Let’s leave everything be.
Let’s just stop fixing.
Perhaps if we let everyone settle
clarity will be revealed.
Today I entered the cathedral of the bush—
sought permission to walk the land; felt it granted.
Was buoyed by a chorus of cicadas ulullating
their adulation to the Gaia of this world.
(On Facebook a slowed down recording of cicadas—
Oh my, what exaltation! Beyond the range of men.)
As I traipse through the bush
in my rag of a dress,
great slobbery dog lopping
at my side, a dishevelled woman
with hands clasped behind her back
like some unhinged Confucian scholar—
a brown snake crosses my path.
It’s an intimate moment, as if
he has been waiting for me.
What does one do in such a moment?
Acknowledge, pass…
Let’s leave everything be.
Let’s just stop fixing.
I want to open like that naked flannel-flower to the sun.
*First published in Bluepepper. My thanks to editor Justin Lowe.
Comments 0
Dear Michele, Im doing this right now … the stop. And I love how your words are in tune (of course) with Mother Nature. xx
Author
Thanks Dianne. The ‘stop’ is a big lesson, isn’t it? One you’ve helped teach me! x
Good poem.
Author
Thank you. Much appreciated
Beautiful Michele. I agree, the healing power of nature is awe inspiring…
Author
Thank you, Liz. That’s so true. I always head bush when I need some healing. xo
Glad to see another poet who likes great slobbery dogs. There are too many poets who worship cats…
And nice to see that the poem/narrator can see a snake without all those images of evil popping up!
Of course, our consciousness stops us opening like flower, but we can try.
Hi Penelope. Oh yes — we must try! Strange to have to try so hard to do something so natural, but that’s the complicated human mind for you. Many thanks for your comment.
Glad to see another poet who likes great slobbery dogs. There are too many poets who worship cats…
And nice to see that the poem/narrator can see a snake without all those images of evil popping up!
Of course, our consciousness stops us opening like flower, but we can try.
Author
Hi Penelope. Oh yes — we must try! Strange to have to try so hard to do something so natural, but that’s the complicated human mind for you. Many thanks for your comment.
I love your painting lush
rendered by knowing feet
traipsed through a cathedral of the bush, rich
with ululating, adulating choir
reverent, wise and wild:
gorgeous!
Thank you, Michele. xo
And I love that comment! Thank YOU Chloe x
I love your painting lush
rendered by knowing feet
traipsed through a cathedral of the bush, rich
with ululating, adulating choir
reverent, wise and wild:
gorgeous!
Thank you, Michele. xo
Author
And I love that comment! Thank YOU Chloe x
Beautiful Michele! I have missed your poems! God bless!
Beautiful Michele! I have missed your poems! God bless!
“Let’s leave everything be.”
Exactly, wait, stop, accept, not this mad rush to do. Love the sentiment expressed here.
“What does one do in such a moment?
Acknowledge, pass…”
Beautifully handled. There’s a respect, more a reverence implied here, as it should be.
Malcolm, what a lovely response — I feel you’ve understood the spirit of the poem perfectly, which is extremely gratifying. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you.
“Let’s leave everything be.”
Exactly, wait, stop, accept, not this mad rush to do. Love the sentiment expressed here.
“What does one do in such a moment?
Acknowledge, pass…”
Beautifully handled. There’s a respect, more a reverence implied here, as it should be.
Author
Malcolm, what a lovely response — I feel you’ve understood the spirit of the poem perfectly, which is extremely gratifying. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you.
That’s all the brown was for, some pleasant sun and dry warm earth beneath its belly, along with a little quiet time for a moment or two, as any good traveller or tourist might hope for on meandering day. One simply smiles and says hello, before continuing about the day’s navigation (so many times across the years working in the bush).
Oh yes, that was exactly it, Sean – just two being enjoying the sun, passing each other on their way. Thank you!
That’s all the brown was for, some pleasant sun and dry warm earth beneath its belly, along with a little quiet time for a moment or two, as any good traveller or tourist might hope for on meandering day. One simply smiles and says hello, before continuing about the day’s navigation (so many times across the years working in the bush).
Author
Oh yes, that was exactly it, Sean – just two being enjoying the sun, passing each other on their way. Thank you!
I love those deep intimate encounters with other magic forms of life with their own intelligence and wisdom…your words reminded me of those precious moments…thank you…
Let’s leave everything be.
Let’s just stop fixing.
Perhaps if we let everyone settle
clarity will be revealed.
Michele, I am at a place with my siblings and mom where these words needed to find me. I love how this piece just beckons us to return to the natural world with outjudgement. I also notice how physical and unapologetic your imagery can be–this is manifest throughout your work.
One interesting reaction I had: I wonder how the poem would change if the snake were a woman. Hmmmm.
Hi Michael, I’m so happy, and humbled, that these words resonated with you! And that is such an interesting question about the snake… I met this snake on a ramble in the bush on hearing that my uncle had passed away, and felt that it was somehow connected with him. Poetically I think it might have been more interesting if the snake were a she, and I tinkered with the idea (you are very perceptive!). I don’t usually let reality get in the way of a good poem, but in this case, I just couldn’t change my he into a she! Hmmm….
Let’s leave everything be.
Let’s just stop fixing.
Perhaps if we let everyone settle
clarity will be revealed.
Michele, I am at a place with my siblings and mom where these words needed to find me. I love how this piece just beckons us to return to the natural world with outjudgement. I also notice how physical and unapologetic your imagery can be–this is manifest throughout your work.
One interesting reaction I had: I wonder how the poem would change if the snake were a woman. Hmmmm.
Author
Hi Michael, I’m so happy, and humbled, that these words resonated with you! And that is such an interesting question about the snake… I met this snake on a ramble in the bush on hearing that my uncle had passed away, and felt that it was somehow connected with him. Poetically I think it might have been more interesting if the snake were a she, and I tinkered with the idea (you are very perceptive!). I don’t usually let reality get in the way of a good poem, but in this case, I just couldn’t change my he into a she! Hmmm….
Hi Michele…long time, thanks for your like! I see you are forging a path through the forest…
nothing
but the flannel flower
and the sun
many creative moments to you
Nicole x
Hi Michele…long time, thanks for your like! I see you are forging a path through the forest…
nothing
but the flannel flower
and the sun
many creative moments to you
Nicole x