens and blues,
your brush explores
the realities of my
exquisite shapes, textures,
rolling curves and soft
planes of desire lifting my spirits
winged angels
passé
provide me saints
with smiles, loving hands
golden hearts
actions flow in purity
treasures of joy that empower
rewards through welcome touch
that mend raise hopes
in those who have none
Crystals and gemstones are known to be healing tools, used by many cultures around the world. Science utilizes crystals in electronic equipment to power their memory capacity. This memory capability, along with other programming properties, can be tapped for their spiritual powers in order to benefit humanity. This poem is about self healing using the crystal as a symbol, a touchstone that allows an individual to incorporate one's darkness into the light of being human. To look at a crystal, the flaws produce rainbow orbs of beauty where light is reflected. It is the flaws that create the crystal's uniqueness.
clarity sings through crystal
its hardness bely the waters
that form and float
in cavernous depths
where light glitters rainbows
insight into the darkness
hammer down, sparks fly
cloudiness travels the base
- trauma -
Rainbow flaws
break the clear nothingness
hinting at personality
that grows out of oneness
a cold touch draws warm vibration
healing stone powers inner conception
