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6 - Calligraphy of a Stream
In this episode, I share a poem I wrote, and a little about my writing difficulties and successes over the last year or two.
I really like this poem, and think it is one of my best. So I hope you find something in it too.
Music Credits: Liberty Bell by Darkside.
Calligraphy of a Stream
I
A gray jays wing
looks like old cedar wood grain.
Grown from
melted snow, and stolen sandwich bits.
The jays move in flocks, take turns landing
softly on my hat.
The lower lake,
frozen solid, but for the edges, coated in glistening snow.
A small stream flows from one end—
like black ink spilled on paper, then melting it, and running downslope.
The jays drink, and watch us
in all our human awkwardness.
Gracefully stealing tidbits for a free lunch
Even though I heard: nothing in life is "free"
The woods are soundless today, but for the shushing of trees shedding snow.
Almost like the silence is asking me to listen, but then laughing:
a jay swoops in to steal part of my sandwich again.
II
The cold creeps downhill, along the stream.
Flat rocks on a dark, gravelly bottom.
People walking far, up from stuffed parking lot, into this silence
leaving behind their cars
carrying their conversations
holding onto things.
Then resting in the rare light, here at the edge of a lake.
I wonder how easy it is
to leave it all behind?
To come clean to the creek-burble?
To cleanse the mind?
—Grey jays winging softly,
along tree'd edge of the lake
III
In mind, I gathered
thoughts, and things, but wasn't always there
for the beauty.
Maybe if I drink snow melt, sleep outside, these things become me
Or am I them?
The transparency of the self grows clearer,
in the calligraphy of a stream:
Slowly flowing under frozen snowy bridges
As we walk together
Back
to our complicated lives.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.walkaround.run
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.walkaround.run
View all episodes
By Hudson GardnerIn this episode, I share a poem I wrote, and a little about my writing difficulties and successes over the last year or two.
I really like this poem, and think it is one of my best. So I hope you find something in it too.
Music Credits: Liberty Bell by Darkside.
Calligraphy of a Stream
I
A gray jays wing
looks like old cedar wood grain.
Grown from
melted snow, and stolen sandwich bits.
The jays move in flocks, take turns landing
softly on my hat.
The lower lake,
frozen solid, but for the edges, coated in glistening snow.
A small stream flows from one end—
like black ink spilled on paper, then melting it, and running downslope.
The jays drink, and watch us
in all our human awkwardness.
Gracefully stealing tidbits for a free lunch
Even though I heard: nothing in life is "free"
The woods are soundless today, but for the shushing of trees shedding snow.
Almost like the silence is asking me to listen, but then laughing:
a jay swoops in to steal part of my sandwich again.
II
The cold creeps downhill, along the stream.
Flat rocks on a dark, gravelly bottom.
People walking far, up from stuffed parking lot, into this silence
leaving behind their cars
carrying their conversations
holding onto things.
Then resting in the rare light, here at the edge of a lake.
I wonder how easy it is
to leave it all behind?
To come clean to the creek-burble?
To cleanse the mind?
—Grey jays winging softly,
along tree'd edge of the lake
III
In mind, I gathered
thoughts, and things, but wasn't always there
for the beauty.
Maybe if I drink snow melt, sleep outside, these things become me
Or am I them?
The transparency of the self grows clearer,
in the calligraphy of a stream:
Slowly flowing under frozen snowy bridges
As we walk together
Back
to our complicated lives.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.walkaround.run
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.walkaround.run