I've been spending time reading admission files for the University. Every year I'm simply amazed at what these applicants have done and accomplished, most before the age of 18.
There are other things in this world that amaze me. Have you seen this video on underwater astonishments?
Nature amazes me, usually on a daily basis. Last week I walked out into the snow in the early morning hours to hear a woodpecker tapping away. It made me laugh and marvel at the world at the same time.
The sky still amazes me, no matter how many times I look at the moon or stars. I also find it to be quite humbling.
While I continue to read applications and wander through my week in wonderment and appreciation, I thought it might be fun to write about what amazes or humbles us. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll share the results in time for Poetry Friday.
Celebrant
ReplyDeleteShe goes to weddings, funerals, birthdays,
coming-of-age parties, crone-hood inductions,
bar and bas mitzvahs, communions, comings out.
Like the fool of old, she is hired to speak truth,
make games, spread rose petals, hold hands,
help us laugh, lead us into tears,
say the words that make us understand
this special moment, this special day.
She does it with grace and hair touched
with rosemary oil, bringing the outdoors in,
the natural to the unnature,
and the herb of remembrance into our lives.
©2013 Jane Yolen all rights reserved
MORNING
ReplyDeleteSunset stretches out of bed,
I follow suit, my vision is a myopic blur
As I wash face, brush teeth, comb hair.
When I return to my room I finally notice
My clothes have been laid out, shirt and pants
Pressed, shoes shined to perfection like
mirrored footwear. Nose finally wakes up
spots an aroma ... my favorite breakfast.
Head downstairs see Pop over a hot stove,
Ham, eggs, biscuits, raspberry preserves
and freshly squeezed orange juice resting
on our 3rd generation maple colored table.
My father doesn't speak much, taciturn
would be a good way to describe him.
Though this morning he tells me
the only thing that I care about
hearing from him.
"Happy Birthday son."
(C) Charles Waters 2013 all rights reserved.
This happened in 2005. Here's one of the articles I read: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Seed-of-extinct-date-palm-sprouts-after-2-000-2628668.php
ReplyDeleteDate Palm
Elaine grows a date palm in her greenhouse
beside a Dang gui from China
and a Tibetan Chu ma tsi. She was given
three seeds the way Jack was given beans.
Now she has three leaves, a Biblical miracle.
The seeds are 2,000 years old. Sealed up
in Masada, Herod’s palace and then a fortress
of grief as the Romans began to breach
the high walls and Jewish rebels chose to die.
Methuselah, Roman phoenix, tamar,
Judea’s tree, its dates sweet beyond sweet.
They cured cancer, malaria, and toothache.
The fronds were paving stones beneath
the dusty feet of the Jewish prophet Jesus.
Today a trinity of leaves rises from the black
plastic pot like a resurrection.
Elaine tends this plant with the others.
She writes about its growth in her notes.
But there are times she just looks at it,
wondering about death and life.
—Kate Coombs, 2013
all rights reserved
Sands of TIme
ReplyDeleteI changed
his diapers,
washed
his clothes,
combed
his silky hair
I held
him
in
my arms
at night,
rocked him
in
my chair
I told
him stories,
sang
him
songs,
never left
his side
If I’d
my way
this distant
time—
he’d be my
sand,
I’d be his
tide.
(c) 2010, jgk
This is a revision of an earlier poem...
ReplyDeleteWinter moon
there’s something
about the winter
moon—
something in
its craggy
glow,
something in
its skin like
snow,
something in
its torpid
pace,
something in
its heatless
grace—
something
about its hanging
there,
rootless in
the twilight
air.
(c) 2013, jgk
Forgot to tell you how much I like this, Julie. Especially those last several lines. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kate. And big congratulations for being a Cybils Finalist!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kate--and congrats for being a Cybils Finalist!
ReplyDelete