Elizabeth, I love your comments on your poems as much as I love your poems, especially this week. I'm glad the angels of poems keep arriving for you when things are too much to bear otherwise. I have seen you from afar these past two Sundays. I hope we actually have time to talk one of these days.
Yes, maybe it is enough to keep our heart open as we walk through our days. Doing so will influence our own little circle which, I believe, has the power to shift many things through the ripple effect.
Those were two memorable encounters -- I'm glad I could do them a little justice in the poem. Thanks so much for reading, Brian - and for bringing your 🐦friend!
such a light touch on such a big, heavy-on-the-heart topic. That "touch three familiar things" is such a curiously powerful line for me, I wonder about it's origin.
I think that line is adapted from an item in a list of exercises that are often suggested to people going through an anxious patch: go outside, find and touch three natural objects (plants, stones, somebody's friendly dog, etc.). The intent is to help refocus the person on the present moment. Making it "three familiar things" makes the exercise (even) easier and adds a subtext of comfort and continuity.
Or that's what I think, after the fact, that the line is doing. At the moment, it was just what the angel said.
So wonderful, thank you for sharing these poems and backstories! The Other Angel, and your reflections on it, reminded of “Go in the strength you have.” It’s a constant comfort to me because my strength is often quite small and I don’t “go” very far at all - yet, the mere fact that it was what I had made it enough. It’s a quiet little stubborn comfort in a season when not-enough is a loud refrain :)
Beautiful, Elizabeth. I have a "good" angel on my right shoulder and a "bad" angel on my left. They are a constant presence. No sudden appearance for me. Always whispering. Thankfully, the good angel's voice speaks loudest. Thank you for touching my heart today.
It was a tease, I know, to title the post with that paraphrase of Emily's line. For me, there IS hope in the suggestion to "be the one you are, let God be all."
Elizabeth, I love your comments on your poems as much as I love your poems, especially this week. I'm glad the angels of poems keep arriving for you when things are too much to bear otherwise. I have seen you from afar these past two Sundays. I hope we actually have time to talk one of these days.
I hope so too, Rose! Thanks so much for reading.
Yes, maybe it is enough to keep our heart open as we walk through our days. Doing so will influence our own little circle which, I believe, has the power to shift many things through the ripple effect.
I love both of these poems❤
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Donna.
I really enjoyed wings. There are so many delightful moments among the powerful questions. Lovely! 🐦
Those were two memorable encounters -- I'm glad I could do them a little justice in the poem. Thanks so much for reading, Brian - and for bringing your 🐦friend!
Thank you for finding a name for the quiet one who notices when I'm feeling stretched too thin. Non-Catastrophic Angel-- I love that image.
She loves to keep us company. ❤️
I remember the pigeon in your bathroom.
Hard to forget!
such a light touch on such a big, heavy-on-the-heart topic. That "touch three familiar things" is such a curiously powerful line for me, I wonder about it's origin.
Thank you, Weston!
I think that line is adapted from an item in a list of exercises that are often suggested to people going through an anxious patch: go outside, find and touch three natural objects (plants, stones, somebody's friendly dog, etc.). The intent is to help refocus the person on the present moment. Making it "three familiar things" makes the exercise (even) easier and adds a subtext of comfort and continuity.
Or that's what I think, after the fact, that the line is doing. At the moment, it was just what the angel said.
So wonderful, thank you for sharing these poems and backstories! The Other Angel, and your reflections on it, reminded of “Go in the strength you have.” It’s a constant comfort to me because my strength is often quite small and I don’t “go” very far at all - yet, the mere fact that it was what I had made it enough. It’s a quiet little stubborn comfort in a season when not-enough is a loud refrain :)
Oh, I love that sending-forth, Sydney! Thank you for bringing it here, and thank you for reading.
Beautiful, Elizabeth. I have a "good" angel on my right shoulder and a "bad" angel on my left. They are a constant presence. No sudden appearance for me. Always whispering. Thankfully, the good angel's voice speaks loudest. Thank you for touching my heart today.
Does Vera Grace know those angels are there? She'll whack the bad one off your shoulder for you any time, or purr so loud you can't hear the whispers.
So glad the poems touched you, Sandra - thanks for reading.
I thought these would be about hope:
“The thing with feathers which perches in the soul…” // Strangely the message Ken gets in the movie “Barbie” is that he’s Kenough
Okay, now I need to go see the Barbie movie!
It was a tease, I know, to title the post with that paraphrase of Emily's line. For me, there IS hope in the suggestion to "be the one you are, let God be all."
Yes Amen!
Thank you for the reminder about Enough. And the ending of the second poem in particular is exquisite.
Any time you can end a poem with the sight of a cat, you're on the right track. >^..^<
Thanks so much for reading, Amy.
How true! :D
Hope you have a lovely day!
Wow. Just wow. Both pieces touched just the way an exceptional poem ought. You hit the mark with both. You ushered in my Wednesday with great form.
So glad, Kim! Thank you for reading them.