To the Ruler of Wind
I turn off the news, zero
in on the scent of honeysuckle
at dawn, the late afternoon
tap of woodpecker. Frog music
as fireflies flare. The day
opens & closes in patterns
& layers like my grandmother’s
lace folding fan. Relaxed, I forget
about the news, reverberations
of trauma rest like brumating
snakes under snow
& soil. God is strange
but not malicious. That’s
what Einstein said & my husband
reminds me that there are more galaxies
in the universe than there are grains
of sand on earth – 10 sextillion
stars, 5 sextillion speckles
of sand. I don’t need shrines
or temples. No prayer
wheels or relics. As it tumbles
over wheat, wave
& summit, wind
is my god, my inexplicable
dance.
21 thoughts on " To the Ruler of Wind"
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Loving the sounds created by your wordsmithin’ here! Sets the scene!
wind is my god – yes
Manny, I just had an image of you playing the oud in the background as I feel the wind in my hair. Welcome to my spiritual fantasy.
Such a beautiful culmination to what feels like a meditation on what matters.
wind
is my god, my inexplicable
dance.
“Frog music/ as fireflies flare” ❤️
A sacred prayer, this one. Thank you!
Love the contemplative mood of the poem, and how it culminates in “wind / is my god, my inexplicable / dance.”
Transcendent
Your alliteration and rhythm are fantastic!
“The day opens & closes in patterns & layers like my grandmother’s folding lace fan”
What a calming read! Thanks, Linda.
Wow! Wind is my god!
Oh disciple of wind! I like how you put the news behind you and relish nature. I imagine you on your porch, the breeze playing with your hair, and all is right with the world.
Just a thought: what if you took out the “II” and let the imagery do all the work, beginning “Scent of honeysuckle” and then …”what Einstein said & there are more galaxies… wind is god, inexplicable dance. You’d take focus off the bejeweled pointing finger and put it on the moon.
I love the idea of it but I’m not completely sure what you are suggesting cutting. Seems like something can always
be cut, so I’m totally open to the feedback. If it’s extensive you can email me at lindab@bryanteditorial.com
every mention of the speaker and her husband
Beautiful words from the poet’s heart.
Oh, wow. And…wow.
love inexplicable dance
A true prayer, born from contemplation and intimacy with the world around you–from the nearby to the galaxies…
“Relaxed, I forget
about the news, reverberations
of trauma rest like brumating
snakes under snow
& soil.“
I’m fascinated by this line and these snakes.
What a beautiful meditation!
Love:
I turn off the news, zero
in on the scent of honeysuckle
at dawn, the late afternoon
tap of woodpecker. Frog music
as fireflies flare. The day
opens & closes in patterns
& layers like my grandmother’s
lace folding fan.
I especially like the imagery in the first stanza–the line breaks are so well done.