#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Red leaf, Charles River

“I think when a person is in deep prayer, all of that being’s attention is focused on God. When a person is in love, all of that being’s attention is focused on the beloved. I think in writing poetry, all of the being’s attention is focused on some inner voice. I don’t mean to sound mystical, but it really is a voice and all of the attention is turned toward that voice. That’s such an exhilarating state to be in that it’s addictive."

~ Li -Young Li, Breaking the Alabaster Jar

Rain soaked the trees and grasses, flowers and rocks; everything glistens and the river is misty in the early morning and the branches slap and wash my arms and legs and bare back as we go for our walk, and some of it a run. I am happy with the cheerful news of my daughter getting her marriage license application; I don’t learn until later in the day that they have lost one of their precious dogs during the night –a shock. Good leaps forward followed by loss – it is like this in life so often. I want to send comfort bu they are not ready to talk, and I understand. So I make enchiladas which they love. I will send this food for comfort. My day is framed to working on the ritual for eggs poem, this morning, this evening. In the late afternoon I feel suddenly very very sleepy. So I jump in my car with the dogs and go for a swim in Farm Pond. Because I need a guiding light to keep me at my poem, I read some passages from Li-Young Li about his craft. And it helps me go back in and muck around, with a bit more willingness to let go of results. My daughter said Puggles loved my enchiladas.