I love the playfulness of this - the sky calling out the moon, but don't tell her that. You've really captured the weight of our incessant thinking and our collective call to get present.
I adore this poem . . . the sweet simplicity of its ending and the beauty of the entire conversation. These lines are especially gorgeous - "It’s not you and your little wings of bone /
So glad you enjoyed it, Lisa! I'm always taken with how sweet -- and specific -- real kindness is, whether it comes from the sky or from the person next to us.
Love this poem! I also try to remind my shoulders (and jaw, and chest, and brow, and everything) to relax from time to time. It can be a micro-meditation, since you can't really pay this kind of attention to your body while lost in thought.
I also love the discussion about what's allowed in poetry, i.e. anything! It is the written form of true freedom, not bound by silly things like the laws of man or physics.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Mike. I do love the freedom of poetry, where my One Job is to tell the truth however I want but as beautifully as I can. And, well, my other One Job: to try to ground whatever truth and beauty I manage to express in the suchness of the body, the senses, the here-and-now.
I have VERY chatty shoulders. Not to mention a knee that grumbles at me all day long! Thank goodness for poems, where we can let all the voices speak. Thanks so much for being here and reading, Maureen!
Wonderful words! I tend to think that alot of people put alot on their shoulders right now. Including me! It's so much harder to just relax, live and let live. I feel like people judge me here in Ga. simply for wanting that. Maybe they aren't used to it.... Anyway, great poem!!! Thanks for sharing with us. :)
The judgments we get -- or expect to get, or both! -- from other people, are a big part of the weight on our shoulders sometimes; I feel that with you, Angela. Thanks for reading and for contributing to the discussion.
So timely! Thank you. On my walks, although I haven't heard the sky speak about my tense shoulders, it does have an attitude, and this is definitely what it would say.
I love the playfulness of this - the sky calling out the moon, but don't tell her that. You've really captured the weight of our incessant thinking and our collective call to get present.
Sarah, I just found this kind and insightful comment of yours. Thank you, and thank you for reading the poem!
I adore this poem . . . the sweet simplicity of its ending and the beauty of the entire conversation. These lines are especially gorgeous - "It’s not you and your little wings of bone /
who balance the world."
So glad you enjoyed it, Lisa! I'm always taken with how sweet -- and specific -- real kindness is, whether it comes from the sky or from the person next to us.
look, the light is turning green
Relax...and be right here. I love this! 💚
Thanks, Ann! 💛🌿
Shoulders began to release upon the reading of this poem !! Nice 😊
& this made me grin 😀 Poets get to tell more fibs while they’re telling the truth than journalists are supposed to.
Released shoulders AND a grin -- double bingo! Glad it worked for you, Lori. Thanks so much for reading.
My pleasure ✍️
Made me laugh. That’s good. Love your POV,
your voice, and this poem 💚
Thanks, Shari - glad it made you laugh!
'It’s not you and your little wings of bone
who balance the world,' goosebumps on this line.
Me too!
You're good at spotting my own favorite lines, Treasa. Thanks for reading! 💛🌿
I love this! First poem I read today. I’m going to try to remember it’s not all up to me.
Glad to be today's first poem for you, LeeAnn. I'll try to remember too!
Yep, shoulders
Ayyy, shoulders! Strong as they are, they take a lot of tending.
Lovely and wise words—nice poem!
So glad you enjoyed it, Bethel! Thank you for reading.
I think the universe is saying : start paying attention to the major details you don’t have to manage.
Let yourself off the hook! Is it your responsibility to make sure the sun rises and sets each day?
Wonderful poem reminding us of just that. Thank you Elizabeth!
Yes, Loocinda! I read wise words a couple of years ago that I bring myself back to every day:
"The sky has fallen before. We have seen some terribly unsettling times. But you are not in control of the sky. You are called to your work."
I can get so much more done (and relax my shoulders more often) when I stop trying to be in control of the sky.
Thanks for reminding me about my shoulders. I always wondered why they're so sore!
Why are they so hard to remember?! 🤷🏼♂️
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Carole.
Love this poem! I also try to remind my shoulders (and jaw, and chest, and brow, and everything) to relax from time to time. It can be a micro-meditation, since you can't really pay this kind of attention to your body while lost in thought.
I also love the discussion about what's allowed in poetry, i.e. anything! It is the written form of true freedom, not bound by silly things like the laws of man or physics.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Mike. I do love the freedom of poetry, where my One Job is to tell the truth however I want but as beautifully as I can. And, well, my other One Job: to try to ground whatever truth and beauty I manage to express in the suchness of the body, the senses, the here-and-now.
Loved this, both the poem and the message. I especially enjoyed the shoulders expressing themselves !
“If we relax, nothing is safe.
We brace so we can balance
the weight of the world between us.
If we relax, it falls.”
I have VERY chatty shoulders. Not to mention a knee that grumbles at me all day long! Thank goodness for poems, where we can let all the voices speak. Thanks so much for being here and reading, Maureen!
Yes, thank goodness for poetry. I’ve always described my knees as ‘grumbling’ as well !
Wonderful words! I tend to think that alot of people put alot on their shoulders right now. Including me! It's so much harder to just relax, live and let live. I feel like people judge me here in Ga. simply for wanting that. Maybe they aren't used to it.... Anyway, great poem!!! Thanks for sharing with us. :)
The judgments we get -- or expect to get, or both! -- from other people, are a big part of the weight on our shoulders sometimes; I feel that with you, Angela. Thanks for reading and for contributing to the discussion.
Thank you for writing it so that I could contribute. :) <3
Very good, thank you Elizabeth. That's why we call it "poetic license", right?
Thanks, Wes. Indeed, I'm happy to keep that license up to date.
So timely! Thank you. On my walks, although I haven't heard the sky speak about my tense shoulders, it does have an attitude, and this is definitely what it would say.
Love to you, Kim, out walking under an attitudinal sky. Looking forward to seeing you soon.