Earth can make of us broken ones
flowers and wear us as a charm,
choose to adorn herself with some,
to be admired, to enchant,
give delight, ward evil, bring calm.
Good luck flows or magic powers.
This turns our mind around, spreads balm:
earth's talisman, us her flowers.
My friend, Ruth, has re-surfaced quietly and started another blog, Washed Stones, inspired by one of Rilke's poems, Not Poor. Today she gave the translation by her friend, Inge, who speaks German, of one of his lines to the effect that earth adorns herself with us like a talisman or charm. I love this thought, actually got flipped inside- out by it, and explored it for the prompt by Gemma Wiseman, offered by Gay Reiser over at dVerse Poets to write a Huitain. She tells how so check it out.
I love,love, love the idea of us being earth's talismans. Nice.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the best idea?!
DeleteWonderful hymn to nature's healing.
ReplyDeleteThanks and glad you stopped by.
DeleteLovely lovely thoughts here. Flower Power! hehe
ReplyDeleteFlower power with a new twist!
DeleteWhat a view from your header "window"! I actually didn't write today's article but I did present it. Gemma Wiseman so kindly gives us this new form today and it's new to me as well. I love what the double prompt has given you to write today..very novel, clever and well crafted. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat view is from my balcony here in Italy and I never tire of it. Thanks for the info about Gemma and her prompt which I enjoyed once I had the inspiration from Ruth's post. What an altogether amazing concept!
Deletenice...you capture a bit of the magic of nature in this...and us as her talismans...smiles...very enchanting and cool huitan...
ReplyDeleteIt is enchanting that this is a whole new thought said for the first time by Rilke to make us see in a new way. At its best, poetry does that.
DeleteUs broken ones...just about sums a lot of we humans up on this planet right now. I love Mother Nature' power but simplicity and, the hope in this. Lovely write.
ReplyDeleteYes, it lets us broken ones see ourselves differently and brings us hope.
DeleteBeautiful. And never heard of a huitain. I get the 8 lines part, though, thanks to all that french. Love it!
ReplyDelete8 lines with 8 syllables each and a particular rhyme scheme. Cool.
DeleteOh the gifts of nature are a treasure, lovely poem and what a glorious picture!
ReplyDeleteAnd we are the gifts!
DeleteLovely stuff!
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
Grazie.
DeleteI especially like your first two lines.
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteLovely, Mary. As I read this, I couldn't help but think back to when we were just beginning to attempt poetry. and now look!
ReplyDeleteFun, isn't it?!
Deleteto be admired, to enchant,
ReplyDeletegive delight, ward evil, bring calm..... so true...love how you put this...and great use of the form as well..
Having so few syllables disciplined me in a good way.
DeleteReally lovely poem - uses the form like a charm. k .
ReplyDeleteYour comment made me chuckle.
DeleteMary, I love what you bared here from your inside-out self. The almost magical power of who we really are, in our broken and bare being, is thrilling. Thank you for carrying light from Rilke to this new-to-me poetry form so movingly.
ReplyDeleteYour post got me so excited that I wanted to write about it. If only we could see our power, our magic.
DeleteYou always inspire me with a new and different way of seeing. This was exceptional in its take on the world and us being the adornment. Thank you for the fine post. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love that I got inspired by Ruth who got inspired by Inge who got inspired by Rilke - and that's how it goes!
DeleteA new form, a new sentiment!
ReplyDeleteLovely.
It's one of the wonders of the blog-o-sphere for me.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous piece!
ReplyDeleteThank you, MZ, I go to school on your writing.
DeleteBeautiful poem and photo! Sorry i ahven't been visiting ..life has been hectic. It was nice to slow down and reflect on you post today!
ReplyDeleteI took the photo in France at a particularly beautiful park. Thanks for stopping by from your oh so busy world of NYC (which BTW I spent the first year of my marriage) to the slower paced world of Italy and retirement. But, it's alright, we move on and make new choices. Peace.
DeleteAs soon as I read the first line I thought of Ruth's piece and that discussion at her new blog--what a lovely addition to the conversation--the form has a lot of balance to it, which fits the whole idea very nicely. (And of course, the photo is just stunning.) Enjoyed it very much.
ReplyDeleteShe was my inspiration. I like that we have these conversations with one another stimulating ideas all around. The photo was one among many stunners in Paris. What a beautiful city.
DeleteLove the idea that the broken ones may become flowers! An alternative and parallel to the phoenix image of legend! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteYes, in both we emerge from brokenness, or our brokenness transforms. Thanks for a great prompt.
Delete