New Zealand is in total lock down. That means we are only allowed to have close contact with the people in our home, in our bubble. This morning we walked through the neighbourhood. It felt quite eerie; empty streets, not the usual huzzle and buzzle, shops closed, other pedestrians, walking in a bow around us.
Life came to a standstill. Fear lives in our hearts and sadness bubbles up when we look at the situation all over the world.
But something happened as peace returned to our hearts. Instead of listening to the noise of the cars we listened to the song of the birds.
But something happened as peace returned to our hearts. Instead of listening to the noise of the cars we listened to the song of the birds.
Let this be a transformation to a new world and in the meantime stay safe. Bless you all.
My biggest treasures
When I lift the layers
I find truth between
the pages. I catch
the pages. I catch
pure puzzle pieces and slot
them into places to see
part of the whole.
part of the whole.
I feel alive
When music moves me
it sends love letters
to my heart, silencing my
soul with sound
When music makes me move
pulling my strings
it sends love letters
to my heart, silencing my
soul with sound
When music makes me move
pulling my strings
I feel alive
When I walk,
nature is my gallery
nature is my gallery
The earth dappled with light
Silk mountains
a subtle glimmer on the lake
the trees sketching the forest
Silk mountains
a subtle glimmer on the lake
the trees sketching the forest
I feel alive
When I feel a connection
Exchange gifts of honesty
Unwrap satisfaction
jam-packed in words
jam-packed in words
the mystery of alchemy
that turns tears into laughter
I feel alive
I feel alive
the scent of coffee
the sweetness of chocolate
the secret of the rainbow
colour after colour
All these small things
are my biggest treasures
the sweetness of chocolate
the secret of the rainbow
colour after colour
All these small things
are my biggest treasures
I feel alive
Hi Marja - lovely poem - very thoughtful ... life is certainly different, and there's time to think and re-evaluate ... take care, look after yourselves ... all the best Hilary
ReplyDeleteJa we zijn ineens in een vreemde wereld terecht gekomen, het voelt heel ongemakkelijk om ineens zo beperkt te worden.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your poem's concluding suggestion: let's turn the earth to itself.
ReplyDeleteThis will give us the security and control that we long for in life.
Was wonder how you guys and gals were doing. As you probably can figure, it's crazy here in the States with the idiot in the White House.
ReplyDeleteActually think I had Covid-19 during the first week of March. Had mild to medium symptoms that passed after a week. Rest of the family is doing good and staying home.
To fall "with the grace of a feather" slowly and softly. I can feel toes upon the precipice. We are the same here in Canada.
ReplyDeleteIt would be good if this were to serve as a reminder of what life COULD be ... was, once upon a time, to some extent ... and what the possibilities might be for the future.
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly gorgeous writing, Marja!ð From the opening to the very last line, I could relate to the emotions which you have so aptly portrayed. Especially love;
ReplyDelete"I figured that if I fall
with light draped around my heart
to envelope love
When that love is chanting its song
Into the sky, dripping like dew
onto the souls of the thirsty
Then the fall from the edge
Will be with the grace of a feather."
Thank you so much for this poem! I needed to read this today!ð
That’s the thing that hit me after two weeks of not setting foot outside my front door – the eerie silence, and that was in our small village. I can’t begin to imagine how it must feel to be in a town or city. I have friends in New Zealand, haven’t heard anything from them about the lockdown, but then we’re all in lockdown. Thank goodness for the song of the birds.
ReplyDeleteThe opening line of your poem hits home, Marja – that’s exactly what it feels like, stepping back from the edge of life. I love that you have included a tree in your poem, a reminder that not everything has changed, especially in the lines:
‘Leaning onto the bark of a tree
Its lines carved like a maze
[…]
Tracing the bark with my fingers’,
in which the tree seems like an anchor to reality.
I’m with you in turning this earth into an artwork and returning it to itself.
You capture the possibility of a great future in this, after it's over. Let us hope sanity prevails.
ReplyDeleteThe whole world is in lockdown, but yes as the humans recede back into theri homes, natue flungs back!
ReplyDeleteLife moves on and yes we need persistence and love to move on
ReplyDeleteIn this forced pause, let us all find a measure of wisdom to take with us to build the world that comes after.
ReplyDeleteIt's getting so scary now. I'm glad you still have nature to walk into. Thank you for creating a vision of hope.
ReplyDeleteMy Beloved Sandra and I took ourselves out to Self-Isolate in our car for a change, parking down by the lake and (despite the lack of warming sunshine) rolled down the windows and listened to the gulls, our only companions. Somehow, it was (almost) enough.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful pause in the midst of a terrifying one.
ReplyDeleteI do hope that during these terrible happenings, we take the time to do the best we can for ourselves and everything around us.
ReplyDeleteThe title of this piece is stunning. There is so much we take for granted that this challenge we face reassures of what we had.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a blessed Sunday
Much❤love
Oh my, this is eloquent, and carries such a message of hope. Beautifully written and graciously received!
ReplyDeleteYes...and communicating in our embrace with the earth, our mutual love.
ReplyDeleteWell written, i think : )
I love this. I've often wanted to write a poem that is full of hope while declaring the beauty and artistry of this earth. You've done so in such a lovely way. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteperhaps the world has slowed down during these times, and we are able again to observe a world we have forgotten in our race for material things.
ReplyDeleteyour poem surely reminds us of that.
Beautiful images- if I fall
ReplyDeletewith light draped around my heart and earth as artwork...
My dear Marja I loved reading your words, they made a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteSo yes "Let this be a transformation to a new world".
Mother Nature was sick of standing back while we slowed destroyed the Earth, so she took back control.
Let's hope when this is over we have used the time well.
Namaste
Peggy
O Marja, I so love your Poem, it expresses my feelings too. There is hope, thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteWe visited NZ, Christchurch, in late December, 2013, from our Princess cruise ship. Such a pretty town, still recovering from the earthquake. My grandmother was a Fletcher with early U.S. roots, Pilgrim days. Moses Fletcher came from Britain on the Mayflower, our line, cousins to Moses came shortly after.
I told this because I saw that a Fletcher contractor rebuilding a large hospital had a big sign with the name.
We too here in the Houston, Texas, area are also in total lockdown, seven counties, seven million plus people. We have a really nice walking place, had a lot of green and walking parhs.
..
Nicely penned. Our delusions are breaking down. At least the earth is getting a rest.
ReplyDeleteWe need a new world. The old one has not worked out.
ReplyDeleteIt may do us well to visit this forgotten world as the earth turns into artwork.
ReplyDelete