Thank you, Phyllis. I love Ellen Bass's poetry! The poem reminds me of and renews my practice of sending metta to people I see when I am out and about, waiting in line, shopping for groceries. It's a wonderful way to feel connected to each other in our humanity. I'm glad to be reminded that this is a worthwhile practice!
Metta practice is so expanding. I find it especially meaningful when I'm in a tough spot personally—it gets me out of my skin into something deeper, higher . . . words fail.
Prayer? What seems to be settling into my soul is how boundary-less my inner life and outer world are beginning to feel. How slowing down is the most lovely thing I can do for myself and for others. I’m amazed at my thoughts and how generative they are and how they interconnect so easily with others. I’m seeing how there are hundred’s of choices as to what I can write in this moment and how those choices make me smile whereas once the myriad of choices would have made my gut tighten, my brain clench and all natural creative flow stymied. Perhaps prayer for me as I write this now, is a sense of ‘boundary-less-ness’; a softening into the NOW, a breathing into what is present. Perhaps prayer is as lovely as seeing and feeling the click of my ‘thinking-words’ made manifest on this screen. Perhaps tomorrow prayer will be something different.
P.S Poems and Prayers and Promises was a song 🎶 I loved as a teen and once upon a time could strum the tune on a guitar. Seems like a gentle strangeness that it should show up again so much later in life, as a kind of invocation. Thank-you Phyllis 🙏
Regarding the song "P & P & P," I've had the same experience. 😊 As for your ruminations on what prayer is for you, I enjoyed your sharing. This line especially: "a sense of ‘boundary-less-ness’; a softening into the NOW, a breathing into what is present." And also this: "Perhaps tomorrow prayer will be something different." I find "prayer" (a word I'm now reluctant to use because of its religious overtones) an adventure, always asking me to be so "my self" that I'm taken beyond myself.
Aug 2, 2023·edited Aug 2, 2023Liked by Phyllis Cole-Dai
Me too Phyllis - Me Too - The word 'Prayer' with so many religious overtones - indeed. That's what I was feeling but did not say. Words can conjure up strong images. As an artist - how to put the wordless into words - a grand paradox. The joy is in the trying. ✍🏼 The first 2 poems you posted on this P-P-P project here do a fine act of dissolving the heavy overtones of the word "Prayer". Wonderful 🎶
I hope the poems also allow for the religious overtones for the reader for whom those overtones are everything. My view of prayer is based on my own unfolding experience and I don't want to constrict the views of others. My view of prayer also unfolds in relationship with others, as when I listen to your language and try to absorb the meaning and feel the vibrations between "yours" and "mine."
So True Phyllis, I seek to embrace differing experiences, which can reflect any biases or judgements that have not been brought to the light of my heart. I pray to live with an open heart, an open mind and utmost inclusivity!
Like Rilke, I pray again and again because life interrupts. Sometimes the interruptions strip me of my identity and I have to go back and start over again, praying that I find myself again or fall in love with the new me.
Oh my goodness. I'm writing the poem a day because of this. What a wonderful gift. I did not receive an email on Saturday or Sunday. Is that on purpose? There's nothing in my junk folder.
Hey, Maureen! I'm glad you're enjoying the Dive. As noted in the announcements of the Dive, the emails will only come on weekdays, allowing people some "space" on weekends to take a break, to create, to catch up, whatever . . .
Growing up in church I remember there was an older gentleman who sat on the same pew every Sunday and whenever the preacher said something that (perhaps) resonated with him, he would say "Lord Help." That is all I ever heard him say. "Lord Help, thanks" is my prayer, my daily mantra, sometimes multiple times a day depending on what life serves me up. I don't know who the gentleman or the poet were referring to as Lord, but for me it is the energy of good that keeps the world turning.
Hi everyone. I don't have the vaguest idea what I'm doing. I wanted to share a poem from the prompt on Deep Dive 2nd or 3rd, but don't know if that's what this area is for. I don't think I'm ready for the posting on line, I really screwed that up anyway.
Hi, Jackie! Glad to see you here! And it's perfectly fine to not know what you're doing. There aren't any "rules" or anything. Let me know if I can answer any questions. Nobody has posted any original work here or in the chat—more just commenting—but anybody can post anything here that they wish, relative to the Deep Dive. Feel free to share a poem. Or not. Whatever you want to do . . . Just be gentle with yourself as you explore the process. 🙏
this poem about the death of George Floyd is gut wrenching. the last line reminds me of a poem by Jane Hirshfleld in which she write "Hope is the hardest love we carry." This poem brought me to her words. Thank you Phyllis
I think "you" is the poet's God. Perhaps her God has not answered prayers in the way she wanted it to so she has a hard time trusting it, thus a hard time praying to it in the traditional sense.
Thank you, Phyllis. I love Ellen Bass's poetry! The poem reminds me of and renews my practice of sending metta to people I see when I am out and about, waiting in line, shopping for groceries. It's a wonderful way to feel connected to each other in our humanity. I'm glad to be reminded that this is a worthwhile practice!
Metta practice is so expanding. I find it especially meaningful when I'm in a tough spot personally—it gets me out of my skin into something deeper, higher . . . words fail.
