Category: Tenneson Woolf Poetry

I’ve been thinking a lot over the last week about a recent conversation I had with a UCC pastor. I was inspired to offer framing with him, to contrast efforts that focus on “what’s wrong” and invite efforts that focus on “what’s possible.” It’s a stuck point that many of us find our way to. It’s also a key release, a key action, to unstick with some focus on joy’s alchemizing ways.

And that got me to my journal, writing. Poetry, writing. Joy, seeking.

It matters
that some of us
seek
joy.

Even when
there is such prevalent
suffering.

Joy
isn’t
denial.

Joy is 
fierce
insistance.

Joy guides.
Joy lifts.
Joy reminds.
Joy carries.
Joy opens.
Joy positions.

Joy doesn’t overlook
what is hard, 
nor what is unjust.

It interrupts it,
claiming
matters.

There is particular beauty in Utah’s redrock regions that I haven’t known before. It’s the sheer cliffs. It’s hue of red stone and mountain against blue sky. It’s a particular kind of invited openness.

There is also particular beauty in life sweethearted together. Cliffs to approach together. Compliments. Hues. Invited openness.

There is beauty in connecting it all together. Life out there. Life in here. Endeavors shared in work and community. It’s what I’m grateful for. It’s what I wish for in so many places.

This life goes on,
rising to what matters.
Sun-blessed.

This life flowers,
budding yet again.
Sweetheart-kissed.

It was Delta Flight 2800 ten days ago. Salt Lake City to Dallas Fort Worth. Seat 10F. The flight was delayed several times, originally departing 10:40 am. Eventually departed 4:00 pm. Late enough in the day to catch sunset as we got close to Dallas. It was a day of a lot of moving parts. And patience. And working at the airport. And taking breaths — in the spirit of “why not enjoy it.”

I love the horizon view. Seen and scene through the airplane window. It’s natural to pause when seeing such a horizon. Moves my heart. Creates focus. Shares beauty.

If you’ve been reading this blog over the last two years, you’ll know that relationship with Sweetheart Dana is a tremendously compelling horizon. What a thing to live out our lives together. To live out our love together. To live out our choices together.

Often, my health and well-being grows through poetry. Some read. Some written. I’m one that needs and is inspired by the simple stories. Recently, I wrote it this way, affirming the compelling light of love.

One simple story 
centers and grounds
many big stories.

This I know,
and need.

“I just love you so much,” 
she smiled,
when I asked for the simple story now.

This I know,
and need.

The photo is of recent trip to Wyoming. That’s the Snake River. I was drawn to the beauty of water flowing next to snowy forest.

The words below reflect learning to me. Of specific circumstance present in my life. Yet also of generic circumstance so common to many.

I seek to follow the potent learning of now. It’s beauty. It’s challenge. I seek to be with what I myself might be asking, subconsciously, for Life to teach.

There is potent learning here.
Of loss.
Of judgement.
Of poor behavior.

It might be true that Life gives you what you ask for.
Or need.
Or that challenges.
Or that sometimes even transforms.

While you are in your poor behavior.
I am in mine.
We are in ours.

And life goes on.
Teaching.
Yet, perhaps inviting flow.