writing – Wandering and Wondering

Prayer Creation and Expansion

One of the ways that I often “create” a prayer for a season is by choosing a prayer that someone else wrote. I use their version the first week and then adapt it each week moving forward. This way the thread runs in a way that keeps consistency, AND it offers variety.

This season I have been working with a prayer offered by Howard Thurman, “I Confess” from Meditations of the Heart. Here is the original:

Prayer of Confession:

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There is food for all — many are hungry.

There are clothes enough for all — many are in rags.

There is room enough for all — many are crowded.

There are none who want war — preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Here are the many ways I altered it. Some perhaps better than others:

Week 2 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

Some have money that stretches beyond imagination and cannot be used in a single lifetime, while others struggle to fill their needs.

Some have multiple homes while others live in only a cardboard box.

Some throw their food in the dumpsters as excess, while others scrounge the same dumpster for dinner.

All claim a hope for the future and yet we bicker and get stuck in details, often moving no plan forward.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in all of my decisions.

I have left to others a real work of blazing Jesus’ way in the world.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace in sustainable ways; and sometimes confuse peace for ignoring those who are being crushed under the foot of injustice.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 3 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

We are blessed with more than any generation before us; and yet, we focus on what we lack rather than what we have.

We have made incredible technological breakthroughs; and yet, we use our accomplishments to break people’s spirits and diminish their value.

Our lifespans are longer than ever; and yet, instead of focusing on enriching our time, we worry about age spots, grey hair, and hold each other to unrealistic youthful expectations.

In a time where transportation allows us to traverse the world, we simultaneously try to bar the world from our door.

We are made up of series of contradictions; and sometimes we fail to realize the gaps between what we believe and how we act, between what we say we want and how we live;

And so, in this moment,

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities.

I have not always been wise in my ways.

I have left others to suffer for my benefit.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have worked and acted against it.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 4 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There are houses that sit with empty bedrooms,

There are people with empty houses,

There are dorms and hotels with empty beds

and yet there are people without a place to rest their head.

There are meals left uneaten,

There are garbage heaps filled with so called out-dated food that is still good to eat,

There is food rotting in barns and storage containers,

And yet there are people without enough food to sustain them.

There are children who need families

and families who want children but too much red tape between the two for them to meet.

There are cures for illness and disease and people suffering,

but there is not the desire or inclination to make sure that all have the access they need.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities.

I have not always been wise.

I have left to others what I should do.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 5 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

Instead of true joy – people seem to act as if projecting “joy” and “happiness” is enough.

Instead of deep personal relationships – people seem satisfied with likes, shares, and follows.

Instead of looking into a person’s heart- too often people are judged by their hair, their clothes, or their car.

It seems that we have replaced reality with facade.

I confess my own share in these ills

Through the judging of others; and on trying to present ourselves, rather than just be ourselves.

I have shirked my own responsibility in creating and responding to authenticity.

I have held my own biases and prejudices without deeply challenging them.

I have have failed at being as welcoming as I could be.

I have been concerned about my own appearance, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not fully created spaces where people can be fully themselves.

I have not worked as diligently for inclusivity as I should; I want diversity, and yet there are still areas that I get caught up in societal norms and expectations.

I have dimmed my own self that I may not rock the boat and in doing so, I have not made space for others to themselves.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 6 – Adapted Version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

Where some live grand lives; others barely eek out an existence,

Where some voices are amplified; others are muted and silenced,

Where some have freedoms abounding; others are treated as objects and slaves.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities to both learn our history and speak on behalf of others who are being mistreated.

I have not been courageous enough to look glaringly into the injustices that others proclaim.

I have left to others the responsibility to teach, to speak out, and to advocate.

I have been too self-centered to concern myself with how inexpensive products are made or how coffee makes it to my table, or who is mining the precious ores from our earth.

I have not adequately concerned myself with what others are forced to do for my convenience and comfort.

I have not really cared about the lives of others, but have been content with overlooking process in exchange for product.

I must acknowledge that there are ways that I have not worked for peace; but I have worked against it.

I have kept silent when I should be speaking out.

I have stood back when I should be standing up.

I have enjoyed the benefits of the world, when perhaps I should be limiting my take.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 7 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

We suffer from isolation; and we’re the first to retreat to our homes and shut the door.

We all experience heartache and pain; and we’re the first to hope some will not really respond when we say, “How are you today?”

We have experienced loss and often deal with bouts of grief; and sometimes we are the ones wondering if someone is feeling better yet.

We know the world can feel overwhelming; and sometimes in words and actions we tell others to have a stiff upper lip or ourselves hide our true feelings.

