Feb 4Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Holly Huitt, Carmen Radley
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.💖
Feb 4Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Holly Huitt, Carmen Radley
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 🦋🎶🦋
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...
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’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!
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!
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! 🦋
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.💖
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
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.***
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...
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
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’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)
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 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!
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
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! 🦋
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.