The Wise Woman's Stone
image by Linda Apple
depicting the East, the guide to
growth and introspection
I am well water, salted with tears.
I am the chill in a September morn,
through an open door.
I am Memory
of other chilly autumn mornings,
come full circle,
as the many seasons pass.
I am evening closing in early.
I am bathing in
the reflection of the moon,
rising silver and serene
in the evening sky.
I am a new blade of grass
pushing up through the earth,
and I am the bent and brittle
straw-like, yellow stalk
at the end of life's road.
I am river-breath and ocean-fog
and an old weary, wondering spirit,
rising.
Looking through my eyes
is the one who is
doing the looking,
the one who watches, still and quiet,
as I cavort about like a bumbling fool.
She knows. I know that She knows:
fire and rain, joy and pain,
and always a new moon,
rising.
Excellent! YES--seen from outside and looking through her eyes, dear Sherry, this poem is food and drink to me this morning.
ReplyDeletein your hands words get such enchanting power..."I am river-breath and ocean-fog / and an old weary, wondering spirit, / rising."..the words cast a spell...wow...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and begging to be read aloud .. which I have done. Huge sigh of contentment!
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic Sherry. I love it. I could just eat it whole, because the words express what I feel. Yes, your Spirit is rising. Amen!!!
ReplyDeleteI am a new blade of grass
ReplyDeletepushing up through the earth... love that part esp. as it speaks of a yes to life for me...of that determination to break through...
i like the blade of grass stanza as well...the new birth...not easy...and that is part of the growing...even when cut down to stalk as well...we are all seasons...and one
ReplyDeletehappy sunday sherry
DeleteI love your poetic voice here --just so satisfying and beautiful!
ReplyDeletemi amiga, your spirit your soul your heart your incarnate being shines in this. gracias for sharing but a piece of you with us.
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful fulfilling day for you have certainly sate the hunger and thirst of my soul for this day
So deep with metaphysical meaning, so lovely, honest & heartfelt; a wonderful poem; loved it all, made me want to send you a bravo, a hosanna; like the lines /I am the bent & brittle/straw-like, yellow stalk/at the end of the road/ The poem hums with your true entity, soul-energy, aware of the failing husk we call an aging body, & focused on eternal truths.
ReplyDeleteThis is superb! I love it. ... great work xx
ReplyDeleteTo be the river breath and ocean fog.. I like that a lot.
ReplyDeleteWow! Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful as the new moon rising ~ Lovely words to read this morning Sherry ~
ReplyDeleteYes, wise woman is very wise...and yes, there is indeed always a new moon rising. We may have to wait a bit, but it WILL rise!
ReplyDeleteI can do the bumbling fool bit pretty well. The repetition work swell in this.
ReplyDeletei can feel the deep rooted comfort. "salted with tears" - it has to be that way... beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThere is power in creation and raw energy of the passion of the creator. This is captured and powerfully penned.
ReplyDeleteIt has the feel of some sort of earth goddess.
ReplyDeleteVery powerful imagery. I liked the picture you used to illustrate it. She's got a lot of hair for an older woman.
ReplyDeleteEvery poem of yours that I read becomes my new favorite. This one I can truly identify with, being at that place in life. The language and imagery here are beautiful, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteVery timely piece.
ReplyDeleteThere is a full moon rising.
ZQ
Wonderful...lyrical... :-)
ReplyDeleteI like the way you chose this image to make your voice heard as well as the determination and energy behind those words.
ReplyDeletesuch a beautiful poem..
ReplyDeletelovely imagery! i truly adore the blade of grass stanza. nothing is permanent, and yet everything is permanent. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm on board with being a big fan of that awesome blade of grass stanza too!
ReplyDeleteLovely poem expressing thoughts that touch the soul and images that so please the eyes-the new moon rising is so cool...you are a gifted poet
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping over at my blog and i did send you an email, didnt you get it, maybe i should send again
ReplyDeletehave a nice Sunday
much love...
Very well written. It draws you in.
ReplyDeletesuch clearly drawn identity; mesmerizing, Sherry ~
ReplyDeleteSherry I feel that ancient spirit of the earth here and by the way you express it you deeply understand. The thing I find most compelling is the last stanza because you reveal the source of that understanding being that you are a vessel for that spirit as it views the world through your eyes.
ReplyDeleteIt feels ancient and wise.
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful, happy and accomplished poem. I love it so much!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch an exquisite poem Sherry, thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteLove this one! Thank you so much wise-woman.
ReplyDeleteI love the use of repetition here - how each reiteration of identity becomes a self-affirming litany.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written my friend. Sorry to be so late, but not feeling well. Trying to catch up,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
This is simply luscious, my friend, written by a wise woman who knows herself well, and manages to find joy in every day...
ReplyDelete