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tornadoday

~ …might I be found in words I leave behind

tornadoday

Tag Archives: southern

candlelight ~

01 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by tornadoday in a time for telling, Poetry

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

connection, faith, family, fearless, forgiveness, grace, gravel roads, life, love, memory, old maps, passion, relationship, self, southern, spirit, truth, value, wandering

 

sweet
the song of southern tea
a somewhere
heaven found
reaches loving fingers
to the porch
as low the evening
shutters
in swarms of honey bees
as nightbirds
bring their babies
back to homeallIhave

crickets
raise their fiddles
in perfect melody
beetles crow
a language almost gone
alone as one
cicada
forgotten when to sleep
hovers near a mem’ry
of flight

june bugs
curse beyond my sight
in search of mid july
another world
becomes
of candlelight
the sure embrace of summer
lanterns take to wing
a message passed
to stillness
we both know

learning
sometimes lets me in
for hours
I can’t speak –
as silence lays
in whispers to my skin
dreams are spent
awaking
another hush tonight
as bare the drum
of anxious feet
to board

…

For three years, I’ve searched for a screen door – a gate worthy of keeping my porch.  Seems simple, I know, but not so very.  I didn’t want new, or unused, or unloved.  I wanted warped and scarred, squeaky and rusting, a handle polished by a lifetime of love, of leaving and coming back ’round.

Today I traveled to the area known to me best, hills and dips marking the edges to my first heaven.  A general store with dirt floors, and the ghost of an old register and blue horse writing tablets.  Down the way, an old house taken over by weeds.  But, o……….so much more!  And there, fastened still to falling porch, my door.  She’s been waiting, and I’ve been patient.

Now, well surely the story writes us whole.

nmw ~

29 Thursday May 2014

Posted by tornadoday in a time for telling, Poetry, Rambling

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

assurance, belonging, connection, faith, family, fearless, forgiveness, grace, home, knowledge, life, love, old maps, passion, reason, relationship, southern, spirit, spirituality, strength, truth, two the same, understanding, value, wisdom

Recently, a few friends and I were sharing concern for another – one who seems to struggle from time to time, and who, as a rule, is surrounded by drama. In developing a plan to help, we lamented over possible causes. For surely, any work on a fix without understanding seemed futile.

At one point, my sister brought to attention something we had not considered.nearertoheaven

He has a great job, and a great wife. I’m sure he has many friends, but I wonder how strong the nets.

The result was a discussion about ‘no matter what’ relationships; those that endure regardless of time, circumstance, or the number of times someone says (or doesn’t say) “I love you”. I reflected that I have numerous friends, and we each depend on the assurance of our friendship – one that ‘you couldn’t mess up if you wanted to’. My sister calls those the ‘end of the day’ anchors – the knowledge that regardless of what the day brings, at the end of the day, we have each other. I’m one of her anchors, and she one of mine.

Later, when I thought about this, I realized the worth of that talk in helping our friend.

At the same time, I realized I’ve never been without such anchors; so that it is somewhat difficult for me to imagine an existence without them. And yet, my students struggle with something as simple as providing references, because they’ve burned all those bridges, and in some cases, severed the cords that tied them to love and a ‘no matter what’ place.

For those without such assurance, I can only imagine the feeling of loss. But then again, how do you miss something you never had?

I’ve long suspected drama as a means for pulling people to you (even if unintentional). Maybe, at our core, we do realize something is missing; we just don’t have a name for it.

I think I was like most kids growing up, in that I saw every family the same as mine. It was not until much later that I found that not to be the case. I recall a friend whose parents were divorced, and I envied her freedoms. Not until recently did I learn how she envied me for having parents who worried when I was late, someone whose permission I needed ask. My friend – she’s another ‘no matter what – end of day’ part of all I know of truth.  Attachment?  You bet.  ❤

Even now, if leaving my parents for home, I call to report when I’ve arrived safely. The anchor they provided me is the same one I offer them now. Not a day starts for me without a text from my brother and my sisters….a reminder of what I know already – that I am loved – no matter what.

Take away my clothing, my earrings, my favorite homemade apple butter.  Take it all, and still I am rich, for that which simply is, that which waits while I sleep.

Without these scarlet cords, what would I be? A ship in the darkness, a kite without a tender hand to guide.

whatever this
a stillness warmed
by all I know to be –
words are not yet formed
for love I feel
floats within
these precious seas
tis more to breath
than blood –
more to fate than scars
a lantern held aloft
beside the stars

. . .

direction ~

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by tornadoday in a time for telling, Poetry, Storytelling

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

beauty, becoming, connection, conscious consciousness, faith, fearless, forgiveness, grace, gravel roads, imperfections, knowledge, life, love, nature, poetry, reason, relationship, southern, spirit, strength, truth, understanding, value, wonder

It’s that time of year. Spring is shaking off the quilt of winter, and especially in the south, the signs are everywhere – buds emerging, lightning bugs in the soft evening light, and the droning of lawnmowers, clippers and weeders.

perfectyetThose who’ve spent the last four months complaining about the cold are at last vindicated with something new to complain about. Already, the local markets are overflowing with customers seeking a quick remedy for weeds, bugs and moles. Add in all the new prescriptions being written for allergy meds, and only a fool would be oblivious to the page turning.

