I have come to greatly love this poem since it first was published in 1993. One cannot help but to listen to Maya when she has spoken one of her poems, particularly this one. Her diction is beautiful, her voice evoking, and her dream for humanity prevalent and worthy.
On the Pulse of Morning•
(also referred to as The Rock Cries Out To Us Today)•
A Rock, A River, A Tree•
Hosts to species long since departed,•
Mark the mastodon.•
The dinosaur, who left dry tokens•
Of their sojourn here•
On our planet floor,•
Any broad alarm of their of their hastening doom•
Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.•
But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully,•
Come, you may stand upon my•
Back and face your distant destiny,•
But seek no haven in my shadow.•
I will give you no hiding place down here.•
You, created only a little lower than•
The angels, have crouched too long in•
The bruising darkness,•
Have lain too long•
Face down in ignorance.•
Your mouths spelling words•
Armed for slaughter.•
The rock cries out today, you may stand on me,•
But do not hide your face.•
Across the wall of the world,•
A river sings a beautiful song,•
Come rest here by my side.•
Each of you a bordered country,•
Delicate and strangely made proud,•
Yet thrusting perpetually under siege.•
Your armed struggles for profit•
Have left collars of waste upon•
My shore, currents of debris upon my breast.•
Yet, today I call you to my riverside,•
If you will study war no more.•
Come, clad in peace and I will sing the songs•
The Creator gave to me when I•
And the tree and stone were one.•
Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your brow•
And when you yet knew you still knew nothing.•
The river sings and sings on.•
There is a true yearning to respond to•
The singing river and the wise rock.•
So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew,•
The African and Native American, the Sioux,•
The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek,•
The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh,•
The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher,•
The privileged, the homeless, the teacher.•
They hear. They all hear•
The speaking of the tree.•
Today, the first and last of every tree•
Speaks to humankind. Come to me, here beside the river.•
Plant yourself beside me, here beside the river.•
Each of you, descendant of some passed on•
Traveller, has been paid for.•
You, who gave me my first name,•
You Pawnee, Apache and Seneca,•
You Cherokee Nation, who rested with me,•
Then forced on bloody feet,•
Left me to the employment of other seekers--•
Desperate for gain, starving for gold.•
You, the Turk, the Swede, the German, the Scot...•
You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru,•
Bought, sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare•
Praying for a dream.•
Here, root yourselves beside me.•
I am the tree planted by the river,•
Which will not be moved.•
I, the rock, I the river, I the tree•
I am yours--your passages have been paid.•
Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need•
For this bright morning dawning for you.•
History, despite its wrenching pain,•
Cannot be unlived, and if faced with courage,•
Need not be lived again.•
Lift up your eyes upon•
The day breaking for you.•
Give birth again•
To the dream.•
Women, children, men,•
Take it into the palms of your hands.•
Mold it into the shape of your most•
Private need. Sculpt it into•
The image of your most public self.•
Lift up your hearts.•
Each new hour holds new chances•
For new beginnings.•
Do not be wedded forever•
To fear, yoked eternally•
To brutishness.•
The horizon leans forward,•
Offering you space to place new steps of change.•
Here, on the pulse of this fine day•
You may have the courage•
To look up and out upon me,•
The rock, the river, the tree, your country.•
No less to Midas than the mendicant.•
No less to you now than the mastodon then.•
Here on the pulse of this new day•
You may have the grace to look up and out•
And into your sister's eyes,•
Into your brother's face, your country•
And say simply•
Very simply•
With hope•
Good morning.•
by Maya Angelou
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Are we always what we seem to others?
