Good evening poets. Mr Scribbles is back from his travels, almost over the jet lag and happy to be resident in the house for another round of Poetics.
I have been reading a wonderful book called Anam Cara by the Irish poet/philosopher John O’Donohue, and in it are a number of very moving and profound Blessing poems.
I find this form to be enormously uplifting and with the world being what it is today I think offering up a wave of Blessings from our collective poet’s mind can’t be a bad thing.
Here’s an example from John himself and then one from James Wright to inspire you.
Beannacht
“On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.
And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.”
A Blessing
“Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.”
So let us put pen to paper tonight and write a Blessing Poem. May our words create ripples of light and hope in the pond of the world.
Here is how you can take part:
- Write a Blessing Poem on your blog and link your blog back here to dVerse.
- Submit your poem to the Mister Linky below. It will be open until MTB on Thursday.
- Read what other poets have linked and comment on their poems. We get to know each other better that way.
- Have fun.
paul scribbles said:
Good evening all. So good to be back at the bar after my travels. I look forward to multiple poetry blessings this fine evening. As always there will be a fine array of single malts behind the bar along with the quintessential summer drink Pimms with lemonade, ice, cucumber, orange and mint….non alcoholic punch here too. Happy writing.
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nosaintaugustine said:
Wow, that James Wright poem, how exquisitely tender.
paul scribbles said:
Glad you liked it. Welcome to the bar.
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paul scribbles said:
I think I may have opened the bar an hour early…ah well…I’ll be sipping Scotch till you all arrive 😉
sangbad said:
Wrote one this eve…but do not know can it be consider as Blessing Poem…title is Door…can you check it in my blog…
paul scribbles said:
I’ll take a look.
paul scribbles said:
It’s a lovely poem but i agree with you…not a blessing….maybe try to pen one…you have time.
sangbad said:
Okay…thanks for the visit & review…will try to come up with one…
sangbad said:
Paul, the link not working at my end…will try tomorrow…sharing the link here for your review…good night…
paul scribbles said:
Nice job. I’ll see if I can link it.
sangbad said:
Thanks Paul…I have been able to linked it at last…
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sarahsouthwest said:
Blessings on this house!
paul scribbles said:
Thank You Sarah.
Grace said:
A wonderful and inspiring poem and prompt of blessings ~ May we all be blessed with goodness and love ~ Thanks Paul for hosting ~
paul scribbles said:
Welcome Grace.
lillian said:
Any sangria in the house? Thanks for hosting Paul and many many thanks for this wonderful prompt! Hope to read many uplifting posts….in this times when we are assailed by 24/7 news, it is nice to soar with hope. 🙂
paul scribbles said:
Sangria coming right up Lillian. Welcome to the bar.
kim881 said:
Hi Paul! So pleased to see you back at the bar from your drumming adventures. I loved both poems, but I’m afraid mine is very short as I’m not able to spend much time writing at the moment due to marking exams and having an eye infection – not a good combination when the marking is on-line. I will try to read as many poems as possible this evening but I may have to give up quite soon.
paul scribbles said:
Hi Kim. Fully understand. I have been there too recently. Look forward to your poem.
kim881 said:
You’re a star!
sarahsouthwest said:
You’d better make mine a double…
paul scribbles said:
Coming right up.
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frankhubeny said:
Thanks for hosting, Paul, and the nice prompt. I finally got mine finished.
paul scribbles said:
Welcome Frank. Look forward to reading.
petrujviljoen said:
Oh heavens, I think I may have posted not quite what you were after Paul. Please remove the link please?
paul scribbles said:
Are you sure? I think the blessing them is clear in your poem…from a cat’s perspective.
petrujviljoen said:
Oh, okay then.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello all… a bit late to the pub… was on the town a bit tonight… no need for anything expect water.
paul scribbles said:
lol…we have some of that…somewhere ;0
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I had some great Irish Cider tonight already.
paul scribbles said:
A glass of iced water coming your way Bjorn.
kim881 said:
May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold – here’s the link to YouTube – what a blessing from John Martyn!
paul scribbles said:
One of my all time faves. Thanks for sharing.
Bodhirose said:
Loved this, Kim. Thanks for sharing a beautiful song of blessing.
