I’m a senior, about to hit the big 80, I spend way too much time alone, which brings on bouts of depression. Art and meditation are my solace. From the porch in my country home in Rhinebeck New York I meditate on the butterflies as they flutter . Thinner, then sheets of paper, yet those monarchs fly and make it to Mexico and South America. Butterflies became my theme for the year. I’ve had several falls, but I fall like a butterfly, I float like a piece of paper in the wind, and have managed not break any bones. I am light like a butterfly. I am strong like a butterfly.💖
Beautifully written. And congrats on the big 80. I live in Austin but brother lives in Beacon, not so far from your beautiful town. Wouldn’t it be fab to convene a group of readers here in person some day soon enough
I love your reply and happy almost 80th birthday! Your reflections on butterflies are beautiful. Here's to your lightness and strength - you've added to mine today. Thank you.
Suzi, your words are so beautiful and truly moved me. Thank you. Happy Birthday as you are about to celebrate your 80th birthday. Sending you gratitude and love this morning. 🙏🏻❤️
What a beautiful and inspiring metaphor, one that will stay with me and that I'll celebrate whenever I see a butterfly. I'm 71 and a retired RN geriatric care manager, so I work at keeping myself strong in order to lower my risk of falling. However, I have had a few falls but without serious injuries. Still I wince when this happens, knowing that I'll have to answer the question, "have you had any falls?" when I go to my doctor visits. Thank you again for giving me something to hold onto and smile about as I age. Being an older adult is an experience of being mindful out of necessity, which then also becomes an opportunity to experience all of the beauty within and around us. I'm finding it to be a very open hearted and meditative time. Thank you Suleika and Jon for being so uplifting.
For all of you, who liked my comment, I’m teaching an art and meditation workshop at the Omega Institute in May called “Path of the Butterfly: Fearless in Life and Art”. www.omega.org. Omega is wonderful and we will have fun.💖🌺🦋🙏🏻
Suzi, what a gift you are! I love your words, I wish I could come join you on your porch, for a cup of tea. I also am in awe of butterflies- they gather here in Santa Cruz in their thousands and their migration is such an inspiration. You are not alone! ❤️
With tears in my eyes and compassion in my spirit , I smile because your journey has landed you at the Grammys with your soul mate. I’m in love with the song lyrics of Butterfly and will write on how it pulled at my heart strings. I had a boutique in Santa Monica named, “ Golden Butterfly”. I got my one and only tattoo of our custom made butterfly logo in Paris on my 50th birthday. I release butterflies on the angelversary of my daughter, Lyric’s flight to heaven which took off on August 14, 2018. Today I found a booklet Lyric made in elementary school called “ Butterfly”
Tonight I listened to your song, Butterfly, and felt God hug me and Lyric kiss her Mama.
I want it to win the Grammy and I’ll be looking for your beautiful face in the audience 🦋🎶🦋
Thank you for sharing your story of butterflies and Lyric. Finding that booklet, feeling God's hug and Lyric's kiss...oh my goodness, you've moved me this morning.
Your connections to butterflies is beautiful and moving, Jennifer—creatures carry messages that our hearts need. The universe is magical and mysterious and your daughter lives on. 💜
In 2001the spirit of my beautiful niece left at age 10 to join the free souls of the spirit world after a 5 year struggle with rhabdomyosarcoma. My sister still strugggles with this, especially on the anniversary date. I'm going to share your inspirational ritual and "angelverssary" with her. I fell like she'll like this positive way of reframing this date. I do. Thank you so much!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful words, Jennifer. Brought tears to my eyes. Big loving hugs to you from a once resident of Santa Monica living in Maine. xo
It took me a day (and a night) to write you. I just wept when I read your post. My Momma's heart was both breaking for you and standing in awe of your strength. This morning, I had the courage to write past sadness to witness Lyric's memory. Beyond Beautiful.
