Speaking of Spirit

Yesterday, my post was interrupted by the need to attend to family. As I drove the 3 hours to be with my daughter as she gave birth, I prayed.  As I prayed, I thought about the tile from Ireland, sent by my friend, Jeanne.  I thought of the tile that sits beside my desk, where I can see it, daily. I thought of the tile that had me chewing on words and meanings. All poetry is prayer, Beckett wrote. Were my prayers poetry? As I drove through the rain to Maine, were the prayers I said poetry? Creator, be with my daughter until I can stand by her side. Momma, be with her - let her feel your presence - Calm any fears she may have. Dear Jesus, guide me to the hospital safely. Thank you, God for all my blessings. Poetry, by definition, is a "rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts; verse."  My thoughts were definitely elevated!  Given that, they were a form of poetry. But, what o...

Earlier this month, I received a gift from a friend from my hometown. The gift came from Ireland - a pottery tile with the Samuel Beckett quote, "All poetry is prayer."   Over the past few weeks, I have meditated on this quote. I have thought of the poems that I have written and the ones I have read. Surely, I thought, Beckett was seeing something I wasn't, because I have read poems that didn't appear prayerful at all. So, I delved into the meaning of prayer... ___________________ More to come tomorrow, I was called away to be with family, today.  Blessings to all! 

    (c) 2016 Mystic's Moon by Linda M. Rhinehart Neas The poet known as Rumi was a Sufi Mystic who lived in the 13th century.  His words have often brought me peace, understanding and joy.  These are but a few of the quotes that have touched my heart and soul over the years.  May the bless you, now. “Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere.  They’re in each other all along.” “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field.  I’ll meet you there.” “In your light I learn how to love.  In your beauty, how to make poems.  You dance inside my chest where no-one sees you,  but sometimes I do,  and that sight becomes this art.”

  Photo Credit: Google Public Domain Images In this life, we all wear many hats. Sometimes, it is difficult to juggle the hats we wear and stay on center.  Parents have this problem.  They are parents as well as children ; they work ; they are active in their communities ; they are friends, relatives, neighbors.  Each connection requires different hats...sometimes more than one hat at the same time! Of late, I have had my poet's hat on as I have been supporting the work of The Center for New Americans , a non-profit organization that " provides the under-served immigrant, refugee and migrant communities of Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley with education and resources to learn English, become involved community members and obtain tools necessary to maintain economic independence and stability ."  As a poet, I am writing 30 Poems in November . People sponsor me, much like they do in a r ace to rai se funds for an organization.  So far , I am abou...

   The mountains are God's thoughts piled up. The ocean is God's thoughts spread out. The flowers are God's thoughts in bloom. The dew drops are God's thoughts in pearls.   Sam Jones     *~*~*~*   The Birth of the Flowers   by Mary McNeil Fenollosa    God spoke!  and from the arid scene Sprang rich and verdant bowers, Till all the earth was soft with green. ~ He smiled; and there were flowers.     Nature is the armory of genius.  Cities serve it poorly, books and colleges at second hand; the eye craves the spectacle of the horizon; of mountain, ocean, river and plain, the clouds and stars; actually contact with the elements, sympathy with the seasons as they rise and roll. ~~ A. B. Alcott         *~*~*~* Sympathy with Nature is a part of the good person's religion. ~~ F. H. Hedge