Tag: images

Kaddish for Death and Childbirth

by cfults, posted in Poem, Uncategorized

Kaddish for Death and Childbirth

Her breath rose and fell

spaces between in and out growing wider

Gasping for air, heartbeat shallow and fast

feeble voice barely heard

pink skin turning purple

finally, breath stopped, heart raced a few seconds, concluded its beating.

The doors of body closed.

There is no return.

May the rising sun sanctify and bless Your name

We sing praises to the Holy One

            for the life of one we loved so long

Gasping for air, crying on an inhale

learning the in and out rhythm of breath

The fast heartbeat that slows with growth

purple skin turning pink

lungs growing a louder voice.

The gate of womb shut.

There is no return.

May the falling rain sanctify and bless Your name.

            We sing praises to the Holy One

            for the new life we have been blessed with.

May the Lord of doors and gates

Going out and coming in

acorn and oak

child and old woman

bless our hearts with unceasing wonder

as we witness the commonness of mystery and holiness.

May Your name be praised into all eternity.

© photo and poem by caf

Noticing

by cfults, posted in Poem, Uncategorized 

I’ve been noticing:
Many of the acorns are tiny this year
the waters are full and rushing
waterfalls are full and loudly vocal
the sun is sometimes red in the morning
the moon has not been so visible
frogs continue to croak
dragonflies still hunt mosquitos
I remain in love with cows
mountains continue to inspire me
we are rich in slugs
the spiders have been busy webbing
mornings have been foggy
mushrooms are abundant
the trees are lushly vibrant
I still miss my Mom
I am so grateful for this life.
If you keep noticing you will reach gratitude
that overflows as a water fall streams from an overfull lake or 
a river spills its banks from too much sustenance
soaking the ground of your life
the banks of your heart
and the rocks of eternity.

© film and poem by caf

Clouds

by cfults, posted in Poem

sunrise_edited-1

Clouds

The weatherman forecast rain
but there is only this pink and yellow morning
and clouds glowing white on the bottoms.

A jaguar’s face becomes a wolf
with glowing eyes in the billows
as a rainy-day prediction turns golden.

Maybe later it will rain,
but right now she says
I think butterflies must have been born
on a day like this.

©photo and poem by caf

After Night

by cfults, posted in Poem, Uncategorized

sunrise

After Night

After a long black night
pink and white clouds
yellow sun
dark branches waving
against a glowing sky.

Icy waters slide over stones
spring winds rustle the chimes
as she watches the waking forest and fields.

She says the day love and joy were born
has come again this morning
to be remembered
to renew Spirit in the world.

Miracles live within each other.

After dark storms this day returns
as much a miracle
as the breath
and heart that live
within the blue bird on Bennett Hill.

©photo and poem by caf

Great Island Trail

by cfults, posted in Poem, Uncategorized

P1180812_edited-1

Great Island Trail

On Great Island Trail a dolphin
rested in the shallows
her body blackened by death
flukes bobbing in the froth
head lying on the shore.

Foam rinsed her vacant eye sockets
washing her memories out to sea
through waves and sandy ripples.

Sand and sea claimed her
held her joys and sorrows
Plankton drifted, awash in her dreams.
The sea, her Mother, will not forget her.

On the shore, fossils, memories of prehistory,
now belong to stones.
And when we finally lay down
we also will belong to something larger.

The soil of our planet lives in a universe
of expanding time.

So, we, like the dolphin, become limitless
and the stars and heavens
and Earth, our Mother, will not forget us.

©photo and poem by caf

A Spring Birthday

by cfults, posted in Poem

unfolding fern_edited-1

A Spring Birthday

When the violets
and Jack in the Pulpit awaken,
ferns unfold their bowed heads
and stand tall in frond wrappings,
trees pause in conversation to attend
to the yellow visions of Dandelions
and to Trout Lilies and May Apples
as they pray for the dead snake on the path.

You may say this is fantasy
caused by too much listening
to the whispers of a greening forest.

But she has come to rouse her sleepy soul –
to rise with spring and warming days
having been summoned by wind, river, stars and stones
to this holy place
to receive a new voice
to learn fresh songs
to birth a new dream for her life
and new hope for this aching world.

©photo and poem by caf
Continue reading “A Spring Birthday” →

A Morning Blessing

by cfults, posted in Poem

P1090624A Morning Blessing

In morning sunlight
in early winter
when hills are browning,
with mindful breath she breathes the wind
with sacred song she woos the waters
and begs the trees and the Spirit within

bless the beasts, she whispers
the possums, porcupines, woodchucks,
the birds and bugs and worms,
bears and bobcats
gorillas and fish,
and also, humans.

Bless the plants
who in winter store holy life
in their roots
and bring it forth as
new growth in the spring.

May all beings live their lives
free from turmoil
may the Earth be always blessed
Amen.

©photo and poem by caf

Finding the Heart

by cfults, posted in Poem

P1000243

Finding the Heart

She stood on stones in the creek crying
Someone asked why are there tears in all this beauty?

She answered
because the creek flows
the raven croaks
the wind sings to my heart.

This flesh that grew around my spirit
wants to dance in the rain
cry in the sun
roll in grass
quiver with aspens.

Why is this?

Butterfly answers
my spirit measures travel in and out of itself
in generations
and doesn’t count the miles
or wonder why.
It only knows it must travel.

Rain tells her
Stop managing your tears,
they are the way you find your heart.

©photo and poem by caf

A Day Like This

by cfults, posted in Poem

P1000148

A Day Like This

Some days are made for gazing
long into the distance
where dusty words
are excused from stale thoughts
as your body wears a rut into a comfortable chair
by a big window overlooking a field or forest.

Some days are for ruminating, wondering
about nothing much at all
but who’s coming up the road
and why the lilacs are budding so soon
while dishes soak in the sink
and floors beg for a sweeping.

Some days never rise
but lie napping by a snoring dog
who barks between snorts
while the leash lies idle
and coat sleeves remain empty.

If such a day should come to you
tend to it as you would a sleeping child
let it relax, keep it safe
treasure it and check on it often
for such days are when your soul grows
your life’s poetry.

© photo and poem by caf