What a fantastic, creative prompt! So unusual, I can't wait to try it. As usual, I loved both the essays today. That scene in the airport in American Symphony is so, so moving. I always think, during the hard times, if we could only zoom out a little to see how the whole story fits -- how painful that moment was, and impossible to know then that you'd be returning two years later for a song that holds so much meaning and memory. I always notice this when I read over my old journals and whisper to myself, "zoom out", see the whole picture and how each moment fits together...
"Whisper to myself, zoom out" - how truly beautiful. I can be quick to react in the moment and get tangled in anger or disappointment or hurt which is not constructive - zooming out lets the issue ventilate a bit and affords me a calm that I desperately seek. Thanks for your wisdom.
I think being quick to react or feeling all the emotions in the moment is perfectly human and natural. It takes a lot of practice to be able to take a step back and all for that ventilation sometimes! Thanks for your kind words :)
Still thinking about this, I can't help but notice how you speak to yourself; in a "whisper" softly and gently - that's such self love and regard. Something I struggle with, yet so key.
Thank you so much for this prompt. My lymphoma is back and treatment looms. I'm told all will be well and, in my head, I believe this to be true. Apparently, my heart is not so sure and is sending flutters at odd times, offering me an alternative issue to focus on.
This prompt -- especially Suleika's invitation to use Jon's lyrics -- offered me a way to explore my emotions in a different way. I used the first stanza and put my thoughts into a renga (essentially a haiku -- 5/7/5 -- followed by two seven syllable lines). Though this form is usually done by multiple poets in collaboration, I found it offered me a lovely frame for this prompt.
I couldn't find a way to bold in this comment box, but his words are in there.
This weeks prompt-was to share lyrics. My thoughts brought me to Billie Holliday who I love profoundly. Many many times and over and over. The world can be pretty disheartening--but somehow the depths of Billie's interpretation although bringng me to tears also was and is a tower of strength.
it's Black History Month...the lyrics... so many times I listened over and over... remembering those that nursed and loved me.. the world was cruel.. Billie knew.. I searched her out on 125 Stree before....I love her candor and truth. .. "Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees---"
"Little white flowers will never awaken you · Angels have no thought of ever returning you"
I share your love love love for Billie Holiday too. Those lyrics are gut wrenching and I’m always sad and still while listening to them. I wore gardenias in my hair for my prom and my wedding
I’m going to write this week’s exercise when my brain is a little more awake. But I wanted to mention the class I took at Michigan’s School of Music, Theater and Dance (or as we call it, SMTD). It matched up writing students and composing students - people like you and Jon. We collaborated to create songs, starting with single lines, then verses, then entire songs. I got to see how a composer chooses notes; they got to see how a writer chooses words. At the end of the semester, our class put on a concert, with performing arts students singing our songs. It was such a joy to hear what we had created come to life. Monica would have been a wonderful classmate.
I would like to share the lyrics of a song I wrote long ago. Over the years, it has gifted me many connections with people who are struggling through one thing or another. The title is Baptism of Fire (by Julie Snow, my maiden and songwriting name)
I really related to all that you wrote. I’m waiting for my radiation to begin and find myself somewhat frozen, unable to pray, unable to move or think Somehow seeing your creativity lifted me, gave me something to do, held the thoughts in a different way. Showed me a way to create. Thank you.
Two years into my multiple myeloma treatment, my husband and I started writing our own words to Hotel California by the Eagles. We called it Hotel Myeloma. The last lines we kept the same because myeloma is incurable but treatable. The lines are. “ you can check in but you can never check out”. We often start singing our words to the song as we are going to an appointment or waiting to see the doctor. I am 8 years post diagnosis and it still helps me! Thank you Monica and Ironman and Jarvis!
Oh my gosh - I would Love to sing your song in my hospital room, full tilt. I envision me teaching my nurses the chorus so they could be my back-up singers. Yay for 8 years & thriving!!
Yes! Yes! One of them already is into karaoke, so a few doo-wops and sashays across the floor would be right up their alley! I'm all in for taking the edge off. Good on you!
Thank you for this view of cancer! I feel the same way about being unable to check out of ovarian cancer (incurable but treatable)... your post made me smile. I am so glad to hear you are 8 years post-diagnosis and thriving! Long may this be the case.