I confess that I struggle both with my own feelings and sometimes with the feelings of other – sometimes I push down my feelings, sometimes I don’t make space for others feelings, sometimes I perpetuate a world where everything seems like it should be bright and shiny.

Help me, O Lord, to be express my own feelings with truth and to make space for others.

Help me to find connection rather than executing cut off.

If I want peace and wholeness, then I have to work toward honesty and allow for others to be their whole selves and be my own full self.

I pray today that you will let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to both live in light and in shadows and to allow for the space for others too to express both the good and the challenging. I courageously pray for a kind and accepting world that aims toward love and acceptance. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 8 – Adapted Version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I see confusion.

I see discomfort.

I see struggle.

I see despair.

AND

I see hope.

I see beauty.

I see repair.

I see joy.

I confess that sometimes I magnify the trouble, and minimize the hope.

I confess my own share in the turmoil of the times.

I acknowledge that I forget to bring my troubles to you. I forget to stop and breathe. I forget to pause before I respond.

I acknowledge that sometimes it is easier to retreat; and sometimes it is easier to ignore.

I acknowledge that sometimes I forget to look for the ways that are available to me to rewrite the story or reframe what has happened.

Sometimes I get so caught up in what I am experiencing that I forget to look at my siblings in the world or the world itself.

I know that I cannot always change what has happened, but often I have more power than I know to change whatever happens next.

I want peace and wholeness, but I become paralyzed.

I silence my own voice assuming that what is is what is.

I pray this day that you might let your light burn in me so that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers. I pray that I might seek the light, reflect the light, and be the light. May I courageously stand in the tempest knowing you are with me. May I, to the best that I can, live into the world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

Life is not easy AND God never leaves us to face it alone. Emmanuel – God with us – reminds us of God’s great love and presence especially in times of trouble. Know you are loved.

Week 9 – Adapted Version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There is food for all — many are hungry.

There are clothes enough for all — many are in rags.

There is room enough for all — many are crowded.

There are none who want war — preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 10 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There is food for all — many are hungry.

There are clothes enough for all — many are in rags.

There is room enough for all — many are crowded.

There are none who want war — preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 11 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There is food for all — many are hungry.

There are clothes enough for all — many are in rags.

There is room enough for all — many are crowded.

There are none who want war — preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

Week 12 – adapted version

The concern which I lay bare before God today is:

My concern for the life of the world in these troubled times.

I confess my own inner confusion as I look out upon the world.

There is food for all — many are hungry.

There are clothes enough for all — many are in rags.

There is room enough for all — many are crowded.

There are none who want war — preparations for conflict abound.

I confess my own share in the ills of the times.

I have shirked my own responsibilities as a citizen.

I have not been wise in casting my ballot.

I have left to others a real interest in making a public opinion worthy of democracy.

I have been concerned about my own little job, my own little security, my own shelter, my own bread.

I have not really cared about jobs for others, security for others, shelter for others, bread for others. I have not worked for peace; I want peace, but I have voted and worked for war.

I have silenced my own voice that it may not be heard on the side of any cause, however right, if it meant running risks or damaging my own little reputation.

Let Thy light burn in me that I may, from this moment on, take effective steps within my own powers, to live up to the light and courageously to pay for the kind of world I so deeply desire. AMEN

Assurance of Love

God calls us to confess not so that we may be paralyzed, but so that we might be free to make new choices. Receive God’s love and God’s call to abundant life.

As you can see, I began playing with it more and more, letting the words of Howard Thurman himself push me deeper and deeper into the ideas he lifted up. I almost what it might look like if I continued to play with it into the future. Alas, we will move onto another season.

The Human Buzz and a Prayer for Purpose

A poem and prayer from our trip to Ghana

The Human Buzz

By Dawn M. Adams

Zip

Click, click, click, click, click

Beep. Beep. Beep.

“Boarding Zone 5.”

“Have your passports ready.”

Shufflelllllll

Whir, whrrrr, whir

“Hurry up.”

“They’re boarding.”

Mmmmm mmmmmm Mmmmm

“#57”

“How will you take your coffee?”

Bing

“Have a good trip!”

The human ants march

and run the maze seeking

their boarding gate.

They go here and there with

maddening intensity

and yet with little

purpose to anyone

but them.

Jesus said follow, but they

scurry and hurry about:

each thinking their mission

to be of the greatest importance.

To their estimation the

first will be first and the

last will likely be left behind.

And so they rush and bump

and might step over you

or on you if you

dared to stop and look

and notice your sibling

beside you . . . equally

agitated . . .pressing

and stressing like

rats in a labyrinth

trying to find the hidden gift of

the wafting perfume

of cheese long since

taken away and

boarded off but still

enticing to those that

smell the tasty possibilities.

