Poem for Monday

This weekend I officially set up my new painting studio. First time I've had a space dedicated to just painting. It measures 18' x 32' and makes me giggle and become terrified almost at the same time. Alone can be a biggy for me. It can take me for ever to get there but once I do... well you know the magic. Robert Bly often speaks of conversations with the soul. I'm looking forward to a lot of chats with mine in my new space.


Conversation With The Soul
-Robert Bly

The soul said, "Give me something to look at."
So I gave her a farm. She said,
"It's too large." So I gave her a field.
The two of us sat down.

Sometimes I would fall in love with a lake
Or a pinecone. But I liked her
Most. She knew it.
"Keep writing," she said.

So I did. Each time the new snow fell,
We would be married again.
The holy dead sat down by our bed.
This went on for years.

"This field is getting too small," she said.
"Don't you know anyone else
To fall in love with?"
What would you have said to Her?

Images by Eric Fischer via his flickr account. 

These images he creates mapping geo tagged photos from around the world.

Poem for Monday

Hi again. I'm back from a wonderful month of pre and post wedding swirling. My youngest daughter and her wonderful man. I'm so proud of B+A's calm energy during the whole shabang. In the last few weeks, every time I looked, I saw them working together, shoulder to shoulder, in an easy tandemed rythym. This Robert Bly poem expresses what I sense they will have the rest of their lives. I am such a happy mother of the bride.

The Third Body

-Robert Bly

A man and a woman sit near each other,

and they do not long at this moment to be older, or younger,

nor born in any other nation, or any other time, or any other place.

They are content to be where they are, talking or not talking.

Their breaths together feed someone whom we do not know.

The man sees the way his fingers move;

he sees her hands close around a book she hands to him.

They obey a third body that they share in common.

They made a promise to love that body.

Age may come, parting may come, death will come.

A man and a woman sit near each other,

as they breathe they feed someone who we do not know,

who we know of, but have never seen.