I have butterflies everywhere in my home. Symbolic of transformation and freedom to me. The lyrics:
A butterfly searches for home-the struggle
But can you fly there on your own?-you have the power
Let your wings spread far and wide-leave yourself alone for freedom and space to fly
A butterfly finding home-you know where you belong
A pack of gum and the golden sun- don’t need much when you find it
Vintage fashion and tales you’ve spun- this stuff is as real as it can get!
I see you're driving 'round with your head held high-finding grace!
A butterfly finding home
Stay a while here with me
Catching rays and feeling free
Like when we were young and so in love
'Cause you know who you are
You're a butterfly-the butterfly has worked so hard from a caterpillar to breaking free to its gloriousness that no one know how long it will last. But I’ve found you! I see you! I love you! I set you free! To all the beautiful butterflies in our community and our Queen bees: Suleika, Carmen, Holly!
Hi Sherri...this is sort of awkward. The words above...are mine infused with Jon's. His lyrics are different (and oh so fabulous!) Without his poem and without Suleika's prompt, my poem would not exist)
I was so deeply moved by your essay and Monica’s. Looking forward to cheering on Jon and you tonight and trying Monica’s prompt later today. Hers reminds me a little of erasure poetry only moving in the opposite direction: building rather than excavating. Best of luck tonight! I’m remembering what your doctor said in American Symphony about not just surviving but living. Fly, Suleika! 🦋
Erasure poetry in reverse was my immediate reaction when I first read this week’s prompt as I read it at 3a PST just before going to bed. Feel asleep with lyrics floating through my brain and heart 💜
Dear Suleika, I believe this beloved community will be wrapping you in our love and care and joy as you celebrate being with Jon tonight. You’ve both already won the biggest prize. You have each other and your health is returning. Is there truly anything that could summon more gratitude? Bless you!
I am so very happy to know you will be going to the Grammys! Butterfly is my favorite song on the album and all of Jon's nominations should become wins...so genius! Billy Bob Bo...amazing concept! A song that has actually helped me throughout my life is 'What A Wonderful World," and of course I love Jon's version too. It helps me remember...especially when I've had an overdose of the news...it truly is a wonderful world. I'm going to try the exercise using those lyrics. Have so much fun!
What a true celebration and joy—with light-full brilliant song! The photograph of you two in artistic communion is stunning. Thank you for opening up this freedom prayer and day with us. I feel connected, not alone. Love fills and overflows to many, friends near and far. Cause you know who you are…
A quiet morning within. BUTTERFLY taken flight after ALL these years struggling ALONE.
BUT (YET) how CAN i truly see YOU, truly be you, truly FLY your flight? ON bejeweled wings, on YOUR OWN …
Ever TAKE this present moment for YOURself, my Love. ever PLACE your awareness IN wonder, your breath in harmony with the moon & stars. smile with kindness at this WORLD and these people TODAY.
AN unveiling ~ borne from chrysalis on to the breezes of life …
I’m a senior, about to hit the big 80, I spend way too much time alone, which brings on bouts of depression. Art and meditation are my solace. From the porch in my country home in Rhinebeck New York I meditate on the butterflies as they flutter . Thinner, then sheets of paper, yet those monarchs fly and make it to Mexico and South America. Butterflies became my theme for the year. I’ve had several falls, but I fall like a butterfly, I float like a piece of paper in the wind, and have managed not break any bones. I am light like a butterfly. I am strong like a butterfly.💖
Beautifully written. And congrats on the big 80. I live in Austin but brother lives in Beacon, not so far from your beautiful town. Wouldn’t it be fab to convene a group of readers here in person some day soon enough
I love your reply and happy almost 80th birthday! Your reflections on butterflies are beautiful. Here's to your lightness and strength - you've added to mine today. Thank you.
Love that you fall like a butterfly & float like a piece of paper…that’s a skill, a gift.
