An Afternoon In The Mist / An Impromptu Salon ...

For a few hours, in the cold and inhospitability of a rainy afternoon at the Palisades, grace visited through the mist.  Sitting under the covered pavilion near the Alpine Boat Basin, just past old Mrs. Kearny's Tavern, I sat in silence and found myself at a threshold place.  Almost effortlessly, a poem made itself available to me, and I stepped into its embrace.  I wrote about what I saw, about what I've been feeling, mixing this world with the Other in a way that will make total sense to anyone who has lived through my trials, but will hopefully be universal to anyone who hasn't.  It's one of my favorites.  I hope you like it.

There is a fine mist in the distance

above the water

obscuring Tarrytown

Obscuring my future

compelling me to live

only in this moment

This universe

This absence

She’s not here

though I would show her that mist

those waves

this universe I inhabit

Out there

there’s a world outside of ... 

l o n g i n g

A world outside of transformation

cocoons

revelations

I would go there

and I would bring her with me

On a ship to the West

through the mist

Past Tír na nÓg

to the birthplace of stories

It is still cold here

in this universe I inhabit

So I keep moving

walking

climbing

living

To keep warm
to hold the space

to be of use

I imagine those are red berries in the distance

though they are probably just buds that

like me

thought it was their time to shine

Like a beacon

so she wouldn’t have to be

afraid of the dark anymore

Instead I tap the word

I N V I S I B L E

in Morse Code

and cross the threshold into the mist

Where I will wait for Spring to bloom

for the wheel to turn

for the Fire that will make me

whole again

Words by Icarus

04.05.11 - 141pm

After a sad last visit to one of my favorite bookstores (Borders in Fort Lee, another victim of the Borders purge) it was time to head home and have a quick lunch before running right back out to work at the 'Seed.    It was a quiet night, which allowed time to tell the story of my pause to Harsha, Susan and Eric, who were all supportive, and who all surprised me by once again letting me know that I have been missed.  Upon my return home, it was a welcome surprise to see that Katherine was still over.  E had cooked dinner for her birthday and we sang and had cake and somehow, after all this time away, an impromptu salon occurred.  It was strange for me to step back into that space, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

'Twas a surprisingly full day.  Now it's time to rest.