But back to the post. Ahhh, yes. Each year, I am filled with anguish as my forsythia bush is clipped, and my redbud tree trimmed. Various other bushes and trees are not exempt. Only those who have suffered near death are spared the pruning that spring seems to necessitate.

And every year, I express my weariness with the process. It seems wholly unnatural to me, for I cannot recall a single instance of such in my childhood, one spent much closer to the trees, plants and weeds than I am now. Part of my problem is my understanding that all these are extensions of us, connected to us. When given dominion, I’m not sure that meant authorization to change that which seems to work quite well without any assistance.

It also reminds me of society’s innate desire to put everyone in the same box, even if that means lopping off what doesn’t fit, or that which might be less appealing. As if somehow we are more perfect without our flaws. As if a dogwood needed directions to know where to grow a branch or blossom. The truth is that we’re less perfect when we spend untold energy and expense trying to look like everyone else, to be like anyone other than ourselves. Our flaws are what make us uniquely beautiful, our scars but proof that we’ve lived (that we’ve loved).

surelythisMy favorite tree – the redbud that leans into the driveway, but remembers a place in the woods. My favorite bush – the forsythia that ignores the clipping and seems to double in size overnight – with arms swaying in the morning light, ‘look at me, look at me’.

Pruning seems painful and honestly, a waste of good sunlight. I grew up in a home with two basic rules. If it grows, you let it. And, if shows up on your porch in the middle of the night, you love it.

come these hands
as fertile ground
these eyes –
an eager sun
were guarded
by a swollen heart
to shade

the arms
of birch and maple
pressed between
the pines –
as shelter to the babies
unafraid

of dark
wherein the blue spruce glows
beneath the night’s
caress
– blossom sleeps
beside the tender blade

morning wakes in colors
a poet cannot tell
where breath became
a promise
of heaven here
was made

. . .

memories of time ~

28 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by tornadoday in Poetry

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

becoming, bliss, breath, connection, destiny, divine this, dreams, faith, fearless, forgiveness, grace, knowledge, life, living, love, memory, nature, passion, poetry, reason, restless, seeing in the dark, southern, spirit, spirituality, time, truth, understanding, wonder

living for

as snow
atop the cedars
melted with our tears
washed away
these memories
of time

awaiting us –
eternities
beyond this resting place
denied the dream
by sorrows
so divine

what more of love
becoming –
as blossoms to the chill
would last
where essence drifted
down the pines

. . .

alignment ~

21 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by tornadoday in a time for telling, Poetry, Storytelling

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

bliss, breath, connection, conscious consciousness, destiny, faith, fearless, grace, gravel roads, knowledge, life, love, nature, old maps, passion, peace, poetry, reason, silent knowing, southern, spirit, spirituality, star crossed, stay, truth, understanding, value, wandering, wisdom

notsofar

The morning unfolded slower than usual. I sat on the porch and watched the feeder, or at least when I wasn’t checking my watch. I needed to go; I couldn’t keep my students waiting. Where are they; don’t they know………

When I could justify no further wait, I rose from the swing – just as a tiny yellow bird arrived to the feeder. I have no idea what kind of bird he is……….and in retrospect, I’m fairly certain he didn’t eat.  He merely stopped, raised his head and pushed forward a song which must have been crowded in his little body………. Then he was off, sailing beneath the branches, beyond the fence into the field……….disappearing in a blur of wildflowers.

I smiled, took my last sip of coffee, and closed my eyes……..*thank you*  There, my blessing………. If nothing else in this life, this is sufficient. This – payment enough for my trials.

I don’t know about you, but for me, life is filled with these reminders of just how divine the way we’ve come. Tho, surely I’ve made some wrong turns, eventually they brought me to this place. A place of understanding and perspective, reality bound with strings of almost but not quite moments.

bethankfulIs it faith that convinces me it is as it was meant to be, or something more – a nagging recollection of home?

Maybe it is as simple as timing.  Perhaps we have to leave in order to really miss a place; to travel to figure out how beloved the starting point was.  Maybe destiny has more to do with our dreams than ever our plans, such that we move on auto-pilot sometimes, held in place by a north star we can hardly see.

Pulled back into alignment by a tiny yellow bird.