Suzi, your words are so beautiful and truly moved me. Thank you. Happy Birthday as you are about to celebrate your 80th birthday. Sending you gratitude and love this morning. 🙏🏻❤️
I love this perspective. Thank you so much for your wisdom. I will keep it with me forever ✨
Suzi, this is so powerful. You are "strong like a butterfly."
What a beautiful and inspiring metaphor, one that will stay with me and that I'll celebrate whenever I see a butterfly. I'm 71 and a retired RN geriatric care manager, so I work at keeping myself strong in order to lower my risk of falling. However, I have had a few falls but without serious injuries. Still I wince when this happens, knowing that I'll have to answer the question, "have you had any falls?" when I go to my doctor visits. Thank you again for giving me something to hold onto and smile about as I age. Being an older adult is an experience of being mindful out of necessity, which then also becomes an opportunity to experience all of the beauty within and around us. I'm finding it to be a very open hearted and meditative time. Thank you Suleika and Jon for being so uplifting.
For all of you, who liked my comment, I’m teaching an art and meditation workshop at the Omega Institute in May called “Path of the Butterfly: Fearless in Life and Art”. www.omega.org. Omega is wonderful and we will have fun.💖🌺🦋🙏🏻
It is www.eomega.org
Suzi, what a gift you are! I love your words, I wish I could come join you on your porch, for a cup of tea. I also am in awe of butterflies- they gather here in Santa Cruz in their thousands and their migration is such an inspiration. You are not alone! ❤️
Oh you’re a beautiful warrior butterfly 🦋🩵🦋
Beautiful and inspiring words,. Happy birthday to you, Suzi and congratulations on 80. Sending the warmest of hugs from the coast of Maine. xo
You are a gift to the world, Suzi! Long may you fly! 💜🧡🙏🏽
I love the idea of a butterfly being light and strong at the same time, thank you for your beautiful words. And HAPPY 80th!
Brava Beautiful Butterfly Suleika🦋👐🏾🦋
With tears in my eyes and compassion in my spirit , I smile because your journey has landed you at the Grammys with your soul mate. I’m in love with the song lyrics of Butterfly and will write on how it pulled at my heart strings. I had a boutique in Santa Monica named, “ Golden Butterfly”. I got my one and only tattoo of our custom made butterfly logo in Paris on my 50th birthday. I release butterflies on the angelversary of my daughter, Lyric’s flight to heaven which took off on August 14, 2018. Today I found a booklet Lyric made in elementary school called “ Butterfly”
Tonight I listened to your song, Butterfly, and felt God hug me and Lyric kiss her Mama.
I want it to win the Grammy and I’ll be looking for your beautiful face in the audience 🦋🎶🦋
Love,
Jennifer
loved everything about your post---and love the name Lyric---thank you for sharing her spirit with us today.
Thank you for sharing your story of butterflies and Lyric. Finding that booklet, feeling God's hug and Lyric's kiss...oh my goodness, you've moved me this morning.
Your connections to butterflies is beautiful and moving, Jennifer—creatures carry messages that our hearts need. The universe is magical and mysterious and your daughter lives on. 💜
In 2001the spirit of my beautiful niece left at age 10 to join the free souls of the spirit world after a 5 year struggle with rhabdomyosarcoma. My sister still strugggles with this, especially on the anniversary date. I'm going to share your inspirational ritual and "angelverssary" with her. I fell like she'll like this positive way of reframing this date. I do. Thank you so much!
No words, just 💜🦋💜🦋💜🦋💜🦋💜🦋💜
Thank you for sharing your beautiful words, Jennifer. Brought tears to my eyes. Big loving hugs to you from a once resident of Santa Monica living in Maine. xo
Hi Carrie, i bet Maine is beautiful too. Thank you for your big loving hugs. Much needed now♥️
It took me a day (and a night) to write you. I just wept when I read your post. My Momma's heart was both breaking for you and standing in awe of your strength. This morning, I had the courage to write past sadness to witness Lyric's memory. Beyond Beautiful.
I love you for witnessing my beautiful Lyric’s memory. One day I’ll tell you more and you’ll fall in love with her divinely compassionate spirit🦋
And I will wait and then when you tell me more, I have no doubt, I shall fall in "love with her divinely compassionate spirit." Thank you, Jennifer.