They move like individual cells through our veins,

thinking they each have a mind of their own,

but acting as one flowing mass –

A river of humanity.

One and yet all;

all and yet one.

Murmur. Murmur, murmur.

“I need to stop in the restroom.”

“We’re on time.”

“We’re late.”

Clip, clop.

Hhhhhhph

Peal me from the chaos of humanity, O God. Remind me to slow down, to follow, to notice why you sent me to this place at this time. Remind me simultaneously of my autonomy and my communal responsibility. Use me wherever I am toward your good. Help me to set aside what I perceive as my purpose and make room for whatever you imagine my purpose today. AMEN

Ekphrastic Writing

One of the ways that I am finding sanity in an ever chaotic world is to participate in a local writing group. Although my purpose of this site is to share with you my liturgical writing, the site is called Wandering and Wondering, so join my in a little diversion.

Here are 5 Ekphrastic writing pieces. Ekphrastic writing as it was introduced to us is using a picture or other non-literary piece as a jumping off piece for our writing. This is the site that the leader of the group this month cited to help us understand what was expected.

Here are my experiments in this writing style:

A memory not mine
By dawn m. adams

In amongst the pages
was a memory before my time
of a boat upon the ocean
that in my lifetime only sat on cinderblocks
growing weeds and harboring wasps.

The photo, though, is of a life before the time of kids, responsibilities, and bills.

The photo’s bent and crackling face give testimony to its ages
as it tries unsuccessfully to hold its color –
mustard yellow-brown blotches overtaking the dock and threatening the people in its frame.
My mother walks on the dock, approaching the teal topped wooden cabin cruiser.
A smiling stranger puts out a hand to her
and another pears out the captain’s window.
It seems that all but she knows they are being photographed.

Is it my father taking the still? He is nowhere in sight.

The sea is calm and the boat only gently rocks
as it waits tethered to the dock for its passengers.

Atop the boat, likely stuck by accident, is a fragment of upside-down “th” sticker
From another long-lost memory, trying to tell its own story.

The Mustard Seed Retold

By Dawn M. Adams

A single seed suffers in the ground
like the pearl of great price, its value is beyond compare.
Down its roots burrow,
and up its branches grow.
For such a small dull seed, it flourishes
above the ground into a bush flush with
yellow flowers:
each branch a home to another species of bird.

What a racket must come from that bush:
chickadee,
heron,
thrush,
and raven;
swallow,
cardinal,
orange tanager,
and jay.

They make their home within the mustard bush,
taking refuge from the harsh world.
Together creating a brash combination of
yellow,
green,
tangerine,
and blue.

Every hue and every caw testifying
To the power and wonder of
a single seed willing to
grow in a harrowing world .

If you would like to see the picture from which it was inspired, visit Kelly Latimore’s page.

A Mother’s Lament

A response to Michelangelo’s Pieta

By Dawn M. Adams

How?

How could it come to this?

I said, “Yes!”

I carried you within me.

I birthed you.

Was it all for naught?

Would God be so cruel?

I hold you now –

your body ravaged and worn.

What I would give to bring you back.

I hear them singing, “Where you there?”

and my tears cry out, “I was. I am. Where were you?”

I hold him hoping for another miracle, hoping he will awaken,

but knowing he will not.

I wish I could will him back into my body

so that such suffering might end.

He is a man

And yet,

Text Box: he is my son.

I cannot bring myself to let him go.

I will not let go.

I will hold him in my arms forever.

My son,

May you rest.

Your mother is here.

The Eye

By Dawn M. Adams

I draw myself one stroke at a time.

I do not wish to go outside the lines.

I mix the colors o’ so carefully

trying to be true.

Can they see through? Behind the mask?

Is the trembling of my hand visible

to the trained eye?

It is strange to have such power to

create how the world sees me. I’m not

sure if it is a privilege or a curse.

I am not God. What do I know really?

Some days I’m tempted to start all over again.

Maybe I’m just too close to the subject to

be objective.

What do you see?

Do you see the true me?

or the me I want you to see?

Do you care if there is a difference?

This picture I found at: https://www.southwales.ac.uk/study/subjects/art-and-creative-wellbeing/

#5 and final

I so wish they’d stop fighting. They both say they love me and yet they will not stop. Don’t they know what such hostility does to a young heart?

I sit here waiting and watching, wishing I was somewhere else, anywhere else.

The whole thing makes me tired. They toss me back and forth like a prized football – not realizing that in the tossing that I am getting scuffed and bruised.

