PR11: "Silence Reveals"

This is a short free verse poem I wrote during my visit to Honduras this past January.  It was an great space to gain perspective on my life living stateside again.

"Silence Reveals"

Focus on my breath now,
Nature's harmony calms me,
Silence reveals now,

Brain thoughts wash away,
Thoughts on my heart linger more,
Distractions now gone.

Time to deal with my heart again.

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
1/12/2014

ST14: "O Great Spirit" A Traditional Native American Prayer

This is a great poem from the Native American tradition about gaining perspective  I hope you enjoy. 

"O Great Spirit"

O Great Spirit,

whose voice I hear in the winds

and whose breath gives life to all the world,

hear me!

I am small and weak,

I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes

ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have

made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise so that I may understand

the things you have taught my people.

Let me learn the lessons you have hidden

in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,

but to fight my greatest enemy--myself.

Make me always ready to come to you

with clean hands and straight eyes.

So when life fades, as the fading sunset,

my spirit will come to you without shame.

Source: Ed. McNally, C.S.C. and Storey, D.M.S. 2006. Day by Day. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press.

RW9: "In Gratitude for Nature"

I wrote this during a visit to the beautiful rose gardens at the Franciscan Monastery in DC this past weekend.  I hope you enjoy, and that it inspires you to see the beauty of whatever nature surrounds you.

"In Gratitude for Nature"

Flowing water,
soothes my soul

Vibrant flowers,
bring light to my life

Rays of the sun,
awaken my body

Ever-growing green plants,
bring renewed hope to this world

In gratitude for beautiful nature,
an ever healing gift, present for us all

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
7/12/2014

PR10: "2 years, 7 days, & 16 hours later"

I wrote this sonnet 2 years, 7 days, and 16 hours into my time serving at the children's home in Honduras.  I was entering my final months there and found some clarity by summarizing my experience in sonnet form.

"2 years, 7 days, & 16 hours later"

2 years, 7 days, and 16 hours,
In the grand scheme a simple drop in time,
Yet in my heart graces came in showers,
A time of great growth with a side of lime,

Year one, wax melted, light enters anew,
Rediscover myself and God's great love,
By means of stickers and back chapel pews,
Heart fed and tested from graces above,

Year two, an unforeseen arrow appears,
Struggling heart faces city of issues,
Reach deeper levels of love despite fears,
Hidden, deep seeded graces trump bad news,

Seven days and 16 hours later,
Heart beats on, knowing God's love can cater...

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
10/6/2012

ST13: A Haiku by Basho

I had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful rose gardens at the Franciscan Monastery in DC this weekend.  My visit reminded me of this classic by Basho.

So holy a place--
The snow itself is scented
At Southern Valley.

--Matsuo Basho

Source: Basho, Matsuo. 1996. The Narrow Road to Oku.  New York: Kodansha International.

RW8: "Half Birthday"

You may laugh, but I still like to celebrate my half birthdays, even at 26 (and a half) years of age.  I find joy and gratitude for life should not be contained to one celebration a year, but rather two at a minimum.  Here is an acrostic poem to celebrate my half birthday today.

"Half Birthday"

Happy half
Attentive
Life giving
Friend,

Best wishes
In earnest
Risk averse risk taker,
To you I wish
Hope eternal and
Deep peace
And of course, that you remain forever and for always, unabashedly
You!

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
7/7/2014

PR9: Untitled Haiku Couplet

I wrote this pair of haikus during March of 2012, my second year working in Honduras.  The first word "bulla" is a term our kids used to describe noisy situations.  It somewhat translates to white noise in English.  The word "camino" in line 2 is a reference to the Camino of Santiago, a hike I completed in 2009.  The poems are about finding peace during times of doubt.

bulla continues
peace found in the camino
peaceful heart beating

new self acceptance
not quite balanced but closer
grateful for support

--Gertrude Rose
Personal Journal
3/14/2012

ST12: "The Country Roads" by Robert Bly

This is a piece by Robert Bly that I enjoy.  I find it has different meaning each time I read it.  I therefore hope you enjoy it as many times as you want to.

"The Country Roads"

Last night in my dream, I drank tea steeped

In iron that had failed; at the bottom

I saw ruined tines of an old pitchfork.

Everything we leave behind is testimony,

Even our nail clippings.  Then my old clothes

Are testimony of my love of nakedness.

During the months everyone spoke badly of us,

Then I had the fiercest love for you.

People still try to encourage us by speaking badly.

So many times this week I've felt like weeping.

It's natural, like the cry of Canada Geese

Who call to each other over the darkening reeds.

In my early poems I praised so many lost things.

The way crickets' cries in October carried

Them into the night sky felt right to me.

Every way of knowing is blessed by bootleggers.

Because the government does not allow delight

To be sold, you have to find it on the country roads.

--Robert Bly

Source: Bly, Robert. 2001. The Night Abraham Called to the Stars. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.