Here is the place,
soft amber light
warm hands
cool breeze.
Here is the circle,
feel the connection
crackling completeness
arms tight,
hearts warm.
Here is love,
wrapped around you,
holding you up,
sending you strength.
Here is peace.
Here is hope.
Here is now.
.
.
For Londa.
The NaPoWriMo prompt today asks us to consider a photograph through the perspective of a poem in another language. The poem I am using is in Finnish: Alku, by Piia Pälä.
Seasons unfold
Silently.
Above,
Truthful music, ancient turning.
Below petals open.
Three full moons glowing in spring sky,
Chasing the sun,
On hopeful wind.
Enter into light, solitary,
Still.
New week
Re-enter reality.
Photo: open door
Original poem:
ALKU:
Kaiken kantanut kausi kumartaa,
hiljaa kääntyvä aika katsoo myötä.
Taivaalla taittuvat tiehyet,
muinaisten tinojen toteutuneet taiat.
Uudemman ajan tiiviimmät terälehdet.
Kolmesta täysikuusta kasvaa kaivattu kevät,
auringon laiduntama rypsipelto ja
toiveikas titaanien tuuli.
Sinne mennäksesi kulje yksin valoa kohti.
Ollen ajan oma, ja silti.
Sinun todellinen hetkesi on tässä.
~Piia Pälä.
We have been shattered into pieces
divisive patter has demeaned us
Let’s commit to redeem peace around us.
In this room
In this city,
Let our faith bloom in the gritty places
Among all creeds and races.
Let our Rotary service
shine to all who observe us.
.
.
For free use within Rotary. Please give acknowledge Shawn Bird of Shuswap Rotary as the author when you present the invocation. Please also leave a message for her in the comments so others know where and when this invocation has been used.
In times of fear and panic,
Let us be a force of calm.
Let those who are trembling,
find us safe to lean upon.
May we be the voice of reason.
May we comfort the oppressed.
May we show our compassion
to those who’re most distressed.
.
.
Free for use in Rotary Clubs. Please credit Shawn Bird of Shuswap Rotary (5060 BC Canada) when you use it, and leave a note in the comments below so folks know where it’s been used. Thanks.
Your world is a place of melodrama.
Teacups can’t contain the tempests that turn around you.
Moles man earth movers making mountains.
Stop.
Breathe.
There are so many bigger things in the world,
like poverty, war, disease.
In the scheme of things, that she looked at you funny,
or he didn’t return your tweet,
is worth less than a shrug.
Truly, if you live in a land at peace,
your life is sweet.
She is light.
She glows with gentle radiance
that touches everyone she meets with her warmth.
She is peace.
In her calm presence you are comforted
simply by being near her serene heart.
She is whole.
She does not need anything from anyone,
for she has found the font of her strength within herself.
She is love.
I didn’t hear you
and you slipped past
your whispers only faint murmurs on the wind
less than the burbling susurrus of the river.
I heard shrieks and giggles,
running feet and splashing laughter;
I didn’t hear you.
I feel the vibration
reverberating down my back
drilling between shoulder blades
pushing at my temples.
Simple questions
snarky answers.
Simple expectations
superior refusals.
Patience is very thin
The end of the rope has frayed
Consequences?
Here’s a tent.
and a sleeping bag,
if you’d prefer?
The massage will work
out the kinks,
settle the tension,
return balance,
but when I’m back,
you’ll still be here,
sending out those vibrations
that are breaking down
my nervous system.
Usually
I have patience to tolerate
your negative energy.
I can listen to your whining
self-indulgence
without comment.
I can ignore your
ignorance, and gently
try to inform you.
But right now,
my world is a storm
of negativity, raining from
despots, thieves, and liars
who have too much power over my life.
I am holding up a very small umbrella
to hold off the stress.
If you blow that negative air at me,
you will turn my umbrella inside out
and so you’ll excuse me
if I leave you
standing in the rain
by yourself.
The panorama of lake and hills
lies peacefully before me.
The susurration of wind
the patter of rain on
leaves and pine needles
is mountain music.
Heaven on earth
marred by
that incessant RV A/C.*
.
.
.
*Recreational Vehicle Air Conditioning
OMG it just turned off! (and the very next minute the music started. Sigh).
Shawn L. Bird 