Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Friday, July 10, 2009

Evidence

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Here is the evidence...






of the arrival
of my much anticipated
order of Mary Oliver books


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One of the very best things
to arise out of my reincarnation
as a blogger
is the introduction
to Mary Oliver's poetry


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I have indulged myself
guzzling down her poems
like fresh red summer strawberries,
making my way
through two volumes
already...


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This poem
especially,
of those I have read so far,
rapped at the door
of my heart...




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Mindful

Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less

kills me
with delight
that leaves me
like a needle

in the haystack
of light.
It is what I was born for -
to look, to listen,

to lose myself
inside this soft world
to instruct myself
over and over

in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help

but grow wise
with such teachings
as these-
the untrimmable light

of the world,
the ocean's shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?
~



When I read this poem
I felt that the poet
had wandered through my soul
and plucked the ripe emotions,
wrapped them in words
tied them in sentences-
like stalks of grains in a sheaf


she had given the inexpressible
shape and form and colour,
gathered them together
protectively,
and placed them
in a treasure box
which can be opened
and reopened
at will..
She had given a voice
to joy...





Oh Holy Days




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Saturday, July 4, 2009

Walk Through Time

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Walk through time
via the book shelves...

When I was looking
at the book shelf images
that I posted
in the slow walking story
I started to think
about how each of my bookshelves
tells a story
through time...


through passages
passions
phases
and
periods

through stages
studies
interests
and self expression









this shelf
belongs to the house design phase
where house styles from
different countries and
continents were explored








these novels,
some old some new,
have provided me
with leisure and recreation-
but unlike most novels
that I share with friends
and then pass on to the library
I am not ready
to part with this group
quite yet








the subscription shelf
is crowded with gourmet traveller
for when I am feeling passionate about cooking
or travelling
and house design monthlies
to keep me abreast of contemporary design









and high above the magazine shelves,
the deceptively plain looking folders
are repositories
of the most valuable treasures
collections of works:
written, drawn and made by my four kids








and then we arrive
at the self development stage
which is really ongoing...








but there was a time
when it seemed
to devour all my spare time...








the current reads
get jammed into the spaces









while memories of my lifetime
are collected
and housed in the many albums
found down here









and then we find a shelf
dedicated to creativity
of the art and collage variety









near the section
of texts
required to build
a skill base
for practicing counselling








At this shelf
I will admit
to having a journal fetish
these still blank
but one day will progress








to the shelf dedicated to
filled journals
and collections








adjacent to
the gift card corner








the ideas group -
notes and pics
sketches and words
colours and torn articles
that may one day inspire me








and this colourful collection
contains the many postcards
that I have created
during the postcard passion period...







and what of these
large folders...








ah...
the hazy moon posts I print
to pass on to my parents
to update them of my foibles
and for me to mull over again...








and look here
hiding behind the folders
a book I am currently reading
and
how absolutely appropriate...

and the subject matter
for a future story...





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