Dying/broken/forgiven.... now I begin

Born: 17-06-56....gemini.... monkey
re-born: 3-09-80
born again\found: 14-04-08
other notable dates: 10-03-68; 03-09-87; 23-03-96;
1-05-98; 31-01-02; 5-04-04

Interests: movement, stressed/transgressive embodiment, lived experience (body\space\time\relation)
expression ( word, dance, text, image, story, music, poetics)
learning, yielding......

Hopes for the blog:
offer up the wild intersectedness of lived experience and engage others in creative, expressive, perhaps irreverant, hopefully playful, and respectful encounters....
enact kindness
create moments of pause for disclosure, discovery, stillness

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Copenhagen



here is an image I heard spoken
given to me in story
it has taken hold of my heart

Imagine one of the busiest cities on earth
during rush hour
a horrific accident
stops
everything in its tracks
people gather huddled witnessing
police redirect traffic, bicycles, pedestrians
struggling to maintain composure and the necessary dignity
of
the
moment

here is an image I heard spoken
given to me in story

Think about what it might mean
for dwelling
if regard were as deep and plentiful
as Copenhagen's canals.
Boats of all sorts and speeds share
liquid space and time
Swans mingle like citizens, welcomed
for their grace and beauty,
their delicate sustained stepping and gliding and leaning
their steadfast commitments
unfettered, unhurried
always
in proximity of mate
or young


here is an image
given to me
it has taken hold



A careless driver kills a swan
leaves
its soft lifeless form
white against the too black asphalt
its slender beautiful neck
elegantly posed, breathless
its mate hovers, his head a hair's breadth from her
chest feathers, absolutely still
motionless as death
in reverent, silent loyalty
if swans could weep
the terrible grief
of one who is left standing
those attendant kindred souls
might keen and howl
in shameless agony
or hold vigil in hushed, unrequited sorrow

here is an image I heard spoken
it has taken hold of my heart


then
I tried to offer up this story
too soon
after being locked in
rapt attentiveness
I wept at its re-telling
I could not do justice to its sweetness
or longing
nor can I
now

here is an image I heard spoken
given to me in story
it has taken hold of my heart




8 comments:

  1. my thanks to Kathryn Ricketts, a colleague, writer and poet who presented this compelling image of the swans in an unforgettable presentation at a conference I attended in Montreal in May/June 2010.

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  2. by the way, the italicized portion of the second last stanza is from Kathryn's presentation; it was such a delight to work with her lovely arrangement of words and sentiments.

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  3. well, that brought tears to my eyes. shame on you but, bravo!

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  4. Gerry-- well, thanks for this sweet comment; I am quite touched that you would share this and it makes the comment all the more meaningful. cheers.

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  5. I love the shape of this poem. It seems to have a life of its own that follows the words. A marvellous set of images.

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  6. Madame-- thanks; it was the images that I could not get out of my head that compelled the writing.

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  7. A haunting set of images/encounters - love the elements of mystery laced through it: "if regard were as deep and plentiful
    as Copenhagen's canals" beautiful.

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  8. Pisces-- thanks for these insights; and I am glad that the images were described effectively. cheers!

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