You made me smile Mary 🥰
A butterfly searches for home
But can you fly there on your own?
Let your wings spread far and wide
A butterfly finding home
A pack of gum and the golden sun
Vintage fashion and tales you’ve spun
I see you're driving 'round with your head held high
A butterfly finding home
Stay a while here with me
Catching rays and feeling free
Like when we were young and so in love
'Cause you know who you are
You're a butterfly
A path to wander from a dream, hm
More questions than answers reign supreme
I mean, I've never seen
Something so confusing and serene
It's a butterfly finding home
**Suleika, may your evening with Jon, be light as the wings of a butterfly, colorful, whisky, and enchanting.***
Beautiful 💖🦋, Mary. So much love to you, Susu and Jon! Enjoy all the effervescent and magic of the Grammy’s! Cheers!
Thank you, Constellation! Without Jon's words/poem and without Suleika's prompt, my words/poem here would not exist.
May we all shine even more brightly together in the night sky! Constellations all.
Love this, Mary! ❤️
Thank you, Susan!
What a fantastic, creative prompt! So unusual, I can't wait to try it. As usual, I loved both the essays today. That scene in the airport in American Symphony is so, so moving. I always think, during the hard times, if we could only zoom out a little to see how the whole story fits -- how painful that moment was, and impossible to know then that you'd be returning two years later for a song that holds so much meaning and memory. I always notice this when I read over my old journals and whisper to myself, "zoom out", see the whole picture and how each moment fits together...
"Whisper to myself, zoom out" - how truly beautiful. I can be quick to react in the moment and get tangled in anger or disappointment or hurt which is not constructive - zooming out lets the issue ventilate a bit and affords me a calm that I desperately seek. Thanks for your wisdom.
I think being quick to react or feeling all the emotions in the moment is perfectly human and natural. It takes a lot of practice to be able to take a step back and all for that ventilation sometimes! Thanks for your kind words :)
Thank you for this reminder to take the long view. To open the lens wider. To let in more light!!! I truly needed to hear this today.
You're so welcome ❤
Still thinking about this, I can't help but notice how you speak to yourself; in a "whisper" softly and gently - that's such self love and regard. Something I struggle with, yet so key.
I hadn't thought of that, how lovely!
When tangled in the minutiae I finally remember to zoom out, see the bigger picture 🙏🙌 good reminder
whisper to myself "zoom out", see the whole picture......beautiful
Thank you Kimberly :)
I, too, love this whole idea of zooming out - enjoying this thread of thought - so much what I need this morning!
Thank you so much for this prompt. My lymphoma is back and treatment looms. I'm told all will be well and, in my head, I believe this to be true. Apparently, my heart is not so sure and is sending flutters at odd times, offering me an alternative issue to focus on.
This prompt -- especially Suleika's invitation to use Jon's lyrics -- offered me a way to explore my emotions in a different way. I used the first stanza and put my thoughts into a renga (essentially a haiku -- 5/7/5 -- followed by two seven syllable lines). Though this form is usually done by multiple poets in collaboration, I found it offered me a lovely frame for this prompt.
I couldn't find a way to bold in this comment box, but his words are in there.
==============
A heart aflutter
A butterfly in motion
All movement and light
Are we alone? Connected?
Does fluttering have meaning?
Questions spin around
A beginning or an end?
But then clarity
Both can be true—now, always
You need not choose either path
Just flutter and fly
Allow the moment to be
Gently, quietly
Heart and butterfly align
Together and on your own
I’m sorry to hear treatment looms again Sara. Sending love to you, and thank you for this lovely renga.
Sending you love and positive energy, Sara. ❤️
Sending very positive vibes to you
Heart and butterfly align, Together and on your own --- stunning words. Sending all the best thoughts for your next treatment.
Beautifully expressed. Wishing you love and ease as you “fly” through the recurrence and treatment, Sara.
