my umbrella's a pinwheel of colour
my rainboots are over-sized and orange
2 cats and a dog
we paint the road
and turn into a track
bright with grass
disappearing in overhanging leaves
I'm booted and coated
the cats speed between trees
avoiding raindrops
the dog doesn't care
we walk and wild flowers curtsy
until the sky spills out
into a field
I wonder
if the herons
will rise from it?
not today
we take a trail
between the trees
step into the ditch, splashing
2 more steps
and we're into the meadow
the one
with the rock
in the middle
jacket under me
umbrella above
cat on each side
legs dangling
will I know
that I'm being greeted today?
I wait
today I imagine
my brain waves
gettting slower
like hammocks
holding sleepy bodies
now the trees
seem extra bright
daylight silhouettes
eyelids close
my mind cupped
resting but aware
my presence has been taken in
by 30 yr. old trees
still children
leaning how to speak
I bless them for
they've made me feel
at home.
-lora bennett, 1995.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Fire and Water in the Ball Park
There was an amazon in the ball park today.
I saw her.
She sent the earth rolling and foaming under her feet
The sun burning her image indelible
into the forever place behind my eyes
Some Wonderful is coming TOWARDS
air molecules parting in front
burned and splashed aside by steps as sure as arrows that cost breasts
a wave of movement three steps ahead of amazon legs
My scalp tingles and curls toll bells
through the afternoon
an amazon in the water, in motion, in the sun
wild manes of foam rising above her knees
hanging above her knees (it's magic)
Her hair burning to the shoulder
sun pushing from behind
water rising in front
amazon in motion, woman of the waves
What could I do but call your name out loud?
and wait for the burning and splashing of you
to converge about me in the afternoon sun.
-lora bennett, 1974.
I saw her.
She sent the earth rolling and foaming under her feet
The sun burning her image indelible
into the forever place behind my eyes
Some Wonderful is coming TOWARDS
air molecules parting in front
burned and splashed aside by steps as sure as arrows that cost breasts
a wave of movement three steps ahead of amazon legs
My scalp tingles and curls toll bells
through the afternoon
an amazon in the water, in motion, in the sun
wild manes of foam rising above her knees
hanging above her knees (it's magic)
Her hair burning to the shoulder
sun pushing from behind
water rising in front
amazon in motion, woman of the waves
What could I do but call your name out loud?
and wait for the burning and splashing of you
to converge about me in the afternoon sun.
-lora bennett, 1974.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
When Did the Settling Start?
Where were the beaches with shells?
Where was the climbing on the unicorn's back and flying into the night sky?
Where was the standing under a waterfall and letting the negative ions tumble in through the welcoming funnels - nourishment for the living cells much deeper than our WATERPROOF barrier?
Where was the dancing naked around a bonfire with heart burning in the centre like the flames?
Where was the passionate love making so intense a bond forged that we almost die unto bliss but know it can't be sustained?
When did the settling start?
Lynn Kirk
Where was the climbing on the unicorn's back and flying into the night sky?
Where was the standing under a waterfall and letting the negative ions tumble in through the welcoming funnels - nourishment for the living cells much deeper than our WATERPROOF barrier?
Where was the dancing naked around a bonfire with heart burning in the centre like the flames?
Where was the passionate love making so intense a bond forged that we almost die unto bliss but know it can't be sustained?
When did the settling start?
Lynn Kirk
Days of Thunder
what amazing warfare we conducted
on the miss canada beauty pageant
toronto 1975
dark rainy night
moon in scorpio
over mudfields
and barbed wire
we moved silently
stealthily
in formation
as our third world sisters must
with ammunition
faces hard set
purposeful and unrelenting
our energy converged
to burst upon the keepers of the alien
performance
custodians of bodies and mind
less gestures
shaking for an instant this repetition
our sisters!
lost in male definitions of "Beauty"
glamour dispelled
in one instant of profundity
before the looks of shock and horror
are replaced by feigned enchantment
once again
ruffled skirts and collars
remain of the disorder
a game disturbed at its climax
to be replayed
over and over again
until our forces multiply
they know we're around
international womens year
Ms Canada next year!
making us feel we owned a year
or rather trying
no charge it's free!
they buy our souls each year
Lynn Kirk (1975)
on the miss canada beauty pageant
toronto 1975
dark rainy night
moon in scorpio
over mudfields
and barbed wire
we moved silently
stealthily
in formation
as our third world sisters must
with ammunition
faces hard set
purposeful and unrelenting
our energy converged
to burst upon the keepers of the alien
performance
custodians of bodies and mind
less gestures
shaking for an instant this repetition
our sisters!
lost in male definitions of "Beauty"
glamour dispelled
in one instant of profundity
before the looks of shock and horror
are replaced by feigned enchantment
once again
ruffled skirts and collars
remain of the disorder
a game disturbed at its climax
to be replayed
over and over again
until our forces multiply
they know we're around
international womens year
Ms Canada next year!
making us feel we owned a year
or rather trying
no charge it's free!
they buy our souls each year
Lynn Kirk (1975)
Naomi and Ruth
In Ruth's Book we meet for the first time a woman who loves someone. Ruth sacrifices everything for love. When a biblical woman for the first time, loves someone,it is not one of the Bible's many patriarchs, heros or kings that is the object of her love. Ruth loved another woman.
