poetry, irony, gratitude, gardening and rejoicing before the rain...

The wise, gracious and challenging poet, Joy Harjo, has long been a favorite to me. She was recently named poet laureate of the United States. In a beautiful irony, given these times and the politics of the current regime, it is good to note that Ms. Harjo is the first Native American to hold this honor. Her 1994 poem, "Perhaps the World Ends Here," resonates with my deepening quest to not only unplug from a lifetime fretting, stewing and striving but also reclaim the necessity of rejoicing. (For more information on Joy Harjo, please go to:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/joy-harjo)

The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.

It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.

At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.

This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.

Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.

We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here.

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.

Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.

Br. David Steindl-Rast recently invited those connected to the Gratefulness network to join one another in an eight day encounter with the ordinary blessings of summer. What a lovely and gentle affirmation. Br. David writes: “Blessing, rightly understood, is the invisible bloodstream pulsating through the universe–alive and life-giving.” So I'm going to do it. 

Today I find myself full to overflowing with gratitude for we finished setting our summer garden in place. I spent the last few weeks building, tearing apart and rebuilding two small garden terraces before we did any planting. It was an exercise is patience and learning from my mistakes. In was also a process for remembering more than I wanted to know about my impatient shadow to say nothing of my organic klutziness. Still, perseverance and going slow became the by-words and they are now complete. Our deck is filled with our favorite herbs. And the only place with consistent sunlight is now home to cucumbers, two types of pumpkins, dill, tomatoes and soon "moon beans" (a legume from Tucson's Native Seeds that Di named for them about 20 years ago.) 

As this day comes to a close I will join with local poets to hear their reflections on matters of the heart. I'll spin a few tunes before the gig to set the tone and then act as ersatz DJ for the gap in-between readings. Joshua Redman, Bill Frisell, a hip-hop remix of old RnB tunes and a funk CD will be my guide. And tomorrow it will rain. Joy Harjo offers this prayer of gratitude for it all.

Praise the rain; 

the seagull dive
The curl of plant, 

the raven talk—
Praise the hurt, 

the house slack
The stand of trees, 

the dignity—
Praise the dark, the moon cradle
The sky fall, the bear sleep—
Praise the mist, the warrior name
The earth eclipse, the fired leap—
Praise the backwards, upward sky
The baby cry, the spirit food—
Praise canoe, the fish rush
The hole for frog, the upside-down—
Praise the day, the cloud cup
The mind flat, forget it all—

Praise crazy. Praise sad.
Praise the path on which we're led.
Praise the roads on earth and water.
Praise the eater and the eaten.
Praise beginnings; praise the end.
Praise the song and praise the singer.

Praise the rain; it brings more rain.
Praise the rain; it brings more rain.

For more information on Gratefulness.org please go to this link if you would like to explore this encounter: https://gratefulness.org/blog/summer-blessings-an-invitation/?mc_cid=e31a88a4e7&mc_eid=cad6d30e04