Before I knew your name Oh Beloved! I have darted over bear grass Fields in thunderstorms Dancing, rejoicing your Name before I knew your Words on my lips. I knew you then as that Tension in the air Before it storms The swift movement My fishers cap caught In the wind And those quiet evenings With the young British Soldier On the porch Of the hut with frosty windows- Them inside, us outside My companions playing cards Drinking constant comment tea Courtney circling her hand On the window To peek at us on the deck This glacial night Me on tiptoe Leaning over to brush his Lips with mine. During this time of my life, I knew you only as The loons knew you- My eyes too tired to open, The smell of the musty green Tent and last night’s bug spray And hot coco on my lips. But still I would rise; Walk to the water’s edge The stillness like solitude In prayer Although my lips did not yet Utter creeds But songs Welcoming the dawn light The launch of my solo canoe Wood gliding though water, My paddle careful to carry me to The ridge where I would Greet the day. Before I knew prayer My body moved In your name. A dance of rejoicing With your creation. Now I read from script Now I utter creeds and promises, My ankles thick and Aching For the temple of Pine needles and hot coco And thunderstorms, My simple Breath In a canoe At dawn. –Frances Corry Frances Corry lives and writes in Madison Wisconsin. She has a BA. from University of Wisconsin- Madison in English/Creative Writing, and an MSW from University of Chicago. Combining these backgrounds, she works with groups of older adults to help them write their life stories. She can be contacted at [email protected] . She has been in Julie Tallard Johnson's Writing circles, and is in the Mentorship Program that Julie offers. "Writing is a deeply personal, vulnerable and spiritual endeavor for me. Julie has been instrumental in helping me explore and put to the page the little and big miracles in life. " (Frances) Join Frances and other writers for my three free FIRST FRIDAYS to retreat, write, connect. First Friday's of December, January & February. On January 1st I will take you through the process of creating a writer's VISION BOARD, scripting & writing first paragraphs of your stories! Email me to sign up (room for 5 more): [email protected]. (Free but a donation will be welcomed.) As many of you know the writing program though the UW, Madison Continuing Studies is closing June, 2021. My FINAL CLASS offering through that program is coming up in February: The Vulnerability of Writing Nonfiction: The Threads of Autobiographical Writing Each session will have lessons on the journey and the craft of writing nonfiction. This is for those working on a nonfiction project, be it an essay, a memoir, or a blog series or spiritual teaching memoir. Each student will have their subject and theme defined along with a path to creating and developing their ideas. In Option 2, you’ll send in up to ten pages of your work for consultation and guidance and receive a 20-minute one-on-one Zoom session about your pages. 6 sessions; Feb 1, 8-9, 15, 22-23.
1 Comment
Pat Payas
11/25/2020 09:50:12 am
How does she do that? It was fabulous and inspiring.
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Transformational & Embodied Counselor & Mentor
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Mentor, therapist, citizen
Transformational & Embodied Counselor & Mentor
Most rights reserved. Admin