Prayer? What seems to be settling into my soul is how boundary-less my inner life and outer world are beginning to feel. How slowing down is the most lovely thing I can do for myself and for others. I’m amazed at my thoughts and how generative they are and how they interconnect so easily with others. I’m seeing how there are hundred’s of choices as to what I can write in this moment and how those choices make me smile whereas once the myriad of choices would have made my gut tighten, my brain clench and all natural creative flow stymied. Perhaps prayer for me as I write this now, is a sense of ‘boundary-less-ness’; a softening into the NOW, a breathing into what is present. Perhaps prayer is as lovely as seeing and feeling the click of my ‘thinking-words’ made manifest on this screen. Perhaps tomorrow prayer will be something different.
P.S Poems and Prayers and Promises was a song 🎶 I loved as a teen and once upon a time could strum the tune on a guitar. Seems like a gentle strangeness that it should show up again so much later in life, as a kind of invocation. Thank-you Phyllis 🙏
Regarding the song "P & P & P," I've had the same experience. 😊 As for your ruminations on what prayer is for you, I enjoyed your sharing. This line especially: "a sense of ‘boundary-less-ness’; a softening into the NOW, a breathing into what is present." And also this: "Perhaps tomorrow prayer will be something different." I find "prayer" (a word I'm now reluctant to use because of its religious overtones) an adventure, always asking me to be so "my self" that I'm taken beyond myself.
Me too Phyllis - Me Too - The word 'Prayer' with so many religious overtones - indeed. That's what I was feeling but did not say. Words can conjure up strong images. As an artist - how to put the wordless into words - a grand paradox. The joy is in the trying. ✍🏼 The first 2 poems you posted on this P-P-P project here do a fine act of dissolving the heavy overtones of the word "Prayer". Wonderful 🎶
I hope the poems also allow for the religious overtones for the reader for whom those overtones are everything. My view of prayer is based on my own unfolding experience and I don't want to constrict the views of others. My view of prayer also unfolds in relationship with others, as when I listen to your language and try to absorb the meaning and feel the vibrations between "yours" and "mine."
So True Phyllis, I seek to embrace differing experiences, which can reflect any biases or judgements that have not been brought to the light of my heart. I pray to live with an open heart, an open mind and utmost inclusivity!
Stumbling prayer. That catches my heart and speaks of falling into grace. Words are inadequate and yet...
And yet . . .
they create poems.....
😊❤️
Daily I Greet the new day, the rising sun, give thanks.
This is my honoring and my connection, to all that is.
Noticing and gratefulness.
There is SO much beauty.
"There is SO much beauty"—I hear you! All the path is beauty, to me, even the most terrible parts—perhaps made so because of gratitude and connection.
Like Rilke, I pray again and again because life interrupts. Sometimes the interruptions strip me of my identity and I have to go back and start over again, praying that I find myself again or fall in love with the new me.
Perhaps the interruptions are asking to be made part of the prayer? 😊
Oh my goodness. I'm writing the poem a day because of this. What a wonderful gift. I did not receive an email on Saturday or Sunday. Is that on purpose? There's nothing in my junk folder.
Hey, Maureen! I'm glad you're enjoying the Dive. As noted in the announcements of the Dive, the emails will only come on weekdays, allowing people some "space" on weekends to take a break, to create, to catch up, whatever . . .
Perfect. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't missing any.
Growing up in church I remember there was an older gentleman who sat on the same pew every Sunday and whenever the preacher said something that (perhaps) resonated with him, he would say "Lord Help." That is all I ever heard him say. "Lord Help, thanks" is my prayer, my daily mantra, sometimes multiple times a day depending on what life serves me up. I don't know who the gentleman or the poet were referring to as Lord, but for me it is the energy of good that keeps the world turning.
"Lord" as " the energy of good that keeps the world turning." Love that, Myrtle.
Hi everyone. I don't have the vaguest idea what I'm doing. I wanted to share a poem from the prompt on Deep Dive 2nd or 3rd, but don't know if that's what this area is for. I don't think I'm ready for the posting on line, I really screwed that up anyway.
Hi, Jackie! Glad to see you here! And it's perfectly fine to not know what you're doing. There aren't any "rules" or anything. Let me know if I can answer any questions. Nobody has posted any original work here or in the chat—more just commenting—but anybody can post anything here that they wish, relative to the Deep Dive. Feel free to share a poem. Or not. Whatever you want to do . . . Just be gentle with yourself as you explore the process. 🙏
I love the way you read the poems. It's so nice!
Thank you, Shelly. I hope you read them aloud, too!
this poem about the death of George Floyd is gut wrenching. the last line reminds me of a poem by Jane Hirshfleld in which she write "Hope is the hardest love we carry." This poem brought me to her words. Thank you Phyllis
Those words by Jane are truth. Thank you, Claire.
I do. You inspire me to put more umph into my efforts!
That "umph" is your soul coming out bigger.
I think "you" is the poet's God. Perhaps her God has not answered prayers in the way she wanted it to so she has a hard time trusting it, thus a hard time praying to it in the traditional sense.
That old bugaboo of our own "wants" . . .
I am grateful to have learned that my most peaceful moments are when I connect with my JOYSpots - reading, writng and crocheting!
Let's hear it for JOYspots!
This poem is a reminder of childlike innocence and enthusiasm...until adults step in and mess things up.
So far, the poems move me to continuetoaskmyselfwhatprayer really is.
This poem says to me that if you are breathing, there is hope and for someone hope may be a form of prayer.