RW7: "Wave in, Wave out"

I was at the beach in Delaware for the majority of this past week.  While I cannot share salt water taffy via my blog, I can share this poem that I wrote after some quality time on the shore.

"Wave in, Wave out"

Wave crashes,
Sea foam topped salty water rolls in,
Engulfing and cooling my feet,

Now the water washes away from my feet,
As it returns to its home in the great sea,
Leaving my feet calmed and even more grounded in the wet sand,

Waves continue to roll in and roll out,
Some strong, some choppy, some soothing,
All part of the same great sea,

Each wave engulfs and cools,
Feet become more and more grounded with each one,
Ever healing,
Ever mysterious,
The great sea's waves never fail,
To meet your feet where they are,
And carry away all they are willing to let go.

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
7/29/2014

PR8: "Let go, let it be"

I wrote this poem in late July of 2012.  I was approaching my last few months of work in Central America at the children's home, and attempting to embrace the many waves of emotions I was facing. 

"Let go, let it be"

Let go, let it be,
You have a peace in your heart,
Trust that, hearts don't lie,

Intense emotions,
Feel every last ounce of them,
They are real and true,

Do not hide in fear,
But embrace your time still here,
There's still 4 months left,

Fruits of growth blossom,
Let us presently love them,
Seeing them daily,

God's love carried you,
carries you, will carry you,
Let go, let it be.

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
7/20/2012

ST11: "The Eglantine" by Nathaniel Pearce

I was putting a book away on my bookshelf this week and remembered about this gem of a book that I have.  It is a collection of poems written by citizens of Sierra Leone after the civil war.  Its words are incredibly powerful and speak to the depths of one's soul.

"The Eglantine"

A perfect image, all I knew.
The season changed and she was gone.
And now I searched that past of plenty
Digging stones with painted fingers.
Sometime in dreams she tells the story
Of what the future meant to us then.
And now I search that past of plenty,
Find beneath it only shadows.
Yet I search through all the seasons
Not for what is past, but promised.
Soon to find the present hope
That was at that pure beginning.

--Nathaniel Pearce

Source: Rian, Kirsten, Ed. 2009. Kalashnikov in the Sun. United States: Pika Press.

RW6: "Dear Dad,"

I am both a citizen and currently reside in the United States, where today we celebrate Father's Day.  I have a truly wonderful father.  I know everyone says this, but I can honestly say I do not know where I would be without him.  In his own sense of humor he loves to write "Roses are red..." poems on cards, emails, letters, what have you.  They always have a somewhat comical tone, but always communicate deep care.  In honor of him, I wrote my own "Roses are red..." poem for him today. 

"Dear Dad"

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Lucky as a four leaf clover am I,
because the man I call dad is you.


--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
6/15/2014

PR7: "Joy, Gratitude, Beauty"

I wrote this triplet of haikus during a visit this past January to the children's home I used to work at in Honduras.  After a full day of just playing around with the kids I love so much, my heart was filled with gratitude for the gift of time with every last one of them.

"Joy , Gratitude, Beauty"

Finding such pure joy,
In tablas, crayons, movies,
Honest gratitude

Beauty in nature,
Solace and Peace in water,
True grace in smiles

Thank you loving God,
In ever true gratitude,
Thank you loving God


--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
1/11/2014

ST10: " XXXI" by Pablo Neruda

Sometimes when we are anxious about finding answers, I find questions provide some ironic clarity.  For this reason, I decided to share another gem from Pablo Neruda for my shared thought of the week.

"XXXI"

Whom can I ask what I came
to make happen in this world?

Why do I move without wanting to,
why am I not able to sit still?

Why do I go rolling without wheels,
flying without wings or feathers,

and why did I decide to migrate
if my bones live in Chile?


Source: Neruda, Pablo. 2001.  The Book of Questions.  Port Townsend, Washington: Copper Canyon Press.

RW5:"7, yet 1"

I have been struggling recently with how my unique person fits into my current life and its prospects for the near future.  I know I am where I should be, yet I still have doubts how everything will work out.  I think this is a common struggle, and hope this poem helps others face their own doubts as well.

"7, yet 1"

Liturgical Camino Anniversary,
Rafa's 9th French Open Championship,
NBA 2014 Finals Game 2,
2 friends' one day wedding anniversary,
My 26 years, 5 months, and 1 day birthday,
Closing night of "Beauty and the Beast" at Wolftrap
Pentecost,
7 titles/ forms, one day, June 8, 2014;

human being,
full time student,
unemployed,
lover of cookies,
trained ballerina, frequenter of running and yoga,
closet poet,
friend,
7 titles/ roles, one person, me...

