Poem and Tanka

Empty Spaces

When a life departs
A body, only remains,
An assortment of
Discarded things, relationships,
Without breath or animation.
Memory struggles, fades,
As ensuing days
Go on with whoever
Contains the treasure, hard
To guard, uneasily measured.
A longing persists
To catch a glimpse, hear a phrase,
Sweet visage, clear voice
Held dear, but lost from here.
Never, never, until some
Future, Divine Presence gives
Overdue reconciliation
Uniting those who, wander,
Later in, with kith and kin.
No need can find all,
Disembarking space and time,
Leaves suddenly adrift, behind;
What had meaning, without beholder
Begins to decay and molder.
Oh Death, how unjust your taking
Leaving Life to spoils shoulder.

Tanka Explore

1.
Heroes are only
These dreams we greatly esteem,
But may never meet,
No love we share between, yet,
We hope their joy is replete.
2.
Blowing up his phone –
A need I cannot postpone,
But no rainbows come;
Talking to me is a chore
He rather not, anymore.
3.
I love you more now
Than when first I invited
You to share my heart
Knowing over time how grace
Has greatly forgiven me.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, June 25, 2022

2022 Creativity Project – Day 118

Worn Hallelujah

Where life goes
Staggering around corners
Trying to escape
The grief when too much is lost
Or drunk on finding new love.
Fingers wanting to hold
Tight to things material
But time gives lessons
On how better to allow
What is precious to pass.
All is a veil worn
By a bride, which gossamer
Covering will not linger,
With a kiss dispersed
And years are away, past.
Only to be today
Worry along nary other way
Find the smiles, laughter,
Learn and again, for knowledge
May keep company after.
Love, it is living
The spirit, soul, heart
Of every human being,
Mutual, a blessed treasure
Often sought, seldom caught.
The pain of years
Memories of beauty, love, joy
Restrain a flood of tears
For sadness brings reminding
Life is worth all given.
So sing loud, pray often,
Hug the beloved
Swim with the dolphin
Share and be grateful
Existing is delightful.

2022 Creativity Project – March 17

Prompt: If you are without, get Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg for inspiration.

Enchantment

I slept my birthday
Night in the golden canvas
Raft sunflowered in my room
Where the carpet made deep sea,
Daylight came teasing me up.

Nights to weekend, treat,
I lounged in the comfort
Of the Summer smelling
Island centered in from bunks
Feeling pillowed aboard
Rope dangling dreaming water.

When I pushed the small boat
Into the lake, my tan legs pimpled
Like plucked chicken skin
I dove toward the center
But bathed in the crisp cold
Shivering after the floated away.

Lessons sometimes tear
The gentle expected flinching
Off life teaches young, memory
Buys nothing but bills unpaid
True oneself bites, slips, cast-off
Keep confidence to grab on
Not even this, forever, but long.

Reclaimed

As most of you may know, I lost my Mom several years ago after being her full-time caregiver for some years.

We both collected cups, although Mom had an altogether more impressive cache having had more money to spend.

We were active in CBC as long as she could go without danger or humiliation. In the singles group, I met Bernice, but she soon became a treasured friend of us both. She gave my Mom the cup above, which is by far one of the most unique I have seen.

This work of art was stored in a curio cabinet in the common area. A few weeks ago, as I was walking my circle through the house, I heard the beginning of a crash.

I was right beside the cabinet on my path, and an assortment of glass, ceramic, and china things Mom collected and painted fell out on the floor. The stud that held the shelf let go and tilted so that with the accumulated weight, the door opened, and much tumbled out to shatter.

The unique cup Bernice gifted Mom was not on that shelf, thankfully. I have been moving it around the house, hoping to keep it safe.

I was crushed that several figures Mom painted after I taught her how to help with her tremors were destroyed. I hope there are no such future occurrences.

I think this cup is so unusual; I thought I would share.