Mom made me dress in my Sunday best and even put a red ribbon in my hair. I think she wanted dad to think everything was normal at home without him, that we were getting along just fine without him; but there are days mom doesn’t even get out of bed. Days that I have to try to figure out what to make for dinner – – – Did you know that fried bologna can be pretty good when put on Wonder bread with a squeeze of ketchup?

If they keep fighting like this I may as well just put on my jacket and disappear. I wonder if they’d even notice that I left.

I bet mom would leave thinking I went upstairs to my room ; and I bet dad would think she dragged me back home with her.

How long do you think it would be before they realized that I was with neither of them, but instead out in the world hoping to find a rainbow in the storm.

I am unclear who to attribute this painting to as it seems to have many attributions on the web.

I would love to read your version of a Ekphrastic writing. Please feel free to post or link your work below.

Alphabet Soup & other ABC tales

In the writing group that I have joined, we were tasked with writing an abecedary story or poem. An abecedary is an old fashioned ABC style form of writing where each line begins with a progressive letter of the alphabet.

For those who may be interested the 119th Psalm is written in this style. It however used the Hebrew language, not English.

Additionally, well-known theologian Frederick Buechner wrote three abecedary books. Together they are referred to as his Lexical Trilogy. The trilogy consists of: Wishful Thinking, a seekers ABC; A peculiar Treasure, a biblical who’s who; and Whistling in the Dark, an ABC theologized.

All that to be said, this is a fun style to play with. I actually found myself waking up in the middle of the night to write. Here are four for your enjoyment or horror – you decide.

1st Abecedary by Dawn M. Adams

At the

Beginning of

Creation,

Dawn

Early

Found the

Ground,

Hailing

In justice,

Knowledge,

Love.

Man, though, in

Noble pursuit

Opened

Pandora’s box

Quietly

Releasing

Selfishness and greed,

Trading

Universal

Virtues

For

Wealth.

eXtremes broke the day.

Yearning to begin again, we wish we could be like the

Zinnea. New each spring. But alas beginnings only come once.

Now we are called to heal, repair, and mend rather than simply starting again.

2nd Abecedary by Dawn M. Adams

“At the beginning,” we tend to say.

But the beginning of what? Where?

Can we even truly know the beginning?

Do we really know what came first?

Everything seems to have a precedent.

Finding the true beginning would mean

Going back and back and back to the beginning of

History.

“In the beginning”

Just estimates and approximates our

Knowledge.

Legends though reach farther than that.

Myths weave wonders creating even earlier tales.

No clear beginning exists.

One says this. Another that.

People disagree.

Questions arise.

Really, does it matter when it all

Started?

Time is an illusion, best left alone.

Universal agreement is not needed.

Very little is needed.

When we live

eXposed to time,

You only need to live in the now.

Zero agreement on how it came to be.

3rd Abecedary – A Zebra in my Car

by Dawn M. Adams

At first Frank just

Backed away from the

Car

Determined not to

Escalate the situation. He stepped back slowly and calmly

Finding what he thought was safe

Ground.

He looked around, searching for a way to

Innocuously retreat so that he could return in the daylight with a plan of action.

Judiciously, he took stock of the area, paying attention to every exit, every pothole, every curb and obstacle in case he needed to retreat more quickly. He

Knew it would be important to have options. He

Looked around to see if there were any other people around that he

Might implore for help; but

Night left this parking area empty. There were

Other cars parked in the vicinity, but not another

Person to be seen.

Quietly, he dared to take another couple of steps back. He knew this wasn’t a perfect plan, but what else could he do in the middle of the night. He would

Return for his car in the daylight, perhaps with

Support of others who might help. They would

Together make a plan and

Use their joint resources to gain entry to his car. Of course, part of him wondered who would believe him. His friends would, no doubt, believe that he was just

Very drunk.

Why else would he abandon his car in a parking lot in the middle of the night? Who would believe such

eXtremely odd circumstances? Even he acknowledged that he would have a hard time believing a friend and would think that they had woven a

Yarn and were pulling his leg. Who would believe that a

Zebra kept me from getting in my car? Where did such a beast come from anyway? The questions didn’t really matter in the moment. Step one was to retreat to safety so that he could return another day. Perhaps then the Zebra would be gone. On the other hand, maybe it would be better if the Zebra stayed, then at least someone might understand why he had to leave his car in the parking lot and call an Uber to get home.