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whippetwisdom said:
Thank you for hosting tonight with such a beautiful prompt Paul. I am linking a post from the morning after the Grenfell Tower fire and the blessings found in all the help that came. I would love an iced green tea if you have one :o)
paul scribbles said:
Iced green tea coming your way Zenia. Thanks for linking up your beautiful poem.
whippetwisdom said:
Thank you Paul and you are very welcome :o)
Kathy Reed said:
Thanks for this lovely prompt, Paul. I would like write a blessings poem and am still working on my Haibun for yesterday…and the Villanelle from last week…may be able to do it all if you could please serve me a strawberry margarita?
paul scribbles said:
Strawberry Margarita coming right up. Sounds like you might need to come back for another to get you through that workload 😉
Bodhirose said:
Paul, thank you for such a beautiful prompt today…it really spoke to my heart.
paul scribbles said:
You’re welcome Gayle. I’m glad it spoke to you.
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whippetwisdom said:
I have linked a second post, one I wrote following the attack outside Finsbury Park mosque last week. I am ready for a Laphroiag now :o)
paul scribbles said:
I have a Laphroaig PX cask dram just waiting here for you.It’s delicious.
whippetwisdom said:
Thank you that looks lovely! Slainte! :o)
paul scribbles said:
I’m nipping out for a mo. Mrs Scribbles has had a very very long day at work with the ofsted inspectors ( same again tomorrow) and needs food, drink and TLC. I must away and tend to her needs. Back later. Keep the ripples coming.
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Charley said:
“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” Even so! It is a wonderful prompt. Barkeep, a Murphy’s if you please. And a blessing upon you and your household, each and every one!
paul scribbles said:
A pint of the dark stuff coming your way Charley.
Charley said:
Thank he, sir! To you!
paul scribbles said:
Slainte
Charley said:
Sláinte agad-sa
kanzensakura said:
Such a beautiful prompt Paul. For some reason, bursting into blossom puts me in mind of the tale of Tannhauser.
paul scribbles said:
Thanks. I’ll have to look that tale up.
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Singledust said:
welcome home and back to hosting Paul! What a lovely prompt to write about our blessings in a world and time when a lot of things seem so hopeless and grim. Thank you for sharing those poems they are very beautiful and uplifting.
paul scribbles said:
You are welcome.
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jillys2016 said:
Welcome back, Paul! I wrote three blessings before I was satisfied. I am posting only the last one which was born of sleeping during a thunderstorm. Perhaps an Irish coffee would work well (yawn) as I shake off the cobwebs of my brain!
paul scribbles said:
One Irish coffee coming right up.
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paul scribbles said:
The midnight hour approaches here and jet lag still dances it’s dance with me so tis off to bed I go with a heart full of blessings. I’ll be back for more on the morrow. Play nice.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Sleep well. There is such a time difference between us!
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Victoria C. Slotto said:
Paul, this is such a meaningful prompt and so needed in our poor world right now. I am working on one and hope to have it up soon.
paul scribbles said:
Morning Victoria. I look forward to reading this.
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Forgot to link it yesterday. You are a great host.
paul scribbles said:
Thank You.
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crow said:
I’m afraid I went quite angry.
paul scribbles said:
There were no rules. Technically a Blessing could be defined as a ‘gift from God.’ Who is to say anger is not that?
jerennazuto said:
Nice prompt! It’s time to spread some love!
paul scribbles said:
I look forward to your contribution.
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paul scribbles said:
Thank You all so much for your contributions to this prompt. We are truly blessed by words.
May the wind at your back
carry with it the hopes and dreams
of all your tomorrows
May the rain that falls
wash the sorrows and pains
from all of your days
May the sun that shines
upon your countenance
bring with it lightness for your soul
and in all of this
May the beloved hold your heart
as you walk upon this earth and beyond
Paul Scribbles
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Dr. Crystal Howe said:
❤ amazing prompt, Paul! Nothing speaks to the heart quite like an Irish blessing.
paul scribbles said:
Thanks Dr Crystal
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Mish said:
Nice to see you behind the bar, Paul. This truly is a very moving and inspiring prompt …and timeless. Blessings are needed now and always.
paul scribbles said:
Thanks Mish
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paul scribbles said:
Blessed Be
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