I wonder how many of us really are what we seem by others. I truly wish we could completely and utterly be ourselves, one hundred percent of the time. I know that I have strived to be just myself, but there seems to be those inner voices, those inner debates about ones worth, those heart-wrenching words others have called us by, society's expectations of our gender roles, family and friend's off the cuff remarks or statements, something a teacher wrote on a report card, not feeling supported by your employer, a comment an instructor made about your work, not feeling supported or loved by those in your life, those things we did as kids that keep coming up in conversation, and our own critical thinking of ourselves somehow creep out from within to help us mask the makeup of who we are. All because well...we're human. Duh. I know that there have been many times where I just felt I could not show the weaknesses of who I am. Who wants to. We only want to be thought of as good, decent people. But can we ever truly be? Oh, I would give anything to say that I am exactly the person and exude the nice things that people may say about me. Or the highly spiritual person others may look at me to be. But...may the truth be told and laid out so others can see that I too am just as human as the next person. But I have found that as the years are speeding by, that I no longer need or even desire to hide who I really am. Life is tough enough without having to pretend that we are something we aren't. And may I say there has been great freedom in that admission. So, if you catch me on a bad day, simply say, "thanks for just being you".
I have lied, I have stolen, I have been controlling, I have been a perfectionist, I have expected from others the same as I would have done, I have been a disappointment, I have not kept promises made, I have cut others off in traffick, I have argued with a sales clerk, I have screamed out the window to the person who stole my parking space, I have gossiped, I have failed in many areas, I have wanted what others have, I have rolled my eyes, I have kept an extremely dirty house, I have turned my eyes away from the homeless, I have not been a good doctor's patient, I have desired to not to live, I have given into people out of guilt, I have been rude, I have been drunk once, I have tried marijuana once, I have hidden dirty clothes thrown in a closet before company arrived, I have had a fender bender, I have intentionally hurt someone, I have had to apologize to many, I have denied others of my love, I have denied others of my time, I have denied others of my money, I have denied others of who I really am inside. And at this point in my life, all of 37 years, I have found that I really am not so bad. For I have sought forgiveness, received freedom and gained a greater sense of who I've been, and who I am becoming.
Many have shared very wonderful, warm, endearing and spiritual adjectives to who they think I am. I'm not saying that they may or may not be true, but if only I could maintain not so much the image, but know that I am those things positively stated and more. That when push comes to shove that I am more able to let things roll off my back more often, try not to take things so seriously or so personally, evaluate the words of others before reacting. It's not that there aren't improvements that I can make within myself. We can often fool ourselves in thinking we are being real, we are being what jesus, budha, muhammad, parents, spouses, friends asks of us, and we are holding up to the standard of a very contradictory society, and that we are being who we think others want us to be. No more! It's time to learn to be you, me, ourselves. I know there are some of you who truly are just yourselves, but for those of us who struggle in this area, we need to get over ourselves and move on from here. Simply be you, me, us, with no strings, guilt or self-depracating notions attached. Enjoy this new found freedom.•
"Touched by An Angel"•
We, unaccustomed to courage•
exiles from delight•
live coiled in shells of loneliness•
until love leaves its high holy temple•
and comes into our sight•
to liberate us into life.•
Love arrives•
and in its train come ecstasies•
old memories of pleasure•
ancient histories of pain.•
Yet if we are bold,•
love strikes away the chains of fear•
from our souls.•
We are weaned from our timidity•
In the flush of love's light•
we dare be brave•
And suddenly we see•
that love costs all we are•
and will ever be.•
Yet it is only love•
which sets us free."•
by Maya Angelou
I have lied, I have stolen, I have been controlling, I have been a perfectionist, I have expected from others the same as I would have done, I have been a disappointment, I have not kept promises made, I have cut others off in traffick, I have argued with a sales clerk, I have screamed out the window to the person who stole my parking space, I have gossiped, I have failed in many areas, I have wanted what others have, I have rolled my eyes, I have kept an extremely dirty house, I have turned my eyes away from the homeless, I have not been a good doctor's patient, I have desired to not to live, I have given into people out of guilt, I have been rude, I have been drunk once, I have tried marijuana once, I have hidden dirty clothes thrown in a closet before company arrived, I have had a fender bender, I have intentionally hurt someone, I have had to apologize to many, I have denied others of my love, I have denied others of my time, I have denied others of my money, I have denied others of who I really am inside. And at this point in my life, all of 37 years, I have found that I really am not so bad. For I have sought forgiveness, received freedom and gained a greater sense of who I've been, and who I am becoming.
