Who I Am

I'm red hair 

but not its quick temper,

except sometimes.

I'm freckles

that trace a map

of other lands on my face.

I'm muscular legs

that run me where I want

and take me to unfrequented places.

I'm fingers curled over

a keyboard capturing words

black on white.

I'm hungry mind seeking words,

filled by reading them,

yearning to learn new ones, 

playing games of them.

I'm celtic mix that savors

family, gathers it, celebrates it,

cheers it on, helps fix it.

I'm broken one

at home with other broken ones,

on their side, arms around their shoulders.

I'm woman in love

with other women, 

with bone feel for our 

persistent plight.

I'm woman in forty- year love 

with a man, a singular

bright light man who

shows me clear blue sky.

I'm mother, brave

enough to bear a girl child

and raise her to be brave.

I'm grandmother to two dear ones who

bring me dragons and build new worlds.

I'm threshold ready to expand. 

I'm wise elder to my tribe

and beyond.

Posted for Brian, who's hosting at Poetry Jam and asked us to write about who we are.

This I Know

I watch you walk the forest path,

two-leggeds, moveable beings,

part of cosmic fertility, content

for now among us tall ones.

Is your life like mine, simple

and clear in its purpose?

Here is what I know, that's

shared in our council:

That sky remains ready

to receive dark and light.

That forest sits silent

awaiting sound.

That sun feeds bright

and heat to all.

That wind strokes my arms

to play the song of my life.

That birds alight on my branches,

find shelter and, in turn,

scatter my seeds far from me.

That this right action you call wisdom.

That forest deaths create humus

to urge new life in its crucible.

That when I turn toward

what I love, it saves me.

Do you yet know that being

and appreciating is enough?


Abhra, at dVerse Poets Pub, has us writing Tree Poetry, to actually write as the tree. Check it out, there's some good poetry going on over there… The photo is of an Imortelle Tree taken on my latest trip to Trinidad. It flowers around Christmas and is just beautiful.
Two quotes are paraphrased here: 
"Wisdom and right action are the same thing." Marcus Aurelius
"This turning toward what you deeply love saves you." Rumi