Bilie Holliday: Strange Fruit and Gloomy Sunday
This weeks prompt-was to share lyrics. My thoughts brought me to Billie Holliday who I love profoundly. Many many times and over and over. The world can be pretty disheartening--but somehow the depths of Billie's interpretation although bringng me to tears also was and is a tower of strength.
it's Black History Month...the lyrics... so many times I listened over and over... remembering those that nursed and loved me.. the world was cruel.. Billie knew.. I searched her out on 125 Stree before....I love her candor and truth. .. "Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees---"
"Little white flowers will never awaken you · Angels have no thought of ever returning you"
I share your love love love for Billie Holiday too. Those lyrics are gut wrenching and I’m always sad and still while listening to them. I wore gardenias in my hair for my prom and my wedding
The prompt brought me to Billie and am am glad.. love gardenias... and how special a prom...
The song so poignant it was banned from air play & her performances, she could tell it like it was
I know, that is why I put them together in my mind for years.. tell them like it was (is) xo
I’m going to write this week’s exercise when my brain is a little more awake. But I wanted to mention the class I took at Michigan’s School of Music, Theater and Dance (or as we call it, SMTD). It matched up writing students and composing students - people like you and Jon. We collaborated to create songs, starting with single lines, then verses, then entire songs. I got to see how a composer chooses notes; they got to see how a writer chooses words. At the end of the semester, our class put on a concert, with performing arts students singing our songs. It was such a joy to hear what we had created come to life. Monica would have been a wonderful classmate.
What a great concept for a class!
It was definitely my favorite class at Michigan. Maybe anywhere.
What a wonderful experience, Micheline!
Micheline - That would be a dream class for me :)
I would like to share the lyrics of a song I wrote long ago. Over the years, it has gifted me many connections with people who are struggling through one thing or another. The title is Baptism of Fire (by Julie Snow, my maiden and songwriting name)
Baptism of fire I never knew what that meant
But now the flames are rising higher
I guess I haven’t seen anything yet
Because it’s coming down around me
And I am rising up
Like a phoenix from the ashes
Wings across the blue
The only way out is through
Forrest of fury, kindling of fear
See how dark the woods have grown
After all these years
And now they’re coming down around me
And I am rising up
Like a lily from the shadows
Glistening and perfumed
The only way out is through
All the detours taken never lead you home
What a maze you find yourself in and still alone
Oh you thought it would be easy
So the truth eluded you
The only way out is through
Baptism of fire all happening within
Illusions burn like tall grass
In a wild and reckless wind
And now they’re coming down around me
And I am rising up
Like a great bell resurrected
Ringing loud and true
The only way out is through
I can see why this song has gifted you many connections. It’s gorgeous.
I really related to all that you wrote. I’m waiting for my radiation to begin and find myself somewhat frozen, unable to pray, unable to move or think Somehow seeing your creativity lifted me, gave me something to do, held the thoughts in a different way. Showed me a way to create. Thank you.
I’ll pray for you until you can pray for yourself.
You will be in my prayers, Susan. Life can bring us to a halt. Allow yourself compassion, rest and time for contemplating as you need. ❤️
Wishing you love, healing and creativity 💕
Holding positive energy here for you.
Susan, sending you love, strength and healing.
Two years into my multiple myeloma treatment, my husband and I started writing our own words to Hotel California by the Eagles. We called it Hotel Myeloma. The last lines we kept the same because myeloma is incurable but treatable. The lines are. “ you can check in but you can never check out”. We often start singing our words to the song as we are going to an appointment or waiting to see the doctor. I am 8 years post diagnosis and it still helps me! Thank you Monica and Ironman and Jarvis!
Oh my gosh - I would Love to sing your song in my hospital room, full tilt. I envision me teaching my nurses the chorus so they could be my back-up singers. Yay for 8 years & thriving!!
Nancy, Thank you! Rewriting the words made us laugh and cry and helped to take the edge off. I say just don’t have them sing but dance too!!
Yes! Yes! One of them already is into karaoke, so a few doo-wops and sashays across the floor would be right up their alley! I'm all in for taking the edge off. Good on you!
