Saturday, June 3, 2017

SKY WOMAN'S PEOPLE

The Hanging Garden Tree
on the Tall Tree Trail, Meares Island,
Tofino, B.C.


The Iroquois speak of a world
that exists high above
the world we know,
where life is much
as it is on earth.

Sky Woman fell to earth
from the Sky World,
and the giant Turtle 
provided his back
for her to rest,
and this is how
we began.

There is a
Tree of Peace
that I visit.
Its name is Opa,
and it is as old
as all the trees of time.

When I rest my hands
on its rough trunk,
I feel its ancient heart,
beating,
and understand
what Endurance feels like,
my heart slowing its beat
in compassion
for all that
it has witnessed,
all that it has weathered,
all the storms
and lashing winds,
the crack of lightning,
the hot summers of thirst,
the times when
the chain saws came near
with their blood-curdling sounds.

Sky Woman peopled this world
with dreamers,
all of whom spend their days
gazing at the sky,
our cellular memory
vaguely recalling
the height from which
we have fallen.

We spend our lives
trying to
get it back.


A creation story poem from 2012, shared with the Poetry Pantry at Poets United this sunny weekend.


29 comments:

  1. I think we have to find those dreamers once again, those who spend their days gazing at the sky! We have to find a way to return to that time of peace!

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  2. we are all waiting for the chainsaws - so may as well breath while we can and dream ~

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  3. A dream within a dream it seems. Greetings!

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  4. I have walked in the world of Sequoia (300 ft and more. thousands of years old). Your words sing true. Here's to the dream.

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  5. What a fabulous tree! And a beautiful poem. My favourite lines:

    vaguely recalling
    the height from which
    we have fallen.

    We spend our lives
    trying to
    get it back.

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  6. What a great creation story...and yes the mothership will come calling for the dreamers, taking them to a better land!

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  7. The disrespect for the Earth is horrific with so little concern for the future. Once again you show us the beauty of the connection between us Mother Earth sadly falling on deaf ears of so many.

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  8. you are truly a woman of the earth and ancient ways Sherry as your poem so well outlines - what stood out for me were these lines
    "ts name is Opa,
    and it is as old
    as all the trees of time.

    When I rest my hands
    on its rough trunk,
    I feel its ancient heart,
    beating,
    and understand
    what Endurance feels like"

    Long may you endure Sherry!

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  9. You make sky gazing seem so magical - cellular memories was my favourite line

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  10. This is absolutely gorgeously penned, Sherry❤️ especially love; "When I rest my hands on its rough trunk,I feel its ancient heart,beating,and understand
    what Endurance feels like,my heart slowing its beat."❤️

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  11. To 'understand / what Endurance feels like,' is such a blessing! Endurance is another name for life. The poem is like the tree itself, gifting a cool shelter. Thank you dear Sherry.

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  12. Beautiful poem. Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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  13. as always you bring me back to my 'roots', the spirit of Earth. gracias mi amiga. you know how i feel about our connection through the Eagle and Wolf

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  14. Luv the unfetted aspect of time in this image
    "and it is as old
    as all the trees of time."

    Have a nice Sunday
    much love...

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  15. Brilliant, beautiful and so very needed during these times ... (Are your wonders collected in a book yet??)

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    1. They are, Pearl, many books I made for archiving purposes and one, Blue Sky Moments, that can be found on the right hand sidebar. Smiles.

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  16. This beautiful, the peacemaker came and brought his people together and they buried their arrows under the tree of peace.

    I know many of the Iroquois stories. The actual tree of peace is no longer standing, but lives in the hearts of it's people forever strong.

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  17. Sky Woman "people this world with dreamers". May she continue to do so. Without the dreamers, how bland our existence! Beautiful write, Sherry.

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  18. I think that anyone who has ever walked in a forest senses the same... maybe it's about being afraid that make some people steal our air.

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  19. Trees of Peace and Sky Gazers...you have a way of capturing the lessons of Nature in a way that grips our hearts and reminds us of what truly matters!

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  20. A beautiful "creation story poem".
    ZQ

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  21. A beautiful poem, thanks for sharing it again!

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  22. The Artists and the Poets. These are the dreamers of each generation. May it always be so,

    Elizabeth

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  23. So much mystery in the sky. Sometimes I feel like we're an hourglass of a planet about to flip over.

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  24. A riveting legend and wonderful analogy. A great piece of writing with a lot to ruminate on ~~~

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  25. Love this gem Sherry ~ The power and wisdom of nature are amazing ~

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  26. How comforting to have and Opa in your life!

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