Friday, March 30, 2012

chrysalis

she enters as one
weary of the struggle

the slow crawl
of a soul in agony
to know the purpose
of her existence

surrendering to all
she cannot change
to all she cannot fathom

a fine button of silk
is all that holds her now
to this world
as the final ecdysis* reveals
a harder skin

a tough exterior
belies her vulnerability

inside the chrysalis
a metamorphosis
is taking place

it is the movement
toward imago
the movement
toward realization
the movement
toward emerging

in triumph she sits
atop an empty shell

she leaves as one reborn

-stacy wills (3/30/2012)

(*ecdysis: from the greek, ekduo - to take off, strip off)

Monday, March 19, 2012

intoxicating

is it just me
or do dogwood blossoms
seem to levitate -
suspended in mid-air,
while the azaleas riot below?
and the wisteria
the way it hangs
in delicate clusters
like grapes on the vine,
ripe for pressing -
positively intoxicating!

-stacy wills (3/19/2012)




Saturday, March 17, 2012

mirror, mirror

i hear it, know it
in myself,
the familiar echo
of long-ago longing,
as i listen to
my darling daughter,
she of the rare green eyes,
wish for brown.
i've done the same...
there was a time
i would have gladly
[foolishly] traded:
grey for brown
curly for straight
mousy for raven
fair for olive
comfort for speed
but then
who might i have been
had i gotten my wish?
certainly not the woman
sitting next
to this beautiful
green-eyed girl.

-stacy wills (3/17/2012)



Sunday, March 11, 2012

the fire rises in me (a poem by symeon the new theologian)

the fire rises in me,
and lights up my heart.
like the sun!
like the golden disk!
opening, expanding, radiant--
yes!
--a flame!

i say again:
i don't know
what to say!

i'd fall silent
--if only i could--
but this marvel
makes my heart leap,
it leaves me open-mouthed
like a fool,

urging me
to summon words
from my silence.

-symeon the new theologian (949-1032)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

places to pray in

everybody needs beauty as well as bread;
places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and cheer and
give strength to the body and soul.

-john muir (1838-1914)

source image: cypress swamp along the natchez trace

Monday, March 5, 2012

the light of your soul


may the light of your soul guide you.
may the light of your soul bless the work you do
with the secret love and warmth of your heart.

may you see in what you do
the beauty of your own soul.
may the sacredness of your work
bring healing, light and renewal...

-john o'donohue (1956-2008)

Saturday, March 3, 2012

energy

the image is more than an idea.
it is a vortex or cluster of fused ideas
and is endowed with energy.

-ezra pound (1885-1972)