Blog of the Week - Everyday Amazing

Our friend Grace, who writes so beautifully at Everyday Amazing, has been a faithful member of Poets United for a few years now. You will also bump into her at dVerse and Real Toads. Recently, Grace wrote a few poems back to back that are so exceptionally beautiful I decided we just had  to feature her site as a Blog of the Week. Grace lives in Mississauga, Ontario,  in Canada.

GRAPPLING WITH WORDS

always

there is the pace & urge

framing is factor 

where to focus, what to blur

a wisp, a thread is all I can get 

as often your wings propel you

into a distance where I can't follow 

I perch still, listening

to a scratch, flint, tremor 

I know lies just below the blue-sliced dawn

during summer 

you are mighty heron, thrilling for hunt

during autumn 

you are red maple leaf, dazzling in sundown 

during winter 

you are lace-moon, quivering above my window

in spring, 

you are hail storm, unleashing on my pages

grit, fury, tenacity 

you tell me, I will find you

always 

Say of me: You are mine.*

* Line from Hilda Hilst, I come from Ancient Times

Such beautiful imagery in this poem. I especially love "the blue-sliced dawn". I so enjoyed the following poem, in the Boomerang Metaphor form, created by Hannah Gosselin.

This poem is a selfie, nest and doughnut

I.

This poem is busy

As flock of birds scavenging for food in parking lot

As passengers alighting from subway, clutching their

iphones tightly as if their hands are born with it.

As if ears are sockets, forever plugged with noise.

This poem is a selfie.

II.

This poem is made of twigs

A week ago,  I wanted to play god when a baby robin

fell from the small nest, its wet black feathers broken.

But the woman on the phone said, let the mother robin

decide what to do with her baby.  

This poem allows nature to take its course.

This poem is a nest.  

III.

This poem is hungry

As the people lining up at Tim Horton's take out lane.

Some people are lazy, why can't they just go out of their cars

& get it quickly, someone asked.

Maybe they are looking for comfort, I say.  

Maybe every step is jagged stone.

This poem is a doughnut.

IV.

This poem is a socket for selfies.

This poem is a twiggy nest,  now empty of birds. 

This poem is comforting as a take-out doughnut.   

Loved it! As a fellow Canadian, Tim Hortons is a staple on cold winter mornings! "Double-double and a doughnut!" and we're good to go!

Lake Panasoffkee, Sumter County, Florida
-taken on a recent family vacation

Travelling between cities

I.  

Sounds from mosque at dawn wakes me up.
It is the first of the five prayer times dividing time
into tidy rooms filled with mats, bodies 
kneeling, prostrating facing Mecca, the holy city.

   
     as sun circles the sky,
     i marvel at different face
     of God 
       

II. 

Here, mountains frame the city in blue
Here, deep ocean crush shells to fine sand 
Here, forest park cradles ancient totems  

    
    to highest valley
    i soar with wind, content 
    with my eagle's wings 
 


II.

Your skin is musky earth
In your native language
Even saying good morning 
Sounds like an invitation 
To go somewhere & everywhere

       my tongue rolls new words 
           no, not melted butter 
           but spice, flaming my guts- 


IV.


I saw the biggest waterfall
its mouth, a womb of life 
I gazed at fabled city steeped
in 18th century stories
I travel to know the history
of my new country - 

          still, my luggage is filled 
         with jasmine leis and one map-
         you

Such a beautiful poem!  "Jasmine leis and one map - you." Sigh. Thank you, Grace, for your wonderful poetry, and for your much appreciated presence in our community.

Do come back, kids, and see who we talk to, or feature, next. Who knows? It might be you!