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
6/8/2014

PR6: A Check-in Haiku from 6/26/2012

In the spirit of my five year anniversary of arriving at the cathedral during my hike on the "Camino de Santiago", I decided to share this "camino" referencing poem from 2012.  This was written as I began to train my replacement for my work in Central America.  I held a great peace in my heart despite my current challenges and lack of clarity for the future. 

owning and living vocation
tranquility among challenges
all done with much intention

uncertainties remain
but heart feels great peace
the camino in end only allows us to gain

remaining present here
also see future lurking on horizon
both are true and dear

realities still pain heart
but little shock factor remains
proved unsustainable always returning to the start

present here
cognizant of approaching there
holding so many near and dear

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
6/26/2012

ST9: "The Pilgrim Prayer" by Tom Pfeffer & Joyce Rupp

Today, many people celebrate the great feast of Pentecost.  Five years ago, I had the privilege of hiking 132 km of the "Camino de Santiago" on the Northern coast of Spain.   I arrived at the cathedral in Santiago the day before this fine feast day.  While this hike and feast hold deep institutional ties, I think their true beauty lies in their flexible and adaptable nature.  The trail is simply a place for people to walk, for whatever reason their heart may hold.  The feast is a celebration of a peaceful ambiguously natured spirit that speaks differently to each of us, but never fails to touch a single heart.  This poem/ prayer is written by a fellow pilgrim of the camino, Joyce Rupp.  It does a great job of explaining this unifying spirit of simplicity that inspires me daily, and especially today.

"The Pilgrim Prayer"

Guardian of my soul,
guide me on my way this day.
Keep me safe from harm.
Deepen my relationship with you,
your Earth, and all your family.
Strengthen your love within me
that I may be a presence of your peace
in our world.

--Tom Pfeffer & Joyce Rupp

Source: Rupp, Joyce. 2005. Walking in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino. New York: Orbis Books.

RW4: "We support and are supported"

I am very blessed to have truly wonderful friends.  This weekend highlighted a characteristic of our bonds that grants my heart much peace.  We are all at very different states, physically, emotionally, and in many other manners.  Despite this we manage to support one another, and allow each other to support ourselves in a very seamless manner.  I think this is one of the true beauties of deep friendships.  I wrote this poem this morning while reflecting on the topic.

"We support and are supported"

I have a friend,
When she holds hands in a group,
She prefers to both support another and be supported by another,
I think she's on to something;

One friend searches her soul in a moment of self doubt,
Two friends ready their hearts for their ever nearing wedding and beginning of their married life,
Another friend beams joy as she enters into a beautiful engagement,
Yet another calls to check in and get advice on birthday presents;

All support one another exactly where they are,
All are supported by one another exactly where they are,
My friend is on to something,
How lucky we are to be supported and to be able to support.

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
6/1/2014

PR5: "Two Worlds"

As today marks the first day of June, I chose a poem I wrote in June of 2011 for this weeks 'Personal Revival'.  I wrote this while on my first vacation from working in Central America, around 10 months after I started.  It represents a time when I was processing how to remain true to myself, my historical roots, and my then present reality. 

"Two Worlds"

Two worlds
One me
Grateful for break in American life
Grateful for raw truth and beauty in Honduran life
Little by little, taking it in...

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
6/28/2011

ST8: Untitled Poem on Sleep by Leolyn Louise Everett

After Maya Angelou's passing this week, I thought I would publish one of her great works for my 'Shared Thought' of the week.  I thought further on this and realized her great quotes have already deservedly flooded the blog and social media spaces this week.  Maya Angelou was a strong believer in sticking to one's own voice.  I therefore chose a poem I came across this week that seemed most in tune with my current voice.  My daily routine is somewhat in flux right now, and sleep cycles do no come as naturally as before.  This piece helped calm my mind and heart as I attempt to establish again a regular sleep cycle.

Peace, peace, thou over-anxious, foolish heart,
Rest, ever-seeking soul, calm, mad desires,
Quiet, wild dreams--this is the time of sleep.

Hold her more close than life itself.  Forget
All the excitements of the day, forget
All the problems and discomforts.  Let the night
Take you unto herself, her blessed self.

Peace, peace thou over-anxious, foolish heart,
Rest, ever-seeking soul, calm, mad desires,
Quiet, wild dreams--this is the time of sleep.

--Leolyn Louise Everett

Source: Various Authors. 1910. Sleep-Book: Some of the Poetry of Slumber. New York: The Watkins Company.