Why does it matter?
A question seldom asked.
Just follow the rules of the
boss, society, culture, family…
To step back give an idea time
for thought,
for consideration,
to speak to the inside person
who wants to be heard
It does matter!
The special turn of phrase
the manner of a hug.
the voice that speaks and laughs
is only yours.
“Never forget the essence of your spark!”
~ Taylor Swift
To end one year is
the beginning of another
with family, friends and
life with meaning and purpose
always grateful for
what has been and what will be
whether heartbreak, expansive joy or
gentle daily living with nuggets of
peace and contentment scattered throughout.
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes
what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
~ Voltaire
My kitty
His name is Jet
He speaks to me
with a soft meow
or just a polite sit and stare
when food prep is in the offing.
We have learned to translate
from feline to human
and back again ~
a quiet conversation with meaning.
“Cats seem to go on the principle that
it never does any harm to ask for what you want.”
~ Joseph Wood Krutch, author, critic and naturalist
(1893 - 1970)
Illustrations and images
shows surfaces of pastel or oil ~
breathing deep with emotion
makes real a meaning of the heart
that the artist did not intend.
What your heart sees and
what my heart sees are
as different as each brush
stroke, each shaded colour
on blank canvas or page.
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
~ Anais Nin, author
Colour blossomed far away
~ invisible tether to my heart.
Story is like that
a blossom of colour
far away from
the words I write
each step I take
each word I write
will make meaning that
is the tether to my heart.
“Faith is not about finding meaning in the world,
there may be no such thing — faith is the belief
in our capacity to create meaningful lives.”
~ Terry Tempest Williams, Leap
Poetry stills me
When my mind is
busy with daytime things
Poetry fills me
When my mind is
vacant at days end
Poetry hears me
When I write
words with meaning
Poetry moves me,
When I want to progress
with rhythm
Poetry touches me
When I want to
feel beauty
Poetry sees me
As a raindrop
sees a flower.
“Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.”
~ Carl Sandburg
“Be courageous” they said
but didn’t speak the meaning
“Be brave” and still
no meaning came with it.
So I kept these words inside
my heart to use another day
until I could find the meaning
that was true for me to live.
Challenges in life were met as
ordinary and spoke to meet
a moment's demand. Past unsettled
times reviewed, revealed a big surprise.
Fast or slow, life rolled on each day.
When years had passed, life settled
in peace and quiet, despite
detours, road blocks or open skies.
“Be courageous” they said
and the meaning came clear
“Be brave” and now the
meaning was revealed.
“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”
~ Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
 |
| Or taking a walk just because! |
The work we do at home
behind closed doors
besides sweeping the floors
or dusting every little thing
but reading an intriguing book
other stuff should's forgotten
Or writing stories, essays, poems
when the other stuff still calls
Or crocheting a new baby blanket
when the bed still needs making
Or painting an imagined landscape
when the dishwasher needs emptying
Or - anything that creates meaning and
depth in life behind closed doors
“Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.”
~ J.M.Barrie
Trinkets and baubles and lights on a tree
what is the meaning of this Christmas tree?
Some decorations just came from a store ~
glitter and sparkle they mean little more
but family and friends ~ memories galore!
So what is the meaning?
Our beautiful trees?
To those honour memories
with beauty each year ~ lighting the way
so none are forgotten, swept under the rug.
Trinkets and baubles and lights on a tree
Beautiful meaning for this Christmas tree.
“Some Christmas tree ornaments do more than glitter and glow,
they represent a gift of love given a long time ago.”
~ Tom Baker
Imitations of what intention really is, splashed all over the place ~
Broad bright beautiful brush strokes on billboards and in media ~ not just TV anymore,
subverting intention to make meaning in our lives ~
merely show us more shiny things to collect and own.
But some can be real road maps
to show - or not show -
life’s meaning - advertisements
for environmental change and changes,
for the arts whether symphonic or literary,
for food production and preparation ~
even if any are reality TV shows.
(I get a sour stomach from the very words ’Reality TV’).
Being careful about what I dislike ~
are they judgements or just preferences?
Can I flip judgements on their annoying heads
To find what’s missing
To find what I can do
To question whether the image fits with
my intention to make meaning.
“Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from
the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.”
~ Samuel Johnson, The Rambler