. . .

forgotten voices ~

13 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by tornadoday in a time for telling, Poetry, Rambling, Storytelling

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

becoming, breath, connection, death, destiny, faith, family, fearless, forgiveness, grace, knowledge, life, living, love, memory, old maps, passion, poetry, reason, restless, southern, spirit, spirituality, strength, truth, understanding, value, wandering, woman, words without voice

morningwakes

I have waited. To speak with you again; we have forgotten our voices. Printed words are rare, sterile and devoid of intention.

You have another life beyond our memories. Beyond the years that unite us solemnly like family.

We were once close, like siblings, like lovers, like keepers of secrets. Monks praying, tending to the garden of their Eden, respectful of life’s gifts. We carefully removed the thorns and weeds of the space surrounding us; there were many. We planted borders of flowers to bloom in all seasons. Taking us in each direction we imagined for our lives. Perhaps that garden is still colorful, year round. Even today. Perhaps other people walk on our stones.

I grow older, more silent, wearing the years like a monk’s cloak, although I have left the prayers for others. You never understood. Like an old oak, my limbs grow stiff, waiting for the fatal wind to break down their last vestige of strength. I leaned on you for so many years. Time’s crutches bear me less and less well. Before I die, will we speak again?

Leave me to the ocean breeze, my ashes dusting high cliffs of heather. Will you come for me then?

a forest of time
saluting through dead branches
another full moon

. . .

memory of dreams ~

10 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by tornadoday in Poetry

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

becoming, connection, conscious consciousness, destiny, dreams, faith, fearless, forgiveness, grace, gravel roads, knowledge, life, lifetimes more, love, memory, old maps, passion, poetry, postmark, southern, spirit, strength, time, truth, understanding, wandering

littleme

were mornings come
a salve to ease
these passages of time
forgotten now
are distances between
the last hello
the first goodbye
melt into the day –
becoming but a memory
of dreams

before the truth awakens
prayers to silence fall
erasing years
outnumbered by the night
as destinies defended
to an ever faithful moon
love is gathered
sweetly
into light

. . .

places I been going ~

02 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by tornadoday in Poetry, Rambling

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

becoming, blessings, breath, conscious consciousness, dreams, fearless, grace, gravel roads, knowledge, life, living, love, more, nature, old maps, passion, poetry, reason, seasons, southern, spirit, spirituality, still, strength, truth, understanding, value, wandering, wonder

familiarsun

been wearing down
and turned around
which way
the way I’m bound
come Sunday
one more place
I lay before

as lace
against the maple
knots along the floor
here I’ll be
tho I won’t be no more

for miles beyond
the edges
years beyond my own
to know
as I been knowing
every road
will take me home

when nights
of blackened cinder
days to burn my skin
beneath your sighs
I touch the skies
o breath
and there again

a song escapes
the rafters
a feather on the breeze
the sweet sashay
of glories
on the rise
coffee warm –
a red tail sails
the trees

a moment
as no other
come into
I find you still
in places I been going
will the knowing
heart reveal

a dream I knew
awakes me new
again

. . .

more to me ~

07 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by tornadoday in Poetry, Storytelling

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

becoming, breath, conscious consciousness, faith, fearless, forgiveness, grace, gravel roads, life, love, mystery, old maps, passion, self, soul signature, southern, spirit, truth, undefined wilderness, understanding, woman

SONY DSC

started once
a story –
might I tell you everything
and wait the night
with worry
lest you leave
the locket
from the promise –
the poem
from the page
I’ve seen you there
folded to the crease
where rhyme is left
and reason waits –
who am I
to say
there’s more to me
than I could give away

. . .

daddy’s woods ~

01 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by tornadoday in a time for telling, Poetry

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

bliss, breath, cherokee, connection, divine intuition, faith, family, fearless, grace, gravel roads, home, knowledge, life, love, memory, nature, old maps, passion, poetry, southern, spirit, strength, understanding, value, wandering, wisdom, wonder

leadmenow

of places
most surely
forsaken by now
– I believe
they are waiting for me
remembered
the times
I walked with him there
– a sweet recollection
can never be free

from the soul
that is gifted
– the heart racing still
to remain at the first
when beginning to see
the light
from the road
– a path into dreams
where colors are kept
in remembrance
of me

. . .

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Poetic Thoughts

Benjamin Grossman

Starry-eyed Writer, Cautious Philosopher, Hopeful Romantic

Discover WordPress

A daily selection of the best content published on WordPress, collected for you by humans who love to read.

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~ journey of a rose scented ink ~

houseofheartweb.wordpress.com/

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Seasonings

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Revelation

MyWorldsInWords

View my worlds

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Flared and prepared.

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Motivate | Inspire | Uplift

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Thoughts and feelings made into words about the world and times in which we live ...

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