Adrienne introduced her RAIN practice today with David Whyte's poem "The Journey"
Bev led into the writing session with a poem by David Donnison:
IT’S NOT WHAT I SAID
by David Donnison
It’s not what I said but what I didn’t say
that lingers in the mind for long years after –
sets me coining blazing phrases
to celebrate a life changing day.
Emerging a at last from days of turbulence,
“It’s all right” you said . “I’m not going to leave you” -
and all I could offer was dumb relief
as the clouds rolled away.
The prompt comes from another of his books
"It Takes a Lifetime to Become Yourself - Kay Carmichael"
Think you wrote a poem? The poem wrote you
POSTSCRIPT (this is where the prompt comes from)
from David Donnison's "Requiem" booklet for Kay Carmichael
Thought you wrote some poems?
You were wrong.
Powered by pain,
half scream, half song,
they kept your head to wind,
drove you through the storm.
The poems wrote you.
*****************************************************************
And now for some of
YOUR WRITING:
Thoughts on writing
by Doreen Kelly
The system, loving families and a "well meaning education" instructs you to write formulaically. This formal formulaic fancy writing is required for forms and filing. But I discover poems and origins while "zooming" quietly and mindfully with Slow Ink writing through my relaxed arm.
Messy Guest
by Kay Ritchie
(inspired by Rumi’s The Guest House, David Donnison’s The Road to Wisdom & It’s Not What I Said)
you entered made yourself at home
you didn’t knock or
ask to stay
just wouldn’t go away
you cooried in deep in my core
bore down into my guts
inscribed your name on my womb
your game to stick with me for life
arriving never leaving &
I’ve been grieving ever since
the baggage which you brought
were pain & inflammation
as you wrapped your fibrous arms
around each organ
held them tight
blocked out the light
I was yours all yours
I couldn’t bear a child &
so we’ve lived our life
together alone
but though you changed the way
things might have been
I’m used to you &
do believe you’ve taught me
better ways to live
to meditate
to eat
to pace
after all life’s not a race
in search of who knows what
so make yourself at home
you’re welcome my old friend
‘cause in the end
I won’t be leaving you
you won’t be leaving me
let’s be
The poem writes me
by Bev Schofield
If I could just arrive at the desk
that knife edge between intention and acceptance
prise open the door with the tip of my pen
peep into the room of understanding…
What bliss to float for
a minute
an hour
in the conviction that my effort is as nought
I need do nothing right.
Nothing.
But as the bath drains
the weight of my body settles
on my hips
my shoulders
and yes, eventually I must rise,
continue my absurd endeavour
only now with the tiniest hope
that I might be used in some infinitesimal way
by the great good flow
of this marvellous life and world
of which I am apart
********************************************************************
Thanks to you all ...
... for your heartening feedback as always!
Fenella: stupendously good for me, thanks.
Denise: Very helpful, thank you.
Angie: Thank you I feel very relaxed now.
Sheila Buchanan: Thanks Adrienne that has helped. See you in June xx
Bev: https://wordsfortheyear.com/2015/08/13/the-journey-by-david-whyte/
Bev: That's David Whyte's "Journey"
Sally: Checking that I remembered how to do this.
Sally: Sally checking again! altho the chat said “me”
Sally: Sally , Hurrah
Denise: Success, Sally - sent to everyone
Bex: Hi Sally, yes it's working and coming up as Sally for the rest of us!#
Jo Saunders: agree, Adrienne, about those who talk right through. I also struggle with total silence. Yours strikes a nice balance
Sally: Sally thanks Denise
Bev: Think you wrote a poem? The poem wrote you
Y: RAIN has always been one of my favourite practices and has helped me many times over the years. This morning has been so wonderful - thank you all for the words - so powerful and moving………..early arrival of visitors is tearing me away…..much love to all xxx
Kay: living our dying edited by larry butler and Sheila templeton
Doreen: The Survivor Guide to Non-Silence - the survivor arts community
Doreen: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1171463202/the-survivor-guide-to-non-silence
Kate: Sorry everyone I need to go, a delivery of wood has arrived for my husband - and he's not in! Thank you everyone for the inspiration over the last 6 sessions. See y'all in June
Giovanna: thanks for the link Doreen, this pamphlet looks great
Angie: Thanks again and hope to see you all soon. xx
Giovanna: Huge thanks Bev and Adrienne for these wonderful, restorative, inspiring sessions. And to all you brilliant writers. I hope to see you in June 🧡
Kay: thankyou so much to everyone wonderful
Margaret: thanks to everyone for such deep sharing.
Denise: Thanks so much to everyone.
Jo: Thanks all xxxxxx
Thanks to funders
Lapidus Scotland gratefully acknowledges the support of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership's "Wellbeing for Longer in Glasgow Fund" (managed by Impact Funding Partners).
