Poems of the Week ~ by Gillena, Marja and Sara

Today, my friends, we offer you three poems of identity, written in different corners of the globe by Marja, who blogs at A Dutch Corner in New Zealand, Gillena, of Lunch Break, who lives in Trinidad-Tobago, and Sara, of  Purple Pen in Portland, who lives in New York. I note that each of them finds self and peacefulness in the landscape surrounding them. We think you will enjoy their observations.

WHO AM I?

When I think about myself
I think of a quiet observer,
blending in a flowerbed of daisies
At times I drag through life
pulled down by life's gravity
plagued by weltschmertz

In my earth bound dwelling
my shutters detach me often
from me, from my soul
this part of a timeless whole,
guided by whispers of the wind
protected by the wings it carries.

When the shutters open........

I feel the aliveness of crystal cold
water, oozing through my fingers
I feel fabulous as I float like
driftwood, with my cheek turned
to the sun, caressed with kisses.

I form a sacred bond with a friend

we pierce a hole in the night

to fill it with our wishes, our pain,
our pleasures, our dreams.

We peel the petals of our heart,
to unwrap the tender parts.

I feel the strength of a mighty mountain,
the courage of a fantail flying among
eagles, the joy of a night sky
brimming with dazzling dreams
and the anticipation of a falling
star diving into new territories

I search for the secrets of the sage
I am inspired by a muse. I am in
wonder of the wisdom of the bell-bird
who doesn't retreat when it rains
but chirps and splashes in utter delight.

When I walk through my veils, 
my spotlight turned outwards

I am a soldier of peace and love

and I embrace life with a hug
I embrace life

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Sherry: This is so lovely, Marja. I especially like the quiet observer, blending in a flowerbed of daisies, and your closing lines about embracing life. 

Marja: I did some soul searching when the following prompt was up at Poets United: "When I think about myself" and wrote Who am I. I feel I am one of the many daisies, only a sensitive one which gets bent down by the bad vibes in this world, like we all do, I think. 

I talk about my shutters being closed, which basically is because of the constant chatter in the mind which is not always positive. When you quiet down, I believe you have access to wisdom. Everyone has it, and nature is one of the best places to quiet down and to become alive. When you come to certain insights or have dreams, this comes to existence when poured into words and bounced off  a friend, which is another pleasure. 

Then you turn your attention outwards and pour as much love and peace into the world as you can. That's what I strive for.

Sherry: I agree. We need the positive now more than ever.

Thank you, Marja, for sharing your beautiful poem. Gillena has an answer to the question: who am I? Let's read.

ME

Laughter in gulps, tea in sips,
nature a coverlet, the finest counterpane,
introspection - guardian of silence,
armour of joy, window of smiles,
the adulting mind, the charming apron;
all these, cover a soul, who really is a child,
tender, frightened, tear-stained: me.

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Sherry: I so love "laughter in gulps, tea in sips"! The idea of "nature a coverlet" is so lovely and comforting.  And I really like your acknowledgement that, under our adult veneers, still lives that small child of our yesterdays. 

Gillena: This one, Sherry, is really a poem of introspection. You know those moments when you take a good look at yourself, knowing that only you matter. [God in this case is default].  I suppose it's what the Rastafarians mean when they talk about "i and i".

Yet you question who is this person, this person that i am. What do i want, do i really need anything outside of natural sustenance? Should i really stretch my wants outside that frame of reference? And am I okay with being me?

Sherry: Deep questions, my friend. I suspect that when we know enough to ask them, we already know the answer. Thank you for the pause that allows us to ask ourselves the same questions.

Sara finds her peace in wilderness, and has written so beautifully about it.

Meanings of Wilderness

If wilderness is being wild
as an adult and not a child
I’ll show you stories I’ve compiled.
Not for the mild, not for the mild.

If wilderness is woods so dense
then being there would make me tense.
I do require openness
without suspense, without suspense.

If wilderness is peace, you see,
there’s no where else I’d like to be
then staring out across the sea.
Tranquility, tranquility.

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Sara: In thinking about the word wilderness, I played with the concept of wilderness being a place, and/or state of mind. It can be quite different in meaning for a child or adult. 

If I contemplate wilderness as wild lands, such as forests, a sense of being smothered arises in me, whereas wilderness as a place of peace and tranquility is ocean and sand. If you have read my poetry before, my love of the ocean is well documented. 

Sherry: Mine, too, my friend. You know how much I resonate with this poem, Sara. The shore means tranquility to me, as well. Reading your lines gave me such a peaceful feeling.

Thank you so much, Gillena, Marja and Sara, for the clarity and beauty of these moments of self-expression.  It has been a beautiful pause in our fast-paced day.

Weren't these beautiful offerings, my friends? Do come back and see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you!