Love this attitude and the idea of your song!!
This is so moving - Godspeed and sending an armful of love your way.
Thank you for this view of cancer! I feel the same way about being unable to check out of ovarian cancer (incurable but treatable)... your post made me smile. I am so glad to hear you are 8 years post-diagnosis and thriving! Long may this be the case.
I love your attitude that you share with your husband! God Bless. ❤️
First time I heard “Butterfly”-spoke to my soul!
I have butterflies everywhere in my home. Symbolic of transformation and freedom to me. The lyrics:
A butterfly searches for home-the struggle
But can you fly there on your own?-you have the power
Let your wings spread far and wide-leave yourself alone for freedom and space to fly
A butterfly finding home-you know where you belong
A pack of gum and the golden sun- don’t need much when you find it
Vintage fashion and tales you’ve spun- this stuff is as real as it can get!
I see you're driving 'round with your head held high-finding grace!
A butterfly finding home
Stay a while here with me
Catching rays and feeling free
Like when we were young and so in love
'Cause you know who you are
You're a butterfly-the butterfly has worked so hard from a caterpillar to breaking free to its gloriousness that no one know how long it will last. But I’ve found you! I see you! I love you! I set you free! To all the beautiful butterflies in our community and our Queen bees: Suleika, Carmen, Holly!
A path to wander from a dream, hm
More questions than answers reign supreme
I mean, I've never seen
Something so confusing and serene
It's a butterfly finding home
Hi Sherri...this is sort of awkward. The words above...are mine infused with Jon's. His lyrics are different (and oh so fabulous!) Without his poem and without Suleika's prompt, my poem would not exist)
Mary, there are lots of really good poems that start from other poems. Let your words fly.
I’m okay with it if you are. If your are not let me know and I’ll change it. Whatever you wrote was beautiful and I was drawn to it
I was so deeply moved by your essay and Monica’s. Looking forward to cheering on Jon and you tonight and trying Monica’s prompt later today. Hers reminds me a little of erasure poetry only moving in the opposite direction: building rather than excavating. Best of luck tonight! I’m remembering what your doctor said in American Symphony about not just surviving but living. Fly, Suleika! 🦋
Erasure poetry moving in the opposite direction is such a good description!
Abby-yes, I thought the same about your erasure poetry reference. ❤️
Erasure poetry in reverse was my immediate reaction when I first read this week’s prompt as I read it at 3a PST just before going to bed. Feel asleep with lyrics floating through my brain and heart 💜
Dear Suleika, I believe this beloved community will be wrapping you in our love and care and joy as you celebrate being with Jon tonight. You’ve both already won the biggest prize. You have each other and your health is returning. Is there truly anything that could summon more gratitude? Bless you!
I am so very happy to know you will be going to the Grammys! Butterfly is my favorite song on the album and all of Jon's nominations should become wins...so genius! Billy Bob Bo...amazing concept! A song that has actually helped me throughout my life is 'What A Wonderful World," and of course I love Jon's version too. It helps me remember...especially when I've had an overdose of the news...it truly is a wonderful world. I'm going to try the exercise using those lyrics. Have so much fun!
What a true celebration and joy—with light-full brilliant song! The photograph of you two in artistic communion is stunning. Thank you for opening up this freedom prayer and day with us. I feel connected, not alone. Love fills and overflows to many, friends near and far. Cause you know who you are…
A tapestry to soul supreme
I mean, I've never seen
Something so damn beautiful, oh, child
It's a butterfly flying home
A quiet morning within. BUTTERFLY taken flight after ALL these years struggling ALONE.
BUT (YET) how CAN i truly see YOU, truly be you, truly FLY your flight? ON bejeweled wings, on YOUR OWN …
Ever TAKE this present moment for YOURself, my Love. ever PLACE your awareness IN wonder, your breath in harmony with the moon & stars. smile with kindness at this WORLD and these people TODAY.
AN unveiling ~ borne from chrysalis on to the breezes of life …
BUTTERFLY, with beauty & grace,
FLYING, with gentle agency,
HOME, to my own sweet self.