Wednesday, April 29, 2009

MAGIC

Photo by S. Auberle
"Whatever you can do
or dream you can,
begin it.
Boldness has genius,
power and magic in it."
~ Goethe

Monday, April 27, 2009

BLUES

Photo by S. Auberle
wet night
in the city
jazz drifting out
from smoky bars
rain dances
in the streets
alone


Thursday, April 23, 2009

ALL GOOD THINGS

Photo by S. Auberle

"My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the Universe. To him, all good things--trout as well as eternal salvation--come by grace and grace comes by art and art does not come easily."

~ Norman MacLean, A River Runs Through It

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

FLOCK

Photo by S. Auberle

Just returned from a bike ride, heading into a north wind. My hands are so cold and stiff I can hardly type. I thought it was spring! Since last week's 70 degree temps, it's rained, blown, iced and snowed, so I'm not quite sure why I thought so, but apparently I'm not the only one. This flock of lovely flamingoes must surely be feeling out of place, after their long migration up from Florida. Where is Jimmy Buffett when we need him?

Sunday, April 19, 2009

????

Photo by S. Auberle
gray city morning
outside the coffee shop
a lonely bike rack
one bike locked to it
one vacuum cleaner
there are things in life
we're not meant to understand
but we live with them
and it's okay...
really, it is
~mimi

Friday, April 17, 2009

JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL

Photo by S. Auberle

I love seagulls. Yes, they can be raucous and annoying--especially in flocks. But you have only to see them soaring gracefully overhead, sunlight falling through their wings, translucent against the blue sky--and Jonathan lives. I love that they are the eternal optimist, unflappable (pun intended) as the gull in the above photo shows, waiting patiently for his ship to come in (pun also intended..sorry). And they are unafraid, willing to connect their little red eyes with yours, willing to communicate how much they love you for tossing them the single cracker or moldy piece of cheese. Life is glorious, what more could anyone possibly want?

ice out

forecast warm and clear

anticipation

~ mimi

Monday, April 13, 2009

SOMETIMES DREAMS ARE POEMS

Collage by S. Auberle

It must be the full moon, but lately my dreams have been bizarre. There was the magic carpet dream--a rug of royal blue, flying through the sky; the dream of a carousel spinning in the sky; the bathtub dream--full of cut geraniums--this was one of those frustration dreams we all have, where I wanted to take a bath, but could not clear the tub of the flowers, which kept filling the tub; finally, the skyscraper dream--with windows that looked out onto the ocean, except that with every floor you ascended to, the water ascended with you, and at the top--out of that water emerged an animal--a buffalo or yak of some sort, led by an aged Tibetan man. The man then began setting up tables with art objects for sale: carved figures, prayer beads, small wooden boxes--which appeared to be depthless, and contained many layers: tiny pearl jewelry pieces, paints and paintings, brushes, and finally, a beautiful robin's egg blue necklace, carved of a single character. I asked the old man what the character meant and he said love...


Sunday, April 12, 2009

ANOTHER MOON

Photo by S. Auberle
Moon last night
in the eastern sky
rose-red
though not
in her vigorous youth
she rises up
jubilant
from Mother Lake
trailing rubies,
coral and gold
familiar
yet surprising
old made new
on this Resurrection Eve.
~ mimi


Thursday, April 09, 2009

BROKEN SNOWSHOE MOON

Digital Photo/Collage by S. Auberle

This is the month of Broken Snowshoe Moon--among other names--according to the Anishnaabe (Chippewa, Ojibwe tribes), and in my personal language--Most Glorious Returning Birds Moon. One last mound of old snow lies in my lane, but tulips are rising up and up. The postmistress is smiling again, the baker in his coffeeshop inventing a new spring tartine. The restaurant goats are thinking of returning to their roof, where they will once again cause innumerable traffic jams by tourists, and our local baker/sailor/poet is peddling his good bread. I'm considering raking the garden, selling a book or two, or washing winter from my windows, till I come to my senses and realize the absolute necessity of watching the grass grow...

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

METAPHYSICAL MEANDERINGS

Photo by S. Auberle

(cleaning files--this is an old poem...)
WE WAIT
for something
to show us the way
to nourish
this flesh and bone
weave these rough ribbons of days
into a soul--we wait
for miracles, the old grace
of someone whispering
everything's gonna be allright
we wait
while outside the door
in a blue north wind
a wing lies in the forest
underneath--eight ladybugs
warm as this
my body and blood.
- mimi

Sunday, April 05, 2009

DREAMING SPRING

Painting by S. Auberle
"I had assumed that the Earth,
the spirit of the Earth,
noticed exceptions--those who wantonly damage it
and those who do not.
But the Earth is wise.
It has given itself into the keeping of all,
and all are therefore accountable."
~ Alice Walker
Living by the Word

Saturday, April 04, 2009

COULD BE

Photo/collage by S. Auberle
Gimme a head with hair, long beautiful hair
shining, gleaming, steaming, flaxen, waxen...
~ from the musical "Hair"
The dark-haired woman
offers a pouch:
draw a rune, she says,
and meditate on its meaning
then you will unlock
the secret of life.
From the sack I pick a piece of wood
on it, three waves intertwine.
The woman looks at it, puzzled,
unable to interpret.
She searches the shop,
the dusty books and papers,
beneath a golden Buddha statue.
I continue dreaming
curious to know the answer
but the woman can't find it
so I sit on a cushion
and braid my hair, the locks
silken and heavy in my hands.
His coiled curls gleaming
Buddha smiles...
- mimi

Thursday, April 02, 2009

APRIL HAIKU

Digitally altered drawing by S. Auberle
morning sunlight
cranes calling outside my door
April symphony
- mimi

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY

Image from the Internet
Just for today,
free your inner clown,
your fool, your jester, the one
who's dying to show you
the emperor has on no clothes.
Just for today,
splash in puddles, tell knock-knock jokes,
play tricks, be a kid again.
Just for today,
throw that load off your back
and lighten up.
You can put it back on tomorrow...