Friday, February 6, 2015

KUMULIPO



A dreamer within a dream,
I bow to Mother Earth again and again,
and the trees drop down word-blessings
on my page.
The Ancient Ones are singing in the mist
along the riverbank.
Shape-shifters, elusive,
swirl, transform,
and are as swiftly gone.

I heard an eagle calling this morning.
I was in First Nations country,
homeland of my ideology.
The ancient forest is the topography
of my heart's home, the wild waves,
the ocean's roar,
the resting place of my soul.

I come from
a long-ago valley of apple blossoms,
from willow-weep and lilac, 
sweet pea and mimosa,
lake-scent and whisperings
engraved on my soul,
all of it inking the nib of my pen
since I was a child
with the single directive:
"Write!"


for Ella's fantastic prompt at Real Toads: to write a Kumulipo, a Hawaiian prayer chant that describes the creation of the world, as it applies to where our creativity comes from. We were to include our birthplace in the poem. Photos by my daughter, Lisa Melanie.




19 comments:

  1. I love your poem-the wilderness, the scented air, the magic of the world's umbrella, and Mother Nature's gifts. Wondrous, Sherry! I felt like I was strolling with you-beautiful~

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  2. Every culture has a Genesis myth. Interesting that the Hawaiian's were chosen. . . .



    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    <3

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  3. Ah, the single directive 'write' does not surprise me at all...and 'a dreamer within a dream' is something I can really picture.

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  4. I love how fantastic this poem is combining fantasy with nature, and a hint of native culture. Great poem Sherry!

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  5. all of it inking the nib of my pen
    since I was a child
    with the single directive:
    "Write!"

    That is true in most instances There has to be a 'forceful' desire to write but not forced upon. Wonderful connection of nature of the home country! Wonderful write Sherry!

    Hank

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  6. Oh, Sherry!! This has such a direct and powerful voice and in your opening, "I bow to Mother Earth again and again,
    and the trees drop down word-blessings
    on my page." so many times I have felt just this same sentiment when I read your work...beautiful and blessed and a blessing. Thank you for listening to the "directive" and sharing your soul.

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  7. with a heart of the forest in you...and at touch with nature...perhaps as much as it is to write..it is to capture the magic of this nature for future generations which may have to do without...

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  8. First-- beautiful beautiful photos, Sherry--you have a talented daughter and live in a beautiful place! Then this is such an earnest and heart felt poem--you definitely have a heart of nature--how very lucky that is and lucky for us too. k. (Manicddaily)

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  9. You are a poet of nature. You so beautifully write from the wild that inspires your pen.

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  10. I love how you painted both the nature and the garden with the wonderful tender pen of yours. Yes those photos are beautiful.

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  11. I was in First Nations country,
    homeland of my ideology.

    I appreciate the strength of your convictions which come across so clearly in every line of this poem.

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  12. Real connection with nature, eagle, trees, ancient history and your ability to write, to channel the beauty of earth, your passion. Powerful poem!

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  13. I love the nod to our mother earth, and to our first nation country with its beautiful creatures ~

    Grace

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  14. Absolutely beautiful thoughts about creativity, origins and prayer.

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  15. ...and beacause of that single directive i met so many wonderful people; one of them is you, Sherry. This is so beautiful and your daughter is adorably very talented. I have enjoyed her photography. Smiles.

    - ksm

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  16. This is a beautiful prayer Sherry. You are truly inspired (in spirit) with the fire of the Universe.

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  17. And so we must, yes? Sending lots of loving energy your way, Sherry!

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  18. Gorgeous photos and the last stanza was particularly breathtaking - I'd say really a prayer.

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  19. Apple blossom valley hmmm

    And those pictures are beautiful!

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