4th Abecedary – A Magic Potion

By Dawn M. Adams

At the

Back of the

Cabinet I found an eye-

Dropper. I had forgotten that I had put it there all those years ago. That little

Eye-dropper contained the smallest, single drop of

Flajewelan Jelly: a rare but precious gift

Given to me from my grandmother and to her by hers. The jelly was made by

Heating and boiling low and long the

Insides of the rare Kaputchen flower, which only blooms for a single day in

June, with the

Kipper straw plucked from the cliffs of

Llewelyn. To that is added a

Magical spell and water from the spring of Endive. This concoction can only be made by the light of the full moon and must be finished by pressing it through a fine sieve. The mixture should almost clear,

No impurities. Then it can be packaged for distribution, but it is so powerful that one does not need a barrel or bowl or even a cup – a simple eyedropper will do. Fortunately, it can sit like that for days, weeks, month, decades, generations . . . the

Only problem is that with time come forgetfulness. Thus, much of this magical

Potion has been lost, forgotten in some hidden corner or tossed away thinking that it is a worthless nothing. I, though, still have my dose

Quietly stashed in the back of my kitchen cabinet. I don’t think anyone else in my household even knows it’s there,

Resting for the day when I finally decide it is needed. Is this, I suddenly wonder, why it is

Still here? Is

This why it has been passed secretively from generation to generation

Unused? Has its recipe been remembered but the full potency of its use forgotten? Have the

Very people entrusted with its keeping forgotten its true powers or do they always have hope that the

World will fix itself? Do they ignore the

Xenophobia, the ethnocentrism, racism, prejudice, and discrimination or do they just live in hope that we will find a way to fix it ourselves? I have to acknowledge that at 92, I have

Yet to draw it from the shelf except when it gets packed to move to a new kitchen in a new house. Soon I suspect, I will either have to use it or pass it on myself. I wonder if I will live in hope or if it will finally be time to excrete the sacred droplet, say the magic words,

“Zirad – Zam – Zadee” and live into whatever happens next.

If you decide to play with this writing style, I would love to hear what you come up with. Please post below.

Using Words and Style as a Writing Prompt

This week in mid-week meditation, I offered two prompts based on the same poems. I randomly picked poems and then asked AI to remove punctuation and capitalization and randomize the words. The first prompt invited the writers to write using the words before them as a base.

For Example, here were my words:

films intentionally loving of the their feet while art culture borders hesitation possibilities fire paint artists loud or wall see and creative canvas kind-based canvas directed sprinting mumblings conscience limitations and all us deliberately windstorms blast motivation into with quality do art their struggle quiet questions without run does to and with move people or intentionally paint and has loving and and life-centered does toward can’t doubts with cameras name has create misrepresentations has blasts gates culture ideas advance and see a world centered civilization and and and the talk and struggle move escape and searching not and good or feet questionably questionably phones gates has ideas doubts the loving own toward move fire justice of people their advance loving art themselves has of not people computers its civilization paint forward clear canvas intentions blasts daily and pen paper question run run or walls feet as mumblings based with community run paint souls good rulers with and name quietly paint searching artists and loving has definitions and has gatekeepers and daily windstorms loving loving canvas with toward and and paint the

I gave us 15 minutes, this is what I wrote:

Untitled

To intentionally paint the world with love creates life.

There are no limitations

Civilization tries to rule

setting borders

and erecting walls.

It misrepresents truth

and sews doubts,

leaving society lost and lonely.

Daily windstorms tattering the art

that has so lovingly been created.

But the art of love

offers possibilities beyond the gates culture has created.

Love offers justice

it leans in with questions

and listens.

It paints quietly, slowly, subtly,

and brashly, without hesitation using bold strokes.

There are no gate keepers here

simply lovers loving:

a world searching for good,

souls seeking and searching

for new canvases on which to

paint beauty and possibility.

Then, I offered them the opportunity to read the actual poem. Mine was Art IV: Remembering Gwendolyn Brooks by Haki R. Madhubuti.

We then took an additional 10 minutes to write a poem based on the style they noticed in the poem. This is what I created:

Remembering Ezekiel Kallberg

children are fed what we feed them

they cannot forge on their own.

they are reliant on what we bring – good or bad.

children not only fill themselves

with the nutrients we provide;

But also the love, the wonder,

the hope, the resilience we fill them with

children absorb our ways

without us ever needing to

speak and perhaps even

before their ears can hear

outside the womb.

what shall we offer this

hungry one – ancient

dusty artifacts, a diet of anger

and war, a meal made

of mush,

or shall we choose to gather

them in our lap and blanket

them in love,

shall we surround them with

support and welcome them

into wonder.

shall we put before them a

feast which tantalizes them

and invites them to taste,

touch, sample

and decide for themselves

their favorites.

and perhaps even one day

teach them to cook.

Neither of these are perfect poems, but the process is like putting compost around your garden. The nutrients seep in and before you know fruit is produced.

I encourage you to give it a try and see what your process might seed.