...One...

This is an early piece from my collection in progress - working title "The Spirit Mate Collection: A Novel in Poetic Form." It is published in this month's edition of "Bread 'n Molasses" magazine.
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…One…

Broad shoulders weighed
he walks northwest

and she is
with him

the saleable world shrinks away
behind his steady stride
until he stands 100 feet high
before a cloudless sky
on a cliff overlooking the cedar
& birch circled lake

he finds his handholds on the stone
secured to the wall he climbs
to the moss-cushioned ledge

20 feet from the crest
he watches ripples of the lake
sun massages his skin
wind hugs him
to the rock wall
cools his back
in perfect alignment

windward music plays
the trees sing
the song is
and he goes with the scene
the feel of the sun & wind
and at once he is
at one with song

and he is taking her there
where he has always taken her

though there are no lilacs
on this northern escape
the scent carries him
to the boy nearly 50 years away
who laid his head to the earth
beneath the blossoms
and he focused her to vision

and she came to him
and he took her there then
willed her to physical form
and like no lover she came
where she had always been

on the moss-covered rock
sun opened pores are wind blown
weighted energy of days carried away
by cleansing breeze
his mind freed of all but is
he sees his spirit-mate
dancing in swirls
embracing graces

and she is
taking him there
and he has brought her here
and he goes with her
and she came with him
where she has always taken him
where they have always been


© 2009
Edith Newell-Beattie

http://www.breadnmolasses.com/

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25 Years

This shall be my husband's gift for our 25th wedding anniversary. I'm still unemployed so i have to be rich in words. Positive energy & wishes for love to all...

Yellow

On the poem "Doing dishes"

In different ways, some pieces of work are easier to share than others: “Doing Dishes” is difficult for me to present in the written form as opposed to presenting it in a live forum. Anyone out there who actually knows me as a person will realize what a huge statement that is. To say that I am not a fan of public speaking would be a gross understatement. After the first time I did a live presentation from "De die in diem" I veered from the podium, down the isle which had clapping people on each side, through the open doors and into the hall (more clapping people) and to my office without acknowledging a single person. I have regretted that I didn’t stick around for handshakes and compliments – writing that statement makes me feel somewhat shallow (sorry I missed the praise) – but leaving was better. Leonard Cohen made claims of not having room for regrets and in this case I can understand his statement: it was far better to have the breakdown that followed, in the privacy of my office. That was the only time I’ve ever had that violent reaction after a reading but the experience has made me quite uneasy about live presentations of my work. Strangely when I present (this poem) in public a positive response never fails; however, I am also unsure as to how well some pieces will be received in the written word. “Doing Dishes” is one of them.

This issue, of hearing and seeing a writer as they present their own words as opposed to reading the work on the page, is very interesting. I have brought it to the floor with students in every class I have taught (no matter the level of practice they were at) and every age-group (grade 8 to adults). I personally have thought about the issue since my days in university. One of my poems (“Yellow”) hit the table for discussion. The practice was that we (the author) read the piece before it would be discussed. After I finished reading “Yellow” (which I may get up the courage to post) my professor claimed that she had a sheet full of comments but they became irrelevant. She did not have questions; no criticism to give me, nor did anyone else at the table of a dozen. All that accomplished was me doubting the power of my work in the written form (which I’ve never told my students or anyone else for that matter). However, our experiences are not as important as what we learn from them. This is the period when I began to pay attention to the appearance of the word (“I” vs. “i”) and to their position on the page. I also started utilizing the blank space on the page and doing away with most punctuation (which is maybe too often read in association with prose).

So here I step up and present “Doing dishes” in its written form and invite you to comment, question, or criticize…all opinions are valued. And remember that you can click on the image to enlarge it for easy reading.

Thank you in advance.

Doing Dishes

From caterpillars to cocoons

A Lesson

This poem was written within minutes in the week of 9/11 (I want to say it was written on the day of...and i think it was but am not sure enough to say it as absolute...memory fades). It was read on CBC Radio shortly after 9/11. It's one of those pieces that came out fast and had little to no editing. It is also posted on the "Save Prom Art" site.

Perception

This is one of my oldest poems. It was my son's favourite and a favourite amoungst my Creative Writing Kids.

Note: You should be able to click on the image for easier reading.

A Gene Kelly Scene

Impression of India - 1 -