Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Recovery/Healing

"And someday . . .
If the darkness knocks on your door
Remember her, remember me
We will be running as we have before
Running for answers, running for more"


*** *** ***


Midweek Motif ~ 
Recovery/Healing

It will surprise no one that my first motif after back surgery is Recovery.  My lumbar spine is now fusedfour of the five vertebraeand the pain in my legs is GONE!   Thank you, thank you for all your good wishes!  

I am particularly grateful to poet Michael Ryan who has given me permission to use his amazing poem "A Thank-You Note."


Life is precious.

I think about how precious when I look at the news of wars, refugees and broken environments; when I see marvelous new inventions and creative ideas about interacting with all living things; when friends heal into more life or sometimes into death.

Your Challenge is to write a poem 
that heals or has a motif of recovery. 

*** *** ***

A Thank-You Note

BY MICHAEL RYAN
                                                                                                          For John Skoyles
My daughter made drawings with the pens you sent,
line drawings that suggest the things they represent,
different from any drawings she — at ten — had done,
closer to real art, implying what the mind fills in.
For her mother she made a flower fragile on its stem;
for me, a lion, calm, contained, but not a handsome one.
She drew a lion for me once before, on a get-well card,
and wrote I must be brave even when it’s hard.
Such love is healing — as you know, my friend,
especially when it comes unbidden from our children
despite the flaws they see so vividly in us.
Who can love you as your child does?
Your son so ill, the brutal chemo, his looming loss
owning you now — yet you would be this generous
to think of my child. With the pens you sent
she has made I hope a healing instrument.
(Source: Poetry (July/August 2013), used with permission.)
Homework

BY ALLEN GINSBERG
Homage Kenneth Koch
If I were doing my Laundry I’d wash my dirty Iran
I’d throw in my United States, and pour on the Ivory Soap, scrub up Africa, put all the birds and elephants back in the jungle,
I’d wash the Amazon river and clean the oily Carib & Gulf of Mexico,   
Rub that smog off the North Pole, wipe up all the pipelines in Alaska,   
Rub a dub dub for Rocky Flats and Los Alamos, Flush that sparkly Cesium out of Love Canal
Rinse down the Acid Rain over the Parthenon & Sphinx, Drain Sludge out of the 
Mediterranean basin & make it azure again . . . 
(Read the rest HERE at the Poetry Foundation)

Motion Picture Footage From "An Inconvenient Truth"

            *** *** *** ***  
Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below
and visit others in the spirit of the community.

       (Next week Susan's Midweek Motif will be ~ Teacher, One who Teaches)

42 comments:

  1. Timely topic Susan. Have a friend I am real concerned with right now that got caught up in circumstances last week . Something from hos past that he and his family dealt with was leaked to the press and he is retreating from everyone in shame. my hope is healing for them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susan, good to see you back! This definitely is an apt topic for your return. I look forward to reading some interesting poetry this week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Already the variety and quality of response is amazing. What a treat for a hungry soul!

      Delete
  3. Welcome back and i hope all continues to heal - thank you for the prompt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very welcome! I look forward to your poem as always, Jae Rose.

      Delete
  4. Good morning, folks. I woke a little late, but I'm here and delighted! (I'm already writing another poem inspired by what I've read above.) Thank you for listening to one of my favorite singer/songwriters--rock 'n roll, of course. Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Susan - we are so glad you are recovering well. No pain is soooo wonderful. Thanks for all you inspire in us.
    This was a timely prompt that can get to the core for each poet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Leslie, for this note and for going to the core!

      Delete
  6. Welcome back and interesting thoughts indeed. Greetings!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey everyone,

    Wooo hoooo :D Susan is back finally and I think I speak for all of us when I say that I have missed her soo much!! Sharing my poem "Recuperation" hope you all like it :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

    ReplyDelete
  8. Best wishes for your complete recovery and return to full health, Susan.
    My poem went to other places, rather dark I'm afraid.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Nicholas. The darkness of helplessness and anger expressed is important to healing as well, yes?

      Delete
  9. Yay! Susan is back, all healed. This is a wonderful prompt, Susan. Your words "sometimes healing into death" sparked my poem as I have a friend whose tether on the earth is slowly slipping. I work this morning and again this afternoon, so will make the rounds as I am able. Happy Wednesday everyone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I got that phrase from a a book by Stephen Levine which helped me go through a different surgery way back in the 1980s--his "Healing Into Life and Death."

      Delete
  10. Respected Dr Susan
    Welcome Back
    May you stay blessed with health wealth peace and happiness always amen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your prayers, Anjum, and for your amazing poem.

      Delete
  11. so glad to see you back Susan and with a wonderful and apt prompt....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thank you, Sumana, and everyone who kept this feature going. Your poem today is mighty!

      Delete
  12. Hey Susan! Great to see you back after a long time. Thanks for the prompt. I was not well since the last couple of days and therefore, this motif was just perfect for me. Good to know that you are much better. Take care and have a great week ahead :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you are feeling better and that you shared this healing poem with us.

      Delete
  13. Welcome back,Susan ~ lovely to (virtually) see you! I've gone for something a little more technical...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Claire! I have a trailing little finger guilty of hitting keys that delete and delete again--especially on my super fast tablet--but you have made me think of this problem on an whole other level.

      Delete
  14. Susan, so glad you had a successful surgery. Many prayers for easy, peaceful healing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. It's been GREAT to see you so often lately! I love your interview with Sherry.

      Delete
  15. Hi Susan! I hope my words and the accompanying image will heal someone's sadness or depressed spirit today and tomorrow...thanks for the motif. I like it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for posting, James. I am sure your poem will heal many people.

      Delete
  16. Good to have you back again. Hope you have made a full recovery. Thanks for the prompt.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yes, lovely to have you back – and thanks for a great prompt. I have been enjoying all the wonderful poems in response.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm traveling and will be back to read all your entries asap!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello!! Thank you, Susan and glad you're healing!

    I'll be working tomorrow and it is late so I'll catch up reading as I can!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Welcome back Susan, happy you are healing nicely

    much love...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Gillena. Medicine has come a long way!

      Delete
  21. Welcome back, healthy and sound, what else to desire! Glad for you! The seeds of inspiration, beautiful poems and song! Hope to create some healing thoughts/words..Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

This community is not meant to be used in a negative manner. We ask that you be respectful of all the people on this site as each individual writer is entitled to their own opinion, style, and path to creativity.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Blog Archive

Followers