Each
time I looked at Shane Gorski’s photo at the ReadWritePoem Get Your Poem On prompt I saw more. And more. And more. And
eventually I realized why I was drawn to it so much. It speaks to me on such a
visceral level.
It
speaks to me of myself, in 2009 in particular. In September I did a photo shoot
with my beloved photographer, Todd Powers, and he took me to a burned out farmhouse in
the middle of a field next to a railroad track a little South and a little East
of Bakersfield.
He had
a feeling I would like it.
I fell
in love. I found myself sitting in broken out window sills next to mummified
raccoon remains, broken glass and a souvenir from a tweaker who used the
building to get high on substance.
I got
high on the place in all its broken, burned out beauty.
Kind of
like Shane’s photo.
Kind of
like myself.
Enough
preface, here is my poem, my final poetic act of this decade.
In what
is broken.
In what
looks beyond
The drumbeat
to
Repair the
chaos,
It is Whole.
It is
Sacred.
It is
Holy.
There,
in the
Rickety
places
Your feet
don’t
Want to
walk
There,
in the cracks
Where pebbles
gather
Bend
down and look.
Really
Look
The
dirt won’t hurt.
I
promise.
Take
your time,
Without
scowling
Breathe
and Look.
Photo Credit, Todd Powers - Foxglove Photography
What a beautiful poem..."a drumbeat to repair the chaos." Congratulations on a lovely piece and happy New Year.
Posted by: Melanie | December 31, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Paying attention to the little details adds so much beauty to our lives. Thank you for the reminder, both in the preamble and in the poem. There is so much life between the cracks. This poem has a happy perspective for the future. I like the breath of confidence expressed here! Have a most wonderful New Year Julie, filled with opportunities for self expression and also filled with love!
Posted by: Linda Fraser | December 31, 2009 at 04:52 PM
Oh like a prayer. Finding paradise in rickety beauty.
Happy New Year Julie.
Posted by: irene | December 31, 2009 at 05:32 PM
My response to the photo was the same as
yours in that this was a holy place where
more kindness and charity is demonstrated
between the cracks than on the polished floor boards. Your photo is lovely imbued with happiness and joy.Happy New Year!
Posted by: rallentanda | December 31, 2009 at 06:36 PM
I love this, Julie.
My mind immediately turned to Leonard Cohen's "There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Paradise is here.
In what is broken.
...
Breathe and Look.
Paradise is here.
Happy New Year, from Paradise to Paradise!
Posted by: Paul Oakley | December 31, 2009 at 06:43 PM
Wabi Sabi. Imperfect holds the beauty. Very nice!
Posted by: Tumblewords | December 31, 2009 at 07:40 PM
The drumbeat to repair the chaos - quite lovely. Have a wonderful new year!
Posted by: DJ Vorreyer | January 01, 2010 at 11:25 AM
So lovely...beauty is in the small, unnoticed things. Yes, it can be found anywhere..like in your poem!
Posted by: Cynthia Short | January 01, 2010 at 01:15 PM
I often have to remind myself that the dirt won't hurt...
:0)
Posted by: Erin | January 01, 2010 at 05:38 PM
a beautiful poem, julie. beautiful. what a wonderful reminder that what we want we already have.
looking forward to 2010's poetry from you =)
Posted by: Dian Reid | January 02, 2010 at 09:53 AM
dirt for sure never hurts....lovely poem and thanks for sharing this Julie
Posted by: wayne | January 02, 2010 at 03:26 PM
That's just beautiful! I love it, especially saying to look without scowling. I scowl way too often! That's just how I feel when I'm walking down the street, I'm looking all around noticing beautiful things that aren't usually noticed.
Posted by: Melissa | January 04, 2010 at 11:53 AM
What a great way to end 2009 :). I think this is the power of poetry and art, to find the beautiful in the abandoned and discarded. To transform, transcend and discover as you've done with these very powerful words.
Posted by: Francis Scudellari | January 04, 2010 at 09:57 PM
Julie,
Love this piece. I really love the lines:
"Take your time, without scowling"
"Breathe and look"
Very moving! It makes me stop and think. How refreshing.
Pamela
Posted by: pamela | January 11, 2010 at 08:49 AM