Hello, friends. As the hard weeks roll on, I thought we might remind ourselves of some of the good things in our lives, perhaps as counterpoint, or as solace.
I am inspired by a prose poem titled "Bless the Stars" by Maya Stein, that I came across at Laurie Wagner's Wild Writing process. Ms Wagner encourages us to put pen to paper or fingers to keys and just let whatever words rise to the surface land on the page or screen. She says not to censor ourselves, to write what comes, aiming for authenticity and the realness of the present moment. I have found that practice helpful in these times when I am weighed down and at a loss for words.
In Ms Stein's poem, note how she incorporates the season into her writing, and the small daily happenings.
Our prompt is Blessings: bless the stars, or anything you wish, in whatever format you choose. In the Wild Writing world, whatever comes is meant to be.
Here is your inspiration: (She wrote this as covid was winding down, thus the "re-entry" she mentions.)
BLESS THE STARS
by Maya Stein
Bless the stars for morning crossword puzzles and heavy cream in the coffee and for picnic tables in dappled morning sunlight. Bless the stars for slippers and bay breezes and corn on the cob and the UPS driver with his cheerful greeting, and the package that arrives just before the supply of whatever it is runs out.
This day with its push-pulls, its technical difficulties, its mixed signals. This ache in my right thumb. These night sweats. This watch ticking off the minutes. This running out of time. These question marks. This wrestling match. This what next. These what if's.
So bless the stars for the bicycle wheel and the tandem kayak and still waters. Bless the stars for what's left of summer, the blue umbrella hovering over the deck proceedings, the light cotton sheet, the outdoor music concert, the tall stools filled with easy revelry. This coming back, this re-entry. Bless the stars for poetry. For lightning bugs and moonlight and windows and tracing shapes on fogged glass. Bless the stars for getting off the highway and remembering to take the long way home.
Link your poem, leave a comment if you wish, and visit your fellow poets. I am looking forward to your responses. May your pen fly free!
Good morning, poets! I thought of a more positive topic today, since there are still so many blessings, always, in our day to day lives. For me, the biggest and most moving blessing these past weeks has been the Walk for Peace by the Buddhist monks who walked through freezing cold and blizzards from Texas to Washington - walking for peace, with their little peace dog, Aloka. They captured so many hearts. People turned out to see them pass, so hungry for something beautiful. They say when monks walk, it is a warning that the world is too out of balance. It was beautiful. They are safely home now. I am looking forward to reading all your blessings. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteBless them, and their little dog, too! Seriously, what an endeavor. I admire their tenacity, especially as they chose to witness in the country where the most atrocious things are being done in the name of freedom.
DeleteThat is why they walked, Amy. So good to see you here! Yay!
DeleteThank you for reminding us of life's blessings Sherry - Jae
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Jae. There are always so many blessings, no matter what. Here on the west coast of Canada, we have crocuses and narcissus up, and pink cherry blossoms blooming. Yay!
DeleteMy poem isn't a blessing, not in any way... it's sort of the opposite. But the anniversary of FDR's signing the Japanese Internment Camps into law seemed to cry out for a response. Amy
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you wrote, and linked.
Delete👍
DeleteNice to see you, Shaun!
DeleteAmy, because i am away from home and on my tablet, i have tried to leave three lengthy comments on your site. Sigh. It wont accept my info and comments disappear. When i get home Sunday will comment. We did the same thing to the Japanese in western Canada in WWII. Even in Tofino. We have elders who returned who were children when they interned. I have lived long enough to see things happening i never thought would happen in America. I like your note to use our pens and voices to resist.
ReplyDeleteShaun, the same thing happened as with Amy, will have to comment when i get home. Sigh. But a very cool idea to do an erasure poem from Bless the Stars.
ReplyDeleteSherry, I really loved Maya Stein's poem! Thanks for using it to launch this wonderful prompt, which has produced such interesting writing.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it, Mary.
Delete