This poem is on its way to a friend in Europe – if you are that friend: don’t read on! I will write more later about how this poem came about.
Finally, our friend’s birthday poem. This one was accompanied by a linocut print made by DH with some help from Amie. We chose that beetle because of its name.
Change of plans! This poem will not be our friend’s birthday poem after all.
So it is going out to someone else, with the following ink and water color painting by Pinka Das, from Kolkata, India.
The inkling
Some things just must be said
Some things just say themselves
If only for a mouth
I just need to sit here and watch the fire
And know it
That it works and has worked for all time
That it is showing itself
And I would be an oracle for it
Is that what we are
The ones who can say it poetically
And once we have said it
Are we done here?
I wrote this poem sitting in the reading room in the Weston library, where a friend brought me after a brisk walk in the fresh February air. It is to go with an illustration by DH and Amie and will be a birthday present for a dear friend.
The inkling
Some things just must be said
Some things just say themselves
If only for a mouth
I just need to sit here and watch the fire
And know it
That it works and has worked for all time
That it is showing itself
And I would be an oracle for it
Is that what we are
The ones who can say it poetically
And once we have said it
Are we done here?
I am writing another poem for my 350 poems project. At this rate I’ll be 90 years old by the time we get 350 poems together. That won’t be too bad, really.
This video poem was created on 25 August 2011 and sent off – digitally, exceptionally – on the same day. Also exceptionally, the recipient sent me his poem first. That was a wonderful surprise! Thank you!
I also got back several beautiful, original poems from both the first and the second addressees. The first actually sent me three. That way we’ll make it to 350 much faster.
I was battening down the hatches when I saw the bees streaming in and ran inside to get the camera. What a treat to have witnessed that.
Poem 2 in the 350 poem project was sent on its way on 5 June and must have arrived at its destination (or I wouldn’t post it here!). I’ve not received any poems back as yet, but it’s early days yet.
This poem too was sent on its way on the back of a stunning art work by Pinaki Das, a Calcutta artist.
And I am here
and the everflowing Now
is in me
wishing I would
let go of it
but I want to continue
the even keel
on the free rudder
stay with me
we’re going somewhere
Last week I sent out my first poem in the 350 poems project. It’s a project I’ve had on my mind for a while now, a way to force myself to be more attentive in daily life to the beauty of the world, the people and the language(s) around me. I used to stumble upon some gem and store it in my mind until such time I could jot it down in my journal and maybe even work on it a little to get it down right. I’ve lost that habit. This project puts the pressure on. 175 poems, that’s not nothing! But I’ll get 175 in return.
The first batch of poems will be sent out on cards with original work in pen, brush and ink by Pinaki Das, a Calcutta artist. “Mesho” generously gave me these little art works a couple of years ago with the injunction to give them out to my friends. I thank him with all my heart that I can send out my poem words accompanied by such beautiful visual work.
This first postcard was sent on its way on 10 June 2011.
