Friday, September 6, 2013

The Unexpected Ecclesiastic


Wild Woman started out fleeing 
from churches with walls,
adrift in the world,
without rudder or ballast,
horizon or shore,
was buffeted about,
charted a course she hoped 
would improve the journey,
encountered storm, damage, 
death, betrayal, 
abandonment and shipwreck,
had absolutely everything stripped away,
emerging onshore clad only in her skin,
began again, 
and repeated this pattern 
several times over.

Somewhere through the course 
of these misadventures,
she fell deeply in love with life,
with the natural world,
and one or two million 
of its non-human creatures,
and gradually discovered
she had become an
unexpected ecclesiastic
in the Church of Mother Earth.

Posted for Shay's challenge on Fireblossom Friday over at Real Toads: to select words from her list to create a title, then write a poem to it. Of course one of the hardest words popped out at me, so I had no choice but to figure it out! This was a way-cool prompt. Cant wait to rush over and see what other poets have done with it.


24 comments:

  1. This is the story of so many a soul and the greatest church is Nature.

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  2. The only church I'm willing to belong to, Sherry. Quite a coincidence on the title! I never read other people's first either, obviously. ;_)

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  3. That's the true way, I think, layer's pull back one at a time til we get to the core.

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  4. Love the title, Sherry! Sometimes the best way to appreciate the greatness of life is outside of walls!

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  5. What an incredible journey:

    had absolutely everything stripped away,
    emerging onshore clad only in her skin,
    began again

    To progress from this to being an unexpected ecclesiastic
    in the Church of Mother Earth is nothing short of inspiring.

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  6. Well I think you wrote a way cool poem. Sounds quite autobiographical. I think the church she found is one of freedom, the best kind.

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  7. In creation is a very good place to worship... in deed an adventure you have taken us on.

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  8. Oh, you make these games of word wrestlers look so easy. Challenge? For you I think not, simply a hop, skip, and a jump.

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  9. this whole earth is a church and we the praying souls

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  10. I love this, Sherry. I read it earlier and thought I had left a comment, but I guess I didn't.
    You, of course, are an acolyte to the unexpected ecclesiastic, if not the U.E. herself. I can't decide which.
    Beautiful poem.
    Love, K

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  11. Your church without walls is the best! Loved your journey to find it. ♥

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  12. LOVE the picture!!! I've been feeling a little 'wild' myself - can relate to this.

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  13. Your image choice and words are such a treasure, Sherry. This speaks directly to my heart. Thank you. ♥

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  14. The church of Mother Earth ~~ you ARE Wild Woman!

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  15. I am a devout member of this congregation!
    I love it :D

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  16. this seems so right to me. Through lessons learned....the teacher says, "I'm not teaching, what I am teaching." Sounds to me, you have learned your lessons well.xoxoxoxo

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  17. Beautiful...it is, probably the best church I 've seen so far! And we must return thanks to our mother earth, that sustains us. I am part of your group, Sherry! Brilliant...you never cease to amaze me!! :)

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  18. Lovely Sherry! What better "church" could there be than nature.

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  19. Love it Sherry...Nature is certainly the best place of worship

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  20. Takes a wile to find our niche and realize the void is better filled with things that will always appreciate our love. Super good Sherry, always love your outlook!

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  21. Yeah, you're an "inner church" or "natural church" kind of gal, aren't you? (and you don't fool anybody by writing in the 3rd person. We know it's you.)

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