THIS IS LOVE by Carolyn Riker

At the moment of writing this poem I was thinking of gratitude...

...which is a word with multiple entities. As I listed what I was truly grateful for, I felt love like I've never felt before.

What triggers my emotions? I can hardly begin to define. I will see a flower, hear a bird, feel a smile, touch into music and viola! Something mystical happens. I'm transported through clouds and wind and what flows out happens to be words.

Love is elusive and difficult to translate. The love I try to express in this poem is multidimensional and permeating of the soul. It's an unconditional love where one can feel safe. It is as expansive as it is real. As we open to this universal love, we are connected as one.

Imagine all the stars touching each other. We are but a speck in infinity. We are the stars, the filaments that tether this love. I'm enraptured and humbled by this cosmic concept. It brings me to my knees and fills me in more ways than I can say.

Therefore, I realize this is something I must share. I send love through this poem and pray it'll find you and touch the corners of your heart this new year, and always.

Photography by Dragan Todorovic

This is Love
by Carolyn Riker

Art by Natalia Stahl

I will hold this mystical moment.

I will tenderly stroke the words with my virtual pen

I will tease the wispy tendrils

That rise from within

The dots connect to the stars of my heart

I will reach into the core of my soul,

To translate an unspoken language

I feel the words sing.

Incense burn clarity in the corner less chambers of my heart.

Music and movement expresses the pause of beginning and end.

She shares what has been heard,

A lineage passed through a sea of thoughts

Art by Greg Spalenka

It is love:

shapeless,

timeless,

universal.

Birds sing,

after a storm

Trees sway,

to the cascading vibrations

The ground breathes,

to unite our hearts

Stars pulsate, as we give birth

to answers we seek.

I dance with my heart as I breathe.

I hear the lyrical hum of mother earth.

I bend to the folds of nature’s arms,

as she wraps warmth around my soul.

This is love.

(2013)

Carolyn Riker M.A., LMHC is a counselor, teacher, writer and poet. She’s been a regular columnist for Rebelle Society and prior to that several years at Elephant Journal. A collection of her work is available on her blog, Magic of Stardust and Words. Her poetry and prose has been featured in three books: Journey of the Heart: An Anthology of Spiritual Poetry by Women. Where Journeys Meet: The Voice of Women's Poetry and Best of Rebelle Society, Volume I: Celebrating the Art of Being Alive. Between sips of coffee or tea and navigating life, Carolyn leads journal writing workshops, tutoring and has a private counseling practice. She's authored a book of poetry and prose, Blue Clouds, and co-edited an anthology called Hidden Lights. Carolyn can be reached via her e-mail address carolynra7@hotmail.com or on facebook here.

~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~

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