tossing my gloves
to pull carrots with naked hands—
this, how I long to speak with you
Posts Tagged ‘communication’
One Vulnerable
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged communication, garden, love, poem, poetry, vulnerability on October 10, 2018| Leave a Comment »
And Why Not Call It Miraculous?
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged communication, language, light, poem, poetry, transformation on June 17, 2018| 2 Comments »
Just as the sun enters the room
and changes the feel, the warmth,
and the power to perceive,
the right word, too,
can be a beam, can shine
into an evening, bring
glimmer, tidings of light,
make even the darkest corners
shine. Yes even one word
can become a prayer,
a gate we pass through
to find ourselves luminous.
If We Can’t Tear the Wall Down, Then
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged communication, poem, poetry, separation, wall on May 6, 2018| 2 Comments »
Inside
the
wall
between
us
there’s
a
very
thin
room—
let’s
take
two
chairs
and
sit
in
there—
not
on
my
side
nor
yours,
but
wholly
in
the
place
that
divides
us.
I
wonder
how
much
more
clearly
we
will
hear
each
other
without
that
wall
between
us
?
On American Flight 3589 to Grand Rapids
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged communication, kindness, poem, poetry, travel, turbulence on June 23, 2017| 2 Comments »
We are entering turbulence, says the captain.
This plane does not do well with turbulence.
His voice crackles over the loudspeaker
just after the plane has begun to jostle in the sky.
I am not particularly worried about the plane.
The young engineer next to me in 14E has already
assured me that when considering safety factors,
the designers will double what is actually needed.
I am more worried about the captain’s choice of words.
It matters what we say to each other and how.
The ride will be turbulent, that would have sufficed.
Or perhaps, The ride will be turbulent,
it’s nothing to be concerned about.
The toddler in row 11 is screaming.
She would not feel better, regardless what
the captain said. Perhaps it is the mother in me
that longs to disregard the safety belt sign and go comfort her—
not so much for the child’s sake, but for her mother’s,
she looks so careworn and tired. I want to tell her,
It’s okay. This is just a short chapter.
I settle for a nod and a smile.
The truth is the world is full of turbulence.
The truth is it’s hard to hear anyone cry.
The truth is our work in the world
begins with comforting the people next to us,
strangers only until we take the first step.
Two Words with You
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged communication, conversation, other, poem, poetry on October 26, 2016| 1 Comment »
What if
we spoke
about how
we can’t
speak to
each other,
and by
other, I
mean other
versions of
our selves,
and what
if, as
the words
crashed on
our lips
like ocean
tides that
won’t be
held back,
what if
we realized
that our
speaking about
not speaking
is a
starting shore,
sea water
collecting on
our cheeks.
The Opportunity
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged communication, parenting, poem, poetry, water lily on August 27, 2016| 1 Comment »
Moonless, the night,
and aimless, our paddling,
my son and I glide on the lake
and stare into the sky,
drawing invisible lines
for constellations—
the diamond, the maggot.
the spilt milk.
Our laughter ricochets
across the water.
Though I can’t see them,
I know we are surrounded
by lily pads. The flowers
will be closed by now—
something about the reversible
expansion and contraction of cells
by changes in water balance
and differential growth of cells
due to temperature—
but here we are,
my son and I, nocturnals,
lingering in the two-note hymn of crickets,
opening in the dark.
One Conversation
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged communication, poem, poetry on May 6, 2016| 1 Comment »
said with tenderness
even the most alarming words
contain sweetness—
clear drops of rain
on the thistle
In the spaces between
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged communication, lilies, poem, poetry on March 6, 2016| 1 Comment »
what I say and what I want
to say, a thousand
thousand lilies grow and throw
their perfume everywhere—
oh they could give a shit
about propriety
or rules
or scores
or lists of tiptoed shoulds.
And they don’t give a damn
about some petty pleasantries
around the weather.
Sometimes I fancy
you can smell
their warm and honeyed
fragrance,
bright and lively,
fancy you might
visit all these petals
arching through our awkward spaces
oh so pinkly,
fancy you might find delight
in how
with unguarded exuberance
they thrive
(can you smell them?
I do)
in these miles and miles
of provocative
untouched sweetness
so bountiful
between us.
One Doomed Conversation
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged communication, conversation, poem, poetry on January 12, 2016| 1 Comment »
Translation
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged communication, love, poem, poetry on December 18, 2015| 4 Comments »
What I meant to say:
You are my moon, my stars, my sunrise.
What I said:
Do you want pasta or rice?
What I meant to say:
Kiss me, kiss me, please, please.
What I said:
I’ll take out the trash.
What I meant to say:
I would swim icy rivers to be near you.
What I said:
I love you. Sweet dreams.
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