For Judy & Toni
Pink sky at night was right this time
as a branch-bending wind blew each of us gals to bed
then traveled on into the reef-ridden Utah night
leaving only stars in its nearly new moon wake.
After only a few gongs I slipped into a
labyrinth of dreams in which medicine wheels worked
and honoring all the Earth Days could conjure a world
where kindred spirits who love words and believe in a benevolent universe
could birth a milkweed seed that would land at the junction
of aspen-covered meadows and the waterpocket fold.
Here it would harness the eonic energy of the Bristlecone Pine
to send roots into the earth’s soul soil, which only the Fremont knew about,
and grow like Pando—far flung and forever, joined underground by the power of love,
drought-resistant and perfectly adapted for long harsh winters.
It would overthrow us all and remake this planet into one we all want to live in.
What would it look like you ask, eyes narrowed or opened wide.
Well, in my dream it has clear blue skies that color with their precipitous moods,
hillsides of summer leaves and ever needles,
rivers so clear you could watch the fish swim over that one green rock,
untouched technicolor oceans of mystery,
chirps of sparrows that preside over great fertile valleys
ready to grow whatever we need and
rugged rocky wilderness where the secrets of salvation are kept.
I woke (choose your ending)
worrying about the red sky of morning.
thinking I want to live in this world.
hoping it is up to us.
I’m loving seeing this poem you read for us at Bardic Trails
“summer leaves and ever needles”
And Eonic — new word for me and perfectly suited for where you used it
Hurrah!
Thanks, Art! Bardic Trails is such a treasure, as are you. I love connecting with poetic voices from different places and cultures. So valuable.
Thanks you so much for this poem that means so much to me. It was such a pleasure to have you on the land and reflect on what we have tried to create. What a fantastic sunset we all shared. I would like to end the poem with a slightly altered ending: ” I am grateful to live in this world and share it with friends”.
Thank you! What a deep joy I felt seeing all the beauty you too have created with your land and your lives. I love your ending! It says it all. Friends–feel free to add your ending. What might you wake to?
Finally I read your poem with visceral empathy as you experienced my beloved sacred space and I felt the commingling of likemindedness. Thank you for your commentary of experience that has commonalities with our collective unconscious and makes all part of the ALL. Bless you and look forward to our next encounter. Toni. Oh, an ending : IT IS UP TO US!
Thank you for sharing both your words and your special place with me. I am still thinking about it and look forward to a return visit! You both are in my heart.