FOR ARWEN
My daughter birthing her first baby, herself as a mother, and me as a grandmother.
Press play to listen to audio of me reading FOR ARWEN… and scroll down to see the whole poem.
FOR MY GRANDSON HUCK
This was written soon after my grandson’s birth. Have you ever had so much joy suddenly come into your life that you were afraid to hold it?
Talking to Moon
Unexpected connection to Moon
Press play to listen to audio of me reading Talkin to Moon… and scroll down to see the whole poem.
PLEASURES OF THE FLESH
Change and joys of aging.
Press play to listen to audio of me reading PLEASURES OF THE FLESH… and scroll down to see the whole poem.
CODA: OUR BREATH
It’s simple. We are nature. To love her is to love ourselves. The more we feel this, the easier it becomes to fight for her.
Press play to listen to audio of me reading CODA: OUR BREATH… and scroll down to see the whole poem.
Washing Dishes
Confession: when I am sad or dealing with intense inner work or big house breakages (no hot water, no water, no internet etc.) washing dishes is the first to go. So this poem is helping me get a new relationship to make it more fun and actually nourishing.
Sacred Walk #2
Letting in contact/connections in nature can mitigate loneliness.
Press play to listen to audio of me reading Sacred Walk #2… and scroll down to see the whole poem.
A GIFT AND WINGS
These poems were a gift to me: A whole different way of relating to insects.
From our book, EVERYDAY MERMAID. A collaborative poetry art book I created with artist, Deidre Scherer.
The title says it. The way a particular flower’s thrust from the earth awakens me, connects me to myself, to it, and to spring.
AN IRIS
A surprise.
Press play to listen to audio of me reading AN IRIS… and scroll down to see the whole poem.
THE RIDER
An unexpected oneness with trees.
Press play to listen to audio of me reading THE RIDER… and scroll down to see the whole poem.
A WOMANS JOY
Supporting a juicy spring.
Press play to listen to audio of me reading A WOMAN’S JOY… and scroll down to see the whole poem.
MORNING
A groggy mind can take you into different experiences.
Press play to listen to audio of me reading I MORNING… and scroll down to see the whole poem.
A poem from EVERYDAY MERMAID. A collaborative poetry art book I created with artist Deidre Scherer.
UNDERCOVER
When fear runs your path.
Press play to listen to audio of me reading UNDERCOVER… and scroll down to see the whole poem.
From EVERYDAY MERMAID, a collaborative poetry art book with artist Deidre Scherer.
YOU MUST WALK THAT LONESOME VALLEY
A timely poem based on a hard-won Black People’s spiritual: You Must Walk That Lonesome Valley. This poem interwoven with the song asks that you face your fears and loves, your darkness and light, your griefs and joys. Doing that you can be uplifted, comforted. Then, you can open to this walk we ALL are doing. You can feel its communion, its support.
We can claim this walk to walk through these complicated, demanding times. We can get to the other side becoming stronger in heart and mind.
I learned this spiritual at summer camp when I was eight. I am grateful for the wisdom of this song that goes back at least to the Civil War. It has been teaching me my whole life.