a ritual to start the work week
yes—we’ve taken on mountains; and
yes—we’ve lots left to do; and
yes—we’ve heard weeping nightly; and
yes—we’ve much to see through; and
yes—our wicks near their ends now; and
yes—our edges are frayed; and
yes—our kindness can keep us; and
yes—our hearts can be brave; and
yes—new beginnings await us; and
yes—new paths to pursue; and
yes—old nightmares may haunt us; and
yes—old dreams can come true
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
Birdsong,
carry us away
as some brittle leaves
of grass left to fade
and wither. Take us
up into the breeze,
freed of wan and weight.
Weave us, please, nurture
new use into our
weary forms. Make us
your haven, gathered
just so to give warmth
and comfort, safety
from storm and hunger.
Fill us with your rest,
your young and your life.
Nest of us.
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
Contrary Mary's, queens and fairies,
how does your power grow?
With long memories,
new ways to see
and raised fists all in a row.
-
Eager Peter’s, cakes and beavers,
slow your rolls to trap your keepers.
Bound and gagged, you can not yell
for freedom to express yourself.
-
Cracker Jack’s honking horns are
good at putting babes in corners.
But thumb your nose
at dummies and drones
who buzz and lie
like snakes and flies
and think they know what they suppose.
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
how buds reach
unknowing
for the sun
how they climb
thru muck and
curve around
stones to build
themselves up
how they poke
proudly yet
innocent
babes that we
can not hold
only hope
their tangle
of roots knot
them to earth
long enough
to flower
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
Mothers of the revolution —
pray your children know their strength
and do not cower from the swords
they press against the king’s throat.
Fathers, feed their courage with fire
to warm them and light their way.
Bear the legs that bring them forward
but not the arms they carry,
for they must learn to hold their weight,
its center and its edges.
Love their power to unlock it,
their freedom to stand and fight.
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
Chins rested on chests, breaths heavy, hands clasped,
we stand together to honor our grasp
of body relieved and of life renewed,
spirit ascended. And yet dour moods
sink only to rise: hearts opened by tears,
lifted by sighs. While ours, the hours, years
upon years, we spend them like seeds, sowing
hope, growing grace, and leaving fears blowing.
With our pools refilling and pyres burning,
Earth begets us and ever returning.
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
Comfort comes only moment by moment;
here we find mere fleeting feelings of ease.
Softness and warmth offer brief embraces,
eager for savoring and for sharing.
Care given is care taken. Care taken
becomes care spread: fingers that press into
heavy shoulders; shaky voices that stroke
broken hearts from afar; fresh blooms
that issue soothing scents: pillows piled to
heaven, tuffets where our souls can settle.
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
Open your eyes, you can’t run
you can’t run from what you don’t know.
Open your hands, you can’t run
you can’t run with what you don’t hold.
Open your mind, you can’t run
you can’t run to what you love blind.
Open your heart, you can’t run
you can’t run if what you fear flies.
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
Without grace, wit
slices up dreams
as well as schemes,
cuts down wishes
and scams alike,
leaving no trick
of mind or might
whole or unharmed.
Cruelly, it swings
at the webs that
bind us, blindly
untethering
anchor and prey.
Sharpened by pain
inflicted by
others, steel on
stone, heart-piercing
cleverness kills
when wielded with
malice alone.
Mercy nurses
in wisdom’s arms
and shared insight
dies in darkness
that tears could light.
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
just be; stardust upon stardust under stardust
standing and expanding
on the fallen into suspension
returning regrouping reshaping remaking
corporeal delights to eternal enlightenment
fully embodied we disembark
leave these ships for higher planes
settled still settling taking off shedding shed
wide feet gaze breath narrow spine focus speech
heavy shoulders light head
pelvic bowl slowly overflowing
heart drips ripple the surface
slip evenly over every edge
leaving paths to follow and learn
lurching forward drop by bloody drop
body after body before body; be just
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
All we have
we have al-
ready: fear
it and it
comes undone.
Fields we sow
and forests
we fell: earth-
bound making
old cells owned.
What is held
gives if for-
given: love
it and it
grows again.
love notes
a ritual to start the work week
