It’s the June bank holiday weekend. I have snuck off, and am using the time to write. So, this is the past me, saying hello to you today. Hello.
As many of you will have figured out by now, poetry is one of my fuels. I think it can be fuel for the world too, especially in helping us navigate these dark times. It acts as both map and torch, compass and geography. It acts as glue too.
I try to weave poetry into hidden places. I have some Mary Oliver lines on my bathroom mirror, the ones about living our one wild and precious life.
I leave poetry voice notes for friends, and handwritten poems as gifts. I bring poems on picnics and on long drives. I often record myself reading poems then play them back to myself when I need their comfort. It’s a remarkably nourishing thing.
I love to bring poetry to places people may not expect. Many of my classes in university begin and end with poetry. It sets a learning tone, then helps the learning to land. I use it as a facilitation tool too helping spark conversation and dialogue, and have hosted poetry circles as ways of bridging understanding across cultural divides. The Poetry salon travels with me wherever I go. I’ve hosted salons in Ireland, US, UK and I hope there will be many more. Poetry is doing most of the work here. I am merely a joyrider.
And there is one place, ordinarily so dull, where no one has imagined looking for poetry. But when they find it, it’s magic: the out of office reply!
It’s a simple trick really. When I have my out of office on, I add a poem, and change it for the season. I get the most beautiful replies from people, who often say the poem caught them off guard and helped lighten a load. What an easy win.
I’ve just added one for this long weekend. It’s a poem that feels so relevant for now, inviting us to tenderness, to curiosity towards ourselves as well as others.
It’s ‘Love’ by Czeslaw Milosz.
Love means to learn to look at yourself The way one looks at distant things For you are only one thing among many. And whoever sees that way heals his heart, Without knowing it, from various ills— A bird and a tree say to him: Friend. Then he wants to use himself and things So that they stand in the glow of ripeness. It doesn’t matter whether he knows what he serves: Who serves best doesn’t always understand.
Oh my, how I love those last lines, to stand in the glow of ripeness, and to not quite understand what or who we serve.
So, your creative retreat/ challenge this week, is to put some poetry where people may least expect it! A waiting room perhaps? Or posting a poem in a neighbours letterbox? Or writing a line of poetry in the sand?
Let’s do some guerrilla poetry! I would LOVE to hear/see what you do.
Upcoming Salons on The Wild Edge
Our next Poetry Salon on The Wild Edge is Sunday 8th June, 6-7pm Irish/UK time.
This is an hour of reading poetry together and sharing reflections. Participants have called it ‘a spa for the mind’ and ‘a sanctuary in turbulent times’. I’ll take that!
This is open to all paid members. Do come :)
And the next seasonal salon following the Celtic Calendar is on June 20th (7-8.30pm Irish/Uk time) for Summer Solstice. This will blend poems with writing prompts and seasonal creative ritual, and a beautifully powerful way to make the turning of the year. Tickets included in ‘Gold/ Founding’ membership of The Wild Edge, or otherwise sold here. Yes, do come!
Here are other poetry posts you may also enjoy
Becoming a Member
If you are enjoying and finding value in The Wild Edge, please consider becoming a paid subscriber (and if you are already, thank you!) Your subscription helps me to bring this work to more people, and gains you access to salons, writing sanctuaries, seasonal guides and regular co-creation hours. While it is a labour of love, hosting The Wild Edge takes many hours each week. I have lots of plans and ideas, and I recently became a top 100 Rising in Education on Substack- but can’t develop this alone or without resource. Another way to support, is to tell others! Word of mouth is a powerful tool of connection.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh. Thank you so much. Clare x
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