I Am Here (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, June 29, 2022, feast day of Our Lady of Buglose, of Our Lady of Linarejos, of Our Lady of Feniers, the (above) Kasperov Icon of the Mother of God, and of Saints Peter and Paul, Mary Mother of John Mark, Saint Hemma (Emma) of Gurk, Saints Salome and Judith of Niederaltaich, Saint Ilud Ferch Brychan, and Saint Ciwg ap Arawn. Image from here. See also here.)

I Am Here

(in honor of Mary-Mom)

I am here to watch over your birth.

I am here to make you laugh, smile, wiggle, sigh.

I am here with a canopy of mist, oasis in the desert. 

I am here to feed the spark growing glowing within you.

I am here to keep watch, keep all safe. 

I am here for whatever ails you, ever. 

I am love. 

I am here. 

*From prompt: After listening to Dane Nichols’ “Dust and Dazzle”, write a quick instinctive “I am here to” statement for six of your (shuffled) SoulCollage cards–-in this case the six completed during this workshop series. From Kimberly Lee’s Journal to the Self With SoulCollage, May/June, 2022.

Turnabout (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, June 9, 2022, feast day of Our Lady of Ligny/Our Lady of Virtues, of Our Lady of Grace and (above) Mary the Helper (two of the oldest titles for Mary), of Our Lady of the Plain, and of Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, Five Persian Nuns, Saint Ephrem of Syria, Saint Columba of Iona, and Saints David Gareji and Lucian. Image from here.)

Turnabout 

(in gratitude to the One who

created us creative)

I love when out of nowhere!:

curtain flutter, soul she stretches wake –-

Unknown where this carpet’s off to,

only where it’s from,

only time grab coat, pen, mug.

Just these just now --

Just enough.

*Reference to the One who created us creative is directly inspired by Rabbi Adina Allen's practice of Jewish Studio Process. From here: "Just as a blessing is always recited before starting Torah study, a volunteer also reads a blessing before starting the creative practice: 'Blessed are you God, Source of Life, who creates us in Your image and invites us to renew daily the work of creation. Blessed are You, who created us creative.'

**From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by Dean Young’s “Quiet Grass, Green Stone”; from Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, June 9, 2022. 

While Waiting For a Poem (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, June 9, 2022, feast day of Our Lady of Ligny/Our Lady of Virtues, of (above) Our Lady of Grace and Mary the Helper (two of the oldest titles for Mary), of Our Lady of the Plain, and of Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, Five Persian Nuns, Saint Ephrem of Syria, Saint Columba of Iona, and Saints David Gareji and Lucian. Image from here.)

While Waiting For a Poem

...for words unruffled unraveling,

for joy welling up in my chest–-

turn to tidying up

for said guests

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by Luljeta Lleshanku’s "Waiting for a Poem”; from Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, June 9, 2022. 

Valley View (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, May 8, 2022, Mother's Day, feast day of Our Lady of Pompeii, Our Lady of Grace, Our Lady of Spoleto, Apparition of Saint Micheal the Archangel, Eastern Orthodox Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women and the Noble Joseph, Catholic Sunday of the Good Shepard. Feast day of Saint John the Evangelist and Theologian, Blessed Teresa Demjanovitch, Saint Ida of Nivelles, Blessed Marie-Catherine de Saint Augustin, and Blessed Ulrika Fransiska Nisch.  Jewish calendar today commemorates Jerusalem Walls Dedicated (at rebuilding, 335 BC). Image from here.)

Valley View

(for Mother’s Day, 2022)

Memories of a seventies kid, 

San Fernando Valley, California—

fairies, gnomes, Holly Hobbie. Mattel dolls,

their hybrid of charm and anatomy 101 —

Baby Brother Tender Love, for one, leaves no doubt he’s what he says.

And Mom, not one to miss a teaching opp, grabs a diaper, catches my eye. 

         Now when changing your real little brother, cover his winkie first — 

         Like this. Unless you want showers in the forecast. 

         Trust me on this one.

 

While Baby Snow White fires her questions with pull of string, 

          Do you live in an enchanted forest too?

          Umm...no, Snow, I’m a valley girl, remember? 

and nostalgia’s for before one’s time, used to think.  

Now sideglance at lifeline turns pink. So Snow, another pull at that string? 

         Yes. I live in an enchanted forest, funny thing –-

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by etymology of diaper; from Lisa Freedman’s BreathReadWrite, May 8, 2022.

In Wake (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, May 5, 2022, feast day of the  Inexhaustible Chalice Icon of the Mother of God, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Europe (Gibraltar), Our Lady Queen of the Apostles, Saint Great Martyr Irene, Conversion of Saint Augustine, Saint Touteria of Verona, Saint Tosca of Verona, Blessed Judith Prussi (above), and Blessed Caterina Cittadini. Image from here.)

