ENDLESS BEGINNINGS by Margaret Vidale

I first attended a Unitarian Church when I moved to Boston…

It was in 1965 when I was studying Early Childhood Education. There was a Unitarian Church just a few blocks away, which I decided to explore. I was very comfortable with the idea that all religions based on love hold a part of God's truth, but no one religion holds it all.

I believe Divine Truth is so vast and complex, human minds are not capable of grasping it in its entirety. But we do catch glimpses of it working around us. I believe I saw such a glimpse when I looked out my window one spring morning.

Endless Beginnings

Mid-April sunshine floods the neighborhood

I stand at my front window, sipping

a cup of chamomile tea, taking

a break from the basement clutter

I can see my husband and our grandson

returning home

their feet swinging in unison

small fingers disappearing into large

They stop to examine the delicate buds

on a gnarled, Bing cherry tree

My husband’s lips move in explanation

each word absorbed as revelation

Over forty years ago, my

bridal bouquet was a burst of

cherry blossoms, the lacey abundance

of spring’s return, a fragrant

promise of endless beginnings

Wearing short-sleeve shirts and khaki pants

grandfather and grandson

smile the same smile

and all the afternoon glow

is an extension of their pleasure

I hadn’t expected to see such happiness

when I looked out my window

two souls journeying

each bringing exactly what

the other had been yearning for

~

(This poem was previously published in Avocet, a Journal of Nature Poetry)

Margaret Vidale returned to her childhood love of writing poetry when she retired from teaching in 2001. Growing up, reading and writing poetry were ways of escaping sever child abuse. Many of her early adult poems were efforts to break the silence she carried for most of her life. Writing those poems was healing and liberating, which enabled Margaret to branch out into a wider range of subjects. She feels fortunate and grateful that some of her work has appeared in Pearl, Solstice, Sol-Lit, The Whirlwind Review, Avocet, The Caribbean Writer, Still Crazy and other small publications.

*For submission guidelines, click here.*

Comments

IMAGINE A WOMAN by Patricia Lynn Reilly

This poem invites you to look upon yourself with loving kindness… Gazing at your own true reflection, you will discover that everything you have longed for “out there” is already within you! I invite you to love your creativity fiercely. Faithfully plant seeds, allowing under-the-ground dormant seasons, nurturing your creative garden with love and gratitude. In the fullness of time, the green growing things thrust forth from the ground. It's a faithful, trustworthy process. AND it takes time and patience. Blessed is the fruit of your creative womb! I invite you to trust your vision of the world and express it. With wonder and delight, paint a picture, create a dance, write a book, and make up a song. To give expression to your creative impulses is as natural as your breathing. Create in your own language, imagery, and movement. Follow no script. Do not be limited by the customary way things have been expressed. Your creative intuition is original. Gather

THE JOURNEY by Mary Oliver

Today we honor Mary Oliver (1936-2019) and all the words she left behind. May they inspire you on your journey! Excerpt from Mary Oliver’s book Long Life: Essays and Other Writings : "Poets must read and study... but, also, they must learn to tilt and whisper, shout, or dance, each in his or her own way, or we might just as well copy the old books. But, no, that would never do, for always the new self swimming around in the old world feels itself uniquely verbal. And that is just the point: how the world, moist and bountiful, calls to each of us to make a new and serious response. That's the big question, the one the world throws at you every morning. 'Here you are, alive. Would you like to make a comment?'" The Journey By Mary Oliver One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice-- though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug

STILL I RISE by Maya Angelou

Six years ago, I had the privilege of listening to Maya Angelou speak live on the value of poetry at the University of Florida. I share these reflections with you again today, in honor of her birthday. I was relieved to get one of the last seats available for this rare event, having arrived at five for Maya Angelou ’s free speech at eight. The historically long line began with people settled into beach chairs in winter coats busying themselves on tablets, or eating sandwiches for dinner. As helicopters hovered above and newscasters below, I felt the excitement of realizing that thousands of people were gathering together to hear an eighty four year old black woman recite her poetry! Maya Angelou speaking at University of Florida on Feb. 27, 2013 When the curtain rose -after an overflow of hundreds were sent away- we lucky ones on the inside greeted Maya with a standing ovation, as she smiled sweetly, beginning her talk using metaphors from nature. Maya asked that we

Journey of the Heart

Search This Blog