Unprepared for the impact this piece of art just smacked into me, the raw gutural punch of the deep knowing of those that recognize grief, in all its phases and guises, for it sometimes comes pretending to be something else.
The universe truly gifted you with the words to express the observations of itself, all so raw and so darn moving. Blessings to you, Mary, and your family.
You have quite the poetry cannon here on Substack. Perhaps worth investigating into publishing them in a book. You can even self-publish these days. I would buy your book and I bet a few of us here would do it.
I debated whether to publish this piece on Easter -- such a happy, hopeful day! -- but decided that it fit. After all, the resurrection story draws its profound power from grief. I did consider a trigger warning...😂
Historically I've had a hard time accepting compliments -- I was raised by the master of deflection -- but the more I see myself as that hollowed-out flute that sings what flows through me from God or the Universe or wherever, the more I can just say: thank you, Tonika.
And I've been thinking along the same lines -- I WOULD like to put together some compilation. Your encouragement gives me, well... courage! 😉 xoxox
Dear Mary, This is exquisite. Tender. True. Grief can gut us, but it can also elevate us in ways we can't imagine. I once had an acupuncturist tell me that I had so much grief it was buried in my bones. I remember looking at her, shocked. I was completely detached and unaware of it. She stuck a needle in my heart center, and I started to sob uncontrollably for what seemed like a lifetime.
Thank you for this beautiful share. Love from my 🩷 to yours.
Oh Barbara, thank you for this comment, for sharing your own experience of grief. It's astonishing, isn't it, how the body can hide it away? I've had similar acupuncture sessions, where I think I'm there for something else entirely and end up with tears pooling in my ears. Thank god for all the healers.
You surpass yourself Mary. I feel it down to the bone marrow, down to the echoes of past lives. I feel that any comment I make will be inadequate. I will blunder in anyway though and say that the first two stanzas alone had already chimed a very deep chord, touched what for my uneducated poetical senses is the reverberation of true poetry. Nothing else I can say.
Dear Michael! Your comment moves me so! Knowing you as I do, I take your brevity as an indication of the depth of feeling the poem evoked. No greater compliment. Thank you so very much. ❤️
Oh how your comment brought me a much-needed smile! You took my brevity in exactly the right way, and I'm delighted to be able to move you as you moved me!!
I'm so glad, Ronnie! Thank you for chiming in to let me know. I feel so grateful for the ideas that come, the wherewithal to "birth" them, AND the souls who value them. Xox!!
...and too, we're all, as human beans, divinely blessed with an instrument able ta play melodies without readin' a single note--grief an' joy, in turn, the scores of our lives, offer us tunes larned by ear, enriched over time, played movin'ly in times of joy an' sorrow... hope t'day, even if just this one holy-day (no matter if ye celebrate it with bunnies 'er prayer), brings you melodious notes less of grief than of renewal... sumthin' we all need! Happy Easter :-) (an' now gettin' back ta my ma AND my coleslaw--happy Eat-ster too!)
lol, it wuz! (alwayz celebratin' the small joy when a random "innertube" recipe comes out right-tasty-no-complaints! ;-)...which is, of course, a little eighth note in the bigger scores've our lives!
Will have to read it again after a couple of cups of coffee.
But even on this early rainy morning in Tokyo ... it reminds me of a recent chat with Margaret about that movie 'The Day the Earth Stood Still's message, that we need the precipice of danger and despair to change for the better.
Unprepared for the impact this piece of art just smacked into me, the raw gutural punch of the deep knowing of those that recognize grief, in all its phases and guises, for it sometimes comes pretending to be something else.
The universe truly gifted you with the words to express the observations of itself, all so raw and so darn moving. Blessings to you, Mary, and your family.
You have quite the poetry cannon here on Substack. Perhaps worth investigating into publishing them in a book. You can even self-publish these days. I would buy your book and I bet a few of us here would do it.
I debated whether to publish this piece on Easter -- such a happy, hopeful day! -- but decided that it fit. After all, the resurrection story draws its profound power from grief. I did consider a trigger warning...😂
Historically I've had a hard time accepting compliments -- I was raised by the master of deflection -- but the more I see myself as that hollowed-out flute that sings what flows through me from God or the Universe or wherever, the more I can just say: thank you, Tonika.
