Saturday, September 28, 2013

She said, "Love your tree!"

So my 
feet grew 
roots deep & mighty 
ropes to anchor a ship 

And my belly heard earthquakes
& animal cries before fear could strike

And my fingers trembled like a leaf when
 when you rested under my shade of  blooms  

And my thighs became strong to wrap  around 
the man  & hold him here, and my breasts heavy

with milk  dripped  before my child  could utter a cry  
And my hands soft as feathers nurtured the fire of nests 

My  spine tingled  with distrust and healed with care 
and  my bones  heard  darkest of  storms coming

 Under every line, freckle & wrinkle, I relished:  
seeds, sap, cracks, decay & fruits 

Then, I echoed back 
mother's words :
   
I love my tree! 


Update:   This has been selected as Poem of the Week by Poets United


“The body knows things a long time before the mind catches up to them. I was wondering what my body knew that I didn't.” 
And I thought of sharing this lovely poster ~

Credit:   TreeSisters

56 comments:

  1. :) The shape of leaf and the poem ,,,,,say it all

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  2. I like and had Kidd's that book (borrowed it and haven't gotten back yet) your poem touched my soul.

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    1. Thank you ~ I think its important to see the beauty inside all of us ~

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  3. wow a great display of rich imagery.....

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  4. My spine tingled with distrust and healed with care
    and my bones heard darkest of storms coming

    great lines showing both sides...and i like as well
    the turn in the end to loving yourself...

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    1. Thank you Brian ~ It's an important lesson for all of us ~

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  5. ...what Brian said!

    This was beautiful.

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  6. Sensual beauty in this rich profile of the self as a tree, grounded but flying.

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  7. I feel grounded after reading your poem~
    Clever and stunning-I had to read it again..
    We weather many storms using our branches to brace and hold
    our truth!
    Beautiful!

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    1. The tree is a lovely metaphor ~ Thanks Ella ~

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  8. What comes due can sure be a pain, but stay in the lane and as a tree we can be

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  9. On so many levels, wow...Grace this is such a thrill...I love the extended metaphor you use here...it really works!! Lovely image and message, too. :)

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  10. Wow! Yes, first we must notice and honor each part--and not only the physical--and then when we say it and mean it health glows. And that applies to the intangible as well--what a sensual piece and perfect for our carnal time, the incarnation which is our time on earth and in water.

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  11. Grace, this is fantastic. "My spine tingled with distrust and healed with care" This line I really understand...the whole piece is beautiful. Thank you so much for taking part in the challenge.

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  12. Grace, first of all, I admire anyone who can accomplish a SHAPE poem; and then I loved the images of strength and love and care that I read within your poem! Perfection!

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  13. beautiful dear Grace...one with all that is... so easily we forget, and with a deep inhalation, eyes wide open, we just as easily remember.

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  14. I felt this with my roots. Lovely.

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  15. I love being anchored like a ship...

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  16. This is a beautiful an invocation of womanhood as I've ever read, Grace. Stunning poetry. It should be published and acquire a life of its own beyond the blogs.

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  17. wow, Grace. really strong, just like you and your tree. i love this, experience this myself... the wonderful universality of what you've written.

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  18. I love the interweaving our bodies with nature here. Beautiful, Grace.

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  19. Oh, that it does. That it does. Loved the Shape Poem. Beautiful wisdom.

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  20. Grace
    I have rarely visited anyone from Pat's blog but I'm glad I stopped by yours today. You put into words, my feelings for life and trees, feelings that I could not put together. Thank you for commenting on my rhyme today.

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  21. WOW! This is my very favorite of yours, Grace. How absolutely glorious it is. I also so resonate with the quote about how women and the land are treated. The earth so needs to turn towards a matriarchal culture. This poem really impacted me. I am blissed out reading it. It is a gift. Thank you.

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  22. Beautiful shape poem Grace. Wonderful!

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  23. awesome poem, Grace.... love the shape, the words, the metaphor

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  24. Oh, this was so delightful. When I got to the last line, I was grinning from ear to ear. :)

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  25. what a delight to read this. I loved the leaf shape as well

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  26. i like how you entwine the imagery.. my fav picture is "and my bones heard darkest of storms coming" - a very strong line.

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  27. Love this connection between land and woman, lovely tree, beautiful poem :)x

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  28. I have to tell you, I didn't really understand that quote till I read your poem. It really opened a whole line of thought. This is so good!

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  29. You've braided all verities and versions of diverse ties! Amazing gracefulness ! I loved the quotation as well ~ Faithfully Debbie

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  30. Fascinating about the link between the land the way women are treated.
    Your poem is wonderful, perfect for the line you chose from The Secret Life of Bees.
    K

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  31. I felt this deep within me. The protectiveness of motherhood - womanhood is so beautifully expressed here... (I have bookmarked it!)

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  32. Liked the tree shaped motherhood piece but LOVED the correlation between the way women are treated and the earth. Ya'll better get to bitch slappin' some men folk around fo sho.

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  33. Then as always it is about education. Beautiful piece/peace Grace. I enjoyed it immensely.

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  34. Ha. Very charming and surprising! A lot of fun here as well as the deeper message. Thanks, Grace. k.

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  35. gravid; then released. a good pen, Grace

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  36. There is that tenderness in this poem, along with the strength that was endearing to me. A beautiful write. And the shape is cool.

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  37. Such charming poem. Loved it and for it's message.

    Nas

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