Every time I read one of these, I think, “this is my favorite.” This said, I think this one is my favorite. The poems and the (sports) metaphors speak so many words. My spouse and I have friends who have somehow never been to a high school football game (or any football game). And whenever we go to one (our eldest daughter is in the high school band), we tell our friends they have to come with us sometime for the cultural anthropological experience. To see what are kids are being inducted into.
Thank you always, Karen! I appreciate you reading. And yes...sports as metaphor for so much, not just the beautiful, but also the absurd, the strange. All the ways our society teaches us things, and sometimes not the best things. Hoping you're well!
Tree bark under my fingertips, the tree's own fingerprint, is majestic and breath-taking - it interrupts whatever thoughts go spinning across my mind and gives a moment to me to be thankful for the world. And poetry. "If we climb a mountain only to conquer it, then such conquering becomes the basis for our lives. But if we climb it to support someone else in their effort, then such support becomes the basis of our lives. Or if we climb it to say thank you, then such generosity becomes the basis for our lives. We have a choice"
Mountain balm. Thank you for all the ways you navigated the complexities of the poem and your own reflections. Like an experienced guide taking me up and down his favorite trails. Thank you!
Beautiful reflection, as always. I often think about the things I am given. I just returned from a week of scuba diving and open-water swimming in Bonaire, where my heart was full of the gifts I received. The fish, the eels, the turtles, the cliffs of coral extending below the shore to the sandy bottom. The calm, turquoise water to the west. The darker, turbulent water on the north and east sides. All of it such a gift. (I also love cycling, and the reflection on that).
And now that I am thinking more about this reflection, I am connecting it to a bike ride my husband and I do every year for Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF). It is a fundraiser ride held in different locations. It is very inspirational. Managing Type1 diabetes with exercise is tricky. Our first year doing it, we came upon a young rider with Type 1 who was alone (which should not happen). It is hard to stop mothering people; I asked him if his blood sugar and hydration were OK. They were, he was just exhausted. It was his first long-distance event. We decided to carry him to the next rest stop. My husband got in front of him so he could draft and I got behind him to keep an eye on him. We engaged him in enough conversation to distract him. We arrived at the next rest stop. He wanted to keep going, so we connected with his coach and hatched a plan to get him to the finish. He felt such a sense of accomplishment. It was a gift to us to carry him.
Such a wonderful story, Cass, and such an act of generosity and attention. I've had so many people carry me through so many long races and runs...it's a special thing. Thank you for this, and for reading.
Every time I read one of these, I think, “this is my favorite.” This said, I think this one is my favorite. The poems and the (sports) metaphors speak so many words. My spouse and I have friends who have somehow never been to a high school football game (or any football game). And whenever we go to one (our eldest daughter is in the high school band), we tell our friends they have to come with us sometime for the cultural anthropological experience. To see what are kids are being inducted into.
Thank you always, Karen! I appreciate you reading. And yes...sports as metaphor for so much, not just the beautiful, but also the absurd, the strange. All the ways our society teaches us things, and sometimes not the best things. Hoping you're well!
Tree bark under my fingertips, the tree's own fingerprint, is majestic and breath-taking - it interrupts whatever thoughts go spinning across my mind and gives a moment to me to be thankful for the world. And poetry. "If we climb a mountain only to conquer it, then such conquering becomes the basis for our lives. But if we climb it to support someone else in their effort, then such support becomes the basis of our lives. Or if we climb it to say thank you, then such generosity becomes the basis for our lives. We have a choice"
Thank you so much for this, and for reading. Appreciate you!
Mountain balm. Thank you for all the ways you navigated the complexities of the poem and your own reflections. Like an experienced guide taking me up and down his favorite trails. Thank you!
thank you always!
Beautiful reflection, as always. I often think about the things I am given. I just returned from a week of scuba diving and open-water swimming in Bonaire, where my heart was full of the gifts I received. The fish, the eels, the turtles, the cliffs of coral extending below the shore to the sandy bottom. The calm, turquoise water to the west. The darker, turbulent water on the north and east sides. All of it such a gift. (I also love cycling, and the reflection on that).
And now that I am thinking more about this reflection, I am connecting it to a bike ride my husband and I do every year for Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF). It is a fundraiser ride held in different locations. It is very inspirational. Managing Type1 diabetes with exercise is tricky. Our first year doing it, we came upon a young rider with Type 1 who was alone (which should not happen). It is hard to stop mothering people; I asked him if his blood sugar and hydration were OK. They were, he was just exhausted. It was his first long-distance event. We decided to carry him to the next rest stop. My husband got in front of him so he could draft and I got behind him to keep an eye on him. We engaged him in enough conversation to distract him. We arrived at the next rest stop. He wanted to keep going, so we connected with his coach and hatched a plan to get him to the finish. He felt such a sense of accomplishment. It was a gift to us to carry him.
Such a wonderful story, Cass, and such an act of generosity and attention. I've had so many people carry me through so many long races and runs...it's a special thing. Thank you for this, and for reading.
Beautiful work. One of my favorites of Petrosino’s poems, and from the anthology. Your reflections move.
I left your words thinking about your resonance with Toni Morrison saying, “the only grace is the grace you can imagine”
Soon,
MaKshya,
(near that “strange mountain”)
Thank you for that Morrison quote! I love it. And thank you for reading -- appreciate you.