And I've been thinking along the same lines -- I WOULD like to put together some compilation. Your encouragement gives me, well... courage! 😉 xoxox
Agree with every word of this comment, Tonika.
And yes, " I would buy your book and I bet a few of us here would do it."
🙌
I can only say “me too”!
Dear Mary, This is exquisite. Tender. True. Grief can gut us, but it can also elevate us in ways we can't imagine. I once had an acupuncturist tell me that I had so much grief it was buried in my bones. I remember looking at her, shocked. I was completely detached and unaware of it. She stuck a needle in my heart center, and I started to sob uncontrollably for what seemed like a lifetime.
Thank you for this beautiful share. Love from my 🩷 to yours.
Oh Barbara, thank you for this comment, for sharing your own experience of grief. It's astonishing, isn't it, how the body can hide it away? I've had similar acupuncture sessions, where I think I'm there for something else entirely and end up with tears pooling in my ears. Thank god for all the healers.
Love received and returned, with gratitude.❤️
You surpass yourself Mary. I feel it down to the bone marrow, down to the echoes of past lives. I feel that any comment I make will be inadequate. I will blunder in anyway though and say that the first two stanzas alone had already chimed a very deep chord, touched what for my uneducated poetical senses is the reverberation of true poetry. Nothing else I can say.
Dear Michael! Your comment moves me so! Knowing you as I do, I take your brevity as an indication of the depth of feeling the poem evoked. No greater compliment. Thank you so very much. ❤️
Oh how your comment brought me a much-needed smile! You took my brevity in exactly the right way, and I'm delighted to be able to move you as you moved me!!
I can hardly think of another word to add to the beautiful remarks that have already been posted here, except to say, this is just outstanding, Mary!
Like Kathleen, I wonder how on earth you manage to compose something like this.
Once in the past, I asked you what channel you were tuned into because I need to be on that frequency. You are truly inspired.
I'm so glad, Ronnie! Thank you for chiming in to let me know. I feel so grateful for the ideas that come, the wherewithal to "birth" them, AND the souls who value them. Xox!!
I don't honestly know how you do it. This is masterful, Mary. A polished pearl. Remarkable. Thank you for sharing your deep gift. Sincerely.❤️
Your praise humbly received, Kathleen. Means the world. 🙏🏼❤️
...and too, we're all, as human beans, divinely blessed with an instrument able ta play melodies without readin' a single note--grief an' joy, in turn, the scores of our lives, offer us tunes larned by ear, enriched over time, played movin'ly in times of joy an' sorrow... hope t'day, even if just this one holy-day (no matter if ye celebrate it with bunnies 'er prayer), brings you melodious notes less of grief than of renewal... sumthin' we all need! Happy Easter :-) (an' now gettin' back ta my ma AND my coleslaw--happy Eat-ster too!)
Yes! The melodies just come, becoming, as you so eloquently put it: the "scores of our lives." I love that, Daisy.
Thank you for the kind comment and sweet wishes for my Easter celebration. I hope your coleslaw was delish! xox
lol, it wuz! (alwayz celebratin' the small joy when a random "innertube" recipe comes out right-tasty-no-complaints! ;-)...which is, of course, a little eighth note in the bigger scores've our lives!
❤️🩹❤️❤️🩹❤️❤️🩹❤️✨
Hi Mary,
Powerful juju here.
Will have to read it again after a couple of cups of coffee.
But even on this early rainy morning in Tokyo ... it reminds me of a recent chat with Margaret about that movie 'The Day the Earth Stood Still's message, that we need the precipice of danger and despair to change for the better.
A bleary-eyed Cheers, before a bit more shut-eye.
Thanks, Steve. I agree -- change, either personal or societal, waits for dire circumstances. Seems like a baked-in function.
Sleep well! xox
Hugs before I hit the bed again Mary, 1:30 in the a.m. here ... and a heads up to buddy Dean. This guy is punching, ducking, and weaving like Ali at his best ... https://doesnotplaywellwithothers.substack.com/p/in-praise-of-the-tinfoil-saints-with
Finally got my new Mac up and running, so within a day or so, hope to be both more responsive and creative.
Hugs again Mary.
So beautiful, "(the light of you, your laugh)—" Evocative of ee cummings. And of MPM.
🫶🏼