February YIN Link & Poems

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Prompts…into poetry…and journal writing

Friends, I’ve been deep in my journal writing…writing poetry…reading and…thinking. I’ve had some pretty intense epiphanies over the last week and a bit. Rolling with big realizations and how to make some changes. And so, the pressure I was putting on myself to write every day…I had to let it go. Funnily enough, I’ve been writing every day! A lot! But, just not blogging it. Not yet. It feels weird…sometimes wrong to not be posting each day. Like I’m breaking some unspoken rule…but the truth is I need (want) a break from the everyday of posting. Maybe I’ll get back to it. I don’t know, but for now, I’m listening to the voice that’s saying, don’t worry about it.

I would love to share some poems with you though. I did a workshop through the League of Canadian Poets over the weekend. It was about spontaneous poetry – a similar on-the-spot poetry exchange like Poetry on Demand. It was very cool to meet/see/write with other poets taking on the same challenge. Here are the poems I wrote ‘spontaneously’. Thank you to the league and to Kate Marshall Flaherty for leading a fine, fun workshop!

haibun for Alison

flow
her flow is
vibrant windstorm
gusty with haiku
fever
mish-mash heat
thrumming with
​ new-found lands
40
now – years in ​
​ the language of the sea
poetry​
the shade of blush
​ in her cheeks

long hair sweeps her smile
language ink blooming – bright
hear her wisdom pitch​

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seeds

this man i love
hoed pulled & planted
made love with the dirt
& i watched & it was a
bountiful jardin a trois​

time measures in seeds
forty different kinds now
deep in the yard beside
our concrete strength

we reap the harvest
in this growing story

cucumbers carrots tomatoes lettuce
a bouquet of love

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love stones

these stones
miles in length
we lift with inky fingers
onto shoulders muscled with friendship

the kind of friendship that makes maps
& we toss & drop & place these stones
into homes grouted with love
love y’all

these stones
miles in length
honoured with wedding bless
& we heave & heap & heal
together

these stones
we paint with spectrums of love

love y’all

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And um, Poet Laureate…

I’m applying to be Windsor’s next poet laureate! The application is due February 4th, so I’m gathering letters of support and finalizing the rest of the application. I am nervous, excited and…what’s the word…windy on the inside, blowing back and forth with emotions about the whole thang. This is another reason why I’ve been quiet on the blogfront. So, thank you for your patience! Thank you to those who have sent *INCREDIBLE* letters. I am so grateful and utterly overflowing with love for our community of writers, poets, readers, creatives…Thank you!