In Wake

(from the journal, May 5, 2022, Oregon)

Mind migrates of late, to my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Otten. How she moved from her native Germany to the US in 1920's, opening her own restaurant. How she lost it in the Great Depression and became manager instead. Throughout it all, a Rosary nestled in her apron pocket. Even during her busy workday, she'd stop right where she was and pray its beads whenever a brief moment allowed. Our family still has one of the little creme pitchers that graced the tables in Grandma Otten's restaurant. But the real heirloom has been a continued family devotion to the Rosary. 

This September will be the first anniversary of her son’s, my great-uncle Art’s, passing. This May begs an early glance, amidst its dew and bloom–-Mary’s own month. Uncle Art’s passing was so simple, so peaceful, while praying the Rosary with his children. His funeral left strange hope where grief should have dwelt. I carry it still.

Mother, full of grace

beads of thanksgiving tend pace–

morn and evenin round

*From prompt: As Spring continues its lean towards Summer, and considering the power of longing, craft haiku (here playing with haibun) about the “song” that carries you through your life/work; from Gerry Grubbs’ Writing From Where You Are (The Hive, Cincinnati), May 2, 2022.

Toddler's Wand (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, May 4, 2022, feast day of Our Lady the Helper (Normandy), Our Lady of Gray (France), the Staro Rus Old Russian Icon of the Mother of God, and Saint Monica, Saint Pelagia of Tarsus, Blessed Margareta Kratz, Blessed Jean-Martin Moye, Martyrs of England etc, and the Shroud of Turin. Image from here.)

Toddler’s Wand

“Do it again!”,

sky blue-yellow-red—

recreation, inebriation, 

celebration of all that’s not 

quite yet. 

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by three colors of choice; from Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, May 4, 2022. 

Mindfulness a la Mary (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, Lady Day/May Day-Beltaine, 2022,  Saint Thomas Sunday, feast day of )above) Our Lady Tabernacle of the Most High (South Africa), Our Lady of Puy of Estella (also May 25), Santa Maria la Real Roncesvalles (Navarre, Spain), Our Lady of Giubino, Our Lady of Lebanon (interfaith) and many others, the Unexpected Joy, Myrrh-Bearing, and Andronicus Icons of the Mother of God, and Rosh Chodesh Iyar. Feast day of Saint Joseph the Worker, Prophet Jeremiah, Saint Tamara Queen of Georgia, Saint Thorette, Saint Bertha of Avenay, Saint Bertha of Kent, Saint Mafalda of Portugal, Saint Peregrine, Saint Sigismund of Burgandy. Image of Our Lady Tabernacle of the Most High is from here; see similar images of Our Lady of Puy of France, eg this image.)

Mindfulness a la Mary

(for Lady Day, 2022)

You too are such a Tabernacle; believe it.

--Our Lady, to Sister Reinolde May 

it’s here this morning,

fire at sea, loaves and fishes, water to wine –-

new agenda: whatever He tells you

Nearly May Day, 2022 (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, Bright Saturday (artos bread, yumm), and feast day of (above) Our Lady of Perpetual Help/Mother of God of the Passion Icon, of Our Lady of Africa, of Saint Onenn of Brittiany, Saint Marie of the Incarnation Guyart,  Saint Hildegard the Empress (Supporter of Saint Saint Lioba), Saint Sophia of Fermo, Blessed William Southerne Blessed Dede Plani. Tonight is Rosh Chodesh (now moon) Iyar. Image from here.)

Nearly May Day, 2022

Her smile the breeze --

parts the curtain, hands soft in

welcome

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired byJake Adam York’s “City of Grace”; from Lisa Freedman’s Imagination and Justice BreathReadWrite (International Women’s Writing Guild), April 30, 2022.

Clean Sweep (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, Bright Saturday (artos bread, yumm), and feast day of (above) Our Lady of Perpetual Help/Mother of God of the Passion Icon, of Our Lady of Africa, of Saint Onenn of Brittiany, Saint Marie of the Incarnation Guyart,  Saint Hildegard the Empress (Supporter of Saint Saint Lioba), Saint Sophia of Fermo, Blessed William Southerne Blessed Dede Plani. Tonight is Rosh Chodesh (now moon) Iyar. Image from here.)

Clean Sweep

‘Does this spark joy?’ If it does, keep it. If not,

dispose of it. This is not only the simplest but

also the most accurate yardstick.

--Marie Kondo

Morning, upon awakening

 

In habit, to inhabit, land spread 

before me. Open space. That’s 

the plan, yes? Sweet habit of return.

Each morning open eyes, to 

surprise… 

Afternoon, at home altar

There is peace here, an 

island. Can an island ripple its sea?

Light through crystal. Icons’ grace.

Grandma Dee’s Miraculous Medal.

A Rosary my uncle made. 

Relics, SoulCollage cards. And

the wonder of things -- thunder

skipped, settle soft in place.

Not so, the sea, house.

Or not yet

Evening interim (ie prayer)

Her smile the breeze–

parts the curtain, hands soft in

welcome

*From combined prompts: Freewrite as inspired by the etymology of citizen/country/land, by Jamaal May’s “There Are Birds Here”, and by Jake Adam York’s “City of Grace” (respectively); from Lisa Freedman’s BreatheRead Write, April 30, 2022.