from BARDO

The stars are in our belly; the Milky Way our umbilicus.

Is it a consolation that the stuff of which we’re made

is star-stuff too?


– That wherever you go you can never fully disappear –

dispersal only: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen.


Tree, rain, coal, glow-worm, horse, gnat, rock.


Roselle Angwin

Monday 30 March 2020

this time, any time – poem by Jenna Plewes

In a fortnight's time, I should be getting ready to head off for the Hebrides to lead the first of two weeks of annual retreats, Islands of the Heart, on the sacred Isle of Iona. I'm heartbroken to have to cancel these.

One of our would-have-been participants, on the first, 'Core', group, Jenna, sent me this poem. I reproduce it here with her permission and my thanks to her.


Love will be our bedrock

We are separate, but we all stand
on the same patient, greening earth.

All around us life is busy, a song thrush
practises its three small phrases, a crow

balances on the crown of a Monterey pine,
rasps its black throat, a buzzard circles.

Hedges are white with blackthorn blossom,
celandine brighten the lanes, lambs grow strong.

The city sounds are muffled, streets deserted.
Fingers send messages, smile greets smile on screen.

Fear prowls the tunnels of our dreams,
casts giant shadows on the bedroom walls,

but morning comes, we watch another sunrise
lighten the day, make a list of friends to ring.

Jenna Plewes






4 comments:

  1. This made me cry, especially the last two verses. Thank you Jenna. Thank you Roselle. B

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you, B. I'm glad - and I know you'll know how I mean that!

    Rx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for sharing your poem Jenna. I love the poignancy of it - I am there.
    Debbie Atkins ����

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you, Debbie. Have passed on your comments.

    ReplyDelete

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