Ruth and Naomi are not bound to one another against their will, nor are they under the authority of a man.They don't compete with one another for his favour or to be chosen to bear his son. The bonds between Ruth and Naomi are voluntary. Their relationship is characterized by thoughtfulness, collaboration and love.
Naomi migrates to the land of Moab together with her husband and two sons. They are fleeing a famine. Her husband dies and her sons marry two Moabite women named Orpa and Ruth. After ten years the sons die as well. And when Naomi hears that times are better in Bethlehem she decides to return. She implores Orpa and Ruth to return to the home of their childhood. Only there do they have a chance of remarriage. Naomi has her own bitter experiences. A woman can only survive if she has a man. But Ruth won't let herself be persuaded. She follows Naomi. Some researchers point out that Ruth's decision is the most radical in the entire Bible. Ruth who gives up her country, her family and her people in order to follow Naomi has taught Naomi that a woman can fill another woman's life with meaning, support and love. Ruth's Book teaches that love between women is possible and that it is of value.
Ruth says to Naomi:
”...where you go, I will go and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God.”
by
Lillemor Björling, chaplain, 2008.
Ruth and Naomi are not bound to one another against their will, nor are they under the authority of a man.They don't compete with one another for his favour or to be chosen to bear his son. The bonds between Ruth and Naomi are voluntary. Their relationship is characterized by thoughtfulness, collaboration and love.
Naomi migrates to the land of Moab together with her husband and two sons. They are fleeing a famine. Her husband dies and her sons marry two Moabite women named Orpa and Ruth. After ten years the sons die as well. And when Naomi hears that times are better in Bethlehem she decides to return. She implores Orpa and Ruth to return to the home of their childhood. Only there do they have a chance of remarriage. Naomi has her own bitter experiences. A woman can only survive if she has a man. But Ruth won't let herself be persuaded. She follows Naomi. Some researchers point out that Ruth's decision is the most radical in the entire Bible. Ruth who gives up her country, her family and her people in order to follow Naomi has taught Naomi that a woman can fill another woman's life with meaning, support and love. Ruth's Book teaches that love between women is possible and that it is of value.
Ruth says to Naomi:
”...where you go, I will go and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God.”
by
Lillemor Björling, chaplain, 2008.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Prayers of Water
I still remember the moment before opening the shutter on these waterscapes - each moment was like a prayer, a prayer of water.
There was clear water, so clear my heart soared and sang; water in rocky places, desert places; still water, neighbourly and reflective next to the larger moodiness of the Baltic Sea; stones like silent sentinels over water and through time; winter sunsets over the bay near my home.
The past year ended harshly, the world news jolting me into reflection about many things but also driving me outdoors to seek moments of natural beauty.
This seems like a good time to extend beauty into the homes of others.
I hope these images can be a prayer of water and a way to flow into the following year.
-lora bennett, 2002 (view images by clicking on the address below)
http://www.lotusandrose.com/photos_videos/waterscapes/lotusrose.html
There was clear water, so clear my heart soared and sang; water in rocky places, desert places; still water, neighbourly and reflective next to the larger moodiness of the Baltic Sea; stones like silent sentinels over water and through time; winter sunsets over the bay near my home.
The past year ended harshly, the world news jolting me into reflection about many things but also driving me outdoors to seek moments of natural beauty.
This seems like a good time to extend beauty into the homes of others.
I hope these images can be a prayer of water and a way to flow into the following year.
-lora bennett, 2002 (view images by clicking on the address below)
http://www.lotusandrose.com/photos_videos/waterscapes/lotusrose.html
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The Heaving, Healing Sea
the heaving healing sea came home with me,
as though I had come to rest beside a great chest of water,
convexing on the inhale,
exploding into storm at the outhale
and making me know my littleness as the natural thing it is.
-lora bennett,2008-
as though I had come to rest beside a great chest of water,
convexing on the inhale,
exploding into storm at the outhale
and making me know my littleness as the natural thing it is.
-lora bennett,2008-
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
