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The Poetry Seven challenge this month was to write a poem on the theme of "sanctuary, rest, or seeking peace" inspired by the architectural art at one of Andi's favorite retreats, the Glencairn Museum Cloister in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania.
For further inspiration, I also found the Museum's mission statement, which "invites a diverse audience to engage with religious beliefs and practices, past and present, by exploring art, artifacts, and other cultural expressions of faith. By appealing to our common human endeavor to find meaning and purpose in our lives, we hope to foster empathy and build understanding among people of all beliefs, leading to positive social change through tolerance, compassion, and kindness."
Amen to that.
Here are some of the lovely photos of the Cloister that Andi sent us:
All exude peace, but I was drawn to the last photo above, the one with the two stone chairs facing each other. The more I looked at this image, the more I was overcome with a strong sense of longing because the chairs were empty.
Having no other plan (my usual approach!) I found myself addressing this longing on the page, by imagining the world as if these chairs were not empty... and went on from there. Here is the poem that emerged:
If another’s knees were to sit across from mine,
one of us might drag a fingertip along the window ledge
as if we were on a train; one of us might remark that the arches
—ah, bright arches— form a heart; one of us might know who poured
that concrete step; one of us might lean away from the chill
turning flesh to stone; one of us might say: sanctuary;
and the other reply: I hear the wheels must turn
ten thousand times. We would talk as rams and sheep do:
all about the grass and how it feeds the wide world.
---Sara Lewis Holmes (all rights reserved)
If you're curious about the Cloister, you can read more here. And if you need more loveliness in your life, here are six other beautiful poems on "sanctuary, rest, or seeking peace" from each of my Poetry Sisters:
This poem feels like I've eavesdropped on a monologue being spoken deep underground. I don't know exactly why, but that's how it makes me feel. Like it's full of deep truths but specific little moments, all at the same time.
It is such an amazing treasure for me to hear/read these poems about a place I love. You've pulled out the same sense of peace that I find in this space, these benches. My favorite lines: "We would talk as rams and sheep do:
all about the grass"
Something about that just grabs me; the familiar, intimate, foundational communication of loved ones, and how everyday it is, but so, so precious.
I am struck by an intimacy in this poem between the reader and the place and the characters to each other. And, the scope from knee to knee closeness to the wide, wide world is a gentle and important turn. Bravo!
Ten thousand times. How will we live through it? I guess, by sitting knee to knee with our beloveds and by lowering our shoulders to push straight and true.
Sometimes the mundane, everyday conversations are the ones that mean the most. I love the imagined conversation here. And Andi pointed out the lines that stuck with me: "We would talk as rams and sheep do:
The House of Angels is an outdoor sanctuary for prayer and healing, at 4738 Vermont Route 31, Poultney, VT 05764. We’re two and a half miles north of Granville, NY, and 4.7 miles south of Poultney, VT. Here are some photos! Scroll through them and watch for more in future posts.
0 Comments on House of Angels as of 5/5/2014 1:13:00 PM
I've always been a big fan of National Geographic they are one of (if not) the best at environmental and world focus magazines and books.
Recently I had the pleasure of reviewing "Soul of a Lion" by Barbara Bennett. If you love animals and/or Africa and feel strongly about the plight of both, this is the book for you.
A dream of mine has always been to snuggle with the large jungle cats of Africa - not normally possible unless you want to become lunch. However, Harnas Wildlife Foundation in Africa allows this experience. And it's totally safe!
Can you imagine feeding baby baboons, sleeping with a cheetah, bottle-feeding a young giraffe or just experiencing wildlife at its fullest? Author Barbara Bennett did this and more at Harnas in Nambia where nearly 400 orphaned, injured and abandoned wild animals are cared for by a team of volunteers, family and one dedicated, loving women - the owner of Harnas - Marieta van der Merwe.
Soul of a Lion: One Women's Quest to Rescue Africa's Wildlife takes the reader on an incredible journey of one women's quest to make a difference in the lives of so many hurting animals and the lost and needy children and bushmen of Nambia Africa.
Marieta never thought this would be the road her life would take. Being the only child of a cattle farmer she assumed this would be her calling in life, but after she rescued her first animal in 1978 word soon spread that she would take in needy animals. With the help of her animal-loving husband, Nick, Harnas was on it's way.
Come take the journey with Bennett as she personally experiences the hard work, hardships and pure joy of spending time with a menagerie of animals, including Boertji, the baboon with epilepsy and Down syndrome; Savanna, the one-eyed lioness; Gumbi the brown hyena and many many more. No animal is too "wild" or too "far-gone" for the caring hands of Harnas Wildlife Foundation.
"I live my dream every day. Taking care of animals was an easy choice for me. I am the happiest woman on Earth, not only because I can do what I've always dreamed about, but because I have the opportunity to share my dream with thousands of people in Nambia and around the globe..." [excerpt from foreword by Marieta van der Merwe]
Bennett's own personal, hands-on experience at Harnas makes this book a heart-warming and a must read tale of survival and dedication. Bennett writes, "saving animals because each deserve to live is a guiding force at Harnas. Virtually every animal at Harnas is being given a second chance and would most likely be dead if not for Marieta vander Merwe..."
To order a copy of Soul of a Lion by Barbara Bennett click here. Also available in book stores.
About the Author
Barbara Bennett is a professor of English at North Carolina State University and a frequent volunteer at Harnas Wildlife Foundation. She has written numerous articles for local magazines and scholarly publications. This is her first book.
I love how we looked at the same thing and went subtly different ways with it. I love how you incorporated the carvings!
Sara, I think I've said it before -- your poems are a treat!
This poem feels like I've eavesdropped on a monologue being spoken deep underground. I don't know exactly why, but that's how it makes me feel. Like it's full of deep truths but specific little moments, all at the same time.
It is such an amazing treasure for me to hear/read these poems about a place I love. You've pulled out the same sense of peace that I find in this space, these benches. My favorite lines:
"We would talk as rams
and sheep do:
all about the grass"
Something about that just grabs me; the familiar, intimate, foundational communication of loved ones, and how everyday it is, but so, so precious.
I, too, feel like I've eavesdropped on something very intimate, Sara. Beautiful. =)
I am struck by an intimacy in this poem between the reader and the place and the characters to each other. And, the scope from knee to knee closeness to the wide, wide world is a gentle and important turn. Bravo!
Ten thousand times. How will we live through it? I guess, by sitting knee to knee with our beloveds and by lowering our shoulders to push straight and true.
I just love the conditional "if" of this poem and how you bring it to life so beautifully.... Sigh. I would sit there with you...
Sometimes the mundane, everyday conversations are the ones that mean the most. I love the imagined conversation here. And Andi pointed out the lines that stuck with me:
"We would talk as rams
and sheep do:
all about the grass"
I love that you too wrote about the benches.
I love that you imagined yourself and another into the poem. Who was that other? The reader? A friend? Me? It's like an invitation, happily received.
Sanctuary. That is beautiful.