Many have shared very wonderful, warm, endearing and spiritual adjectives to who they think I am. I'm not saying that they may or may not be true, but if only I could maintain not so much the image, but know that I am those things positively stated and more. That when push comes to shove that I am more able to let things roll off my back more often, try not to take things so seriously or so personally, evaluate the words of others before reacting. It's not that there aren't improvements that I can make within myself. We can often fool ourselves in thinking we are being real, we are being what jesus, budha, muhammad, parents, spouses, friends asks of us, and we are holding up to the standard of a very contradictory society, and that we are being who we think others want us to be. No more! It's time to learn to be you, me, ourselves. I know there are some of you who truly are just yourselves, but for those of us who struggle in this area, we need to get over ourselves and move on from here. Simply be you, me, us, with no strings, guilt or self-depracating notions attached. Enjoy this new found freedom.•
"Touched by An Angel"•
We, unaccustomed to courage•
exiles from delight•
live coiled in shells of loneliness•
until love leaves its high holy temple•
and comes into our sight•
to liberate us into life.•
Love arrives•
and in its train come ecstasies•
old memories of pleasure•
ancient histories of pain.•
Yet if we are bold,•
love strikes away the chains of fear•
from our souls.•
We are weaned from our timidity•
In the flush of love's light•
we dare be brave•
And suddenly we see•
that love costs all we are•
and will ever be.•
Yet it is only love•
which sets us free."•
by Maya Angelou
The Trinity: photo by michael
Posted by: kimthanh
This was a very interesting find, in an old, original Austrian farmhouse. This was hanging in the wall of the home in its original frame and position. This painting of the Trinity is thought to be what the real Trinity appears. This painting dates from 1860. It's condition appeared to be in mint condition.
If you have seen such a painting or image as such, please let us know. It would be interesting to know.
The talking wind: poetry by kim
Speak to me of my life•
Make it so I can understand•
Whisper the love that has embraced me•
Whisper the kindness of this one's sweetness•
Speak to me of my life•
Make it plain for me to see•
Show me visually where I have done wrong•
Show me visually how I may make it right•
Speak to me of my life•
Make it so that I can hear•
Sing to me the grace that I may grasp•
Sing to me the grace that I need and must extend•
Speak to me of my life•
Make it difficult or make it easy•
Speak to me of my life•
Make it so that I will always show love in the most possible ways•
Speak to me of my life•
Make me embrace the one that I am and grow in understanding to the one I will become•
Oh, you the spirit that takes shape as the wind•
Blow through this complicated being and cleanse me within•
Oh, you the spirit that takes shape as the wind•
Come sweep your loving and feather-soft hands across my furrowed brow•
Soften the wrinkles that show of my concerns in life•
Come swish your gentle body through this fragment of a figure so that it may be ready•
Ready to take in the love of others, the pain of others, tears of children, the loss of memory of old age, the broken hearted, the homeless wanderer, the rapist, the victim, the abandoned, the one in the darkness of their soul•
Blow through me so that I am no longer entrapped by my selfishness •
Blow me out so that I too may become like the spirit who takes shape as the wind •
So that I may bring peace to others, extend grace to others, to endure and love others, to help others in their very moment of need and most of all make time for others at all possible moments•
How quickly life can leave us and sometimes without a moment to say goodbye•
Oh, spirit that takes shape as the wind•
Please speak for me when I am gone so others will know I have loved, I have enjoyed, I have laughed, I have thought of them•
Oh, spirit you are marvelous in all your ways: through the wind, through my dreams, through my words, through my eyes, through my heart and most of all through my life•
Oh, spirit you have given me a wonderful and marvelous life•
I shall cherish it to the end•
Oh, spirit draw near and close to Michael always•
I whisper to him of my love in moments of despair, in moments we shared•
But when my time has come I know he will be in great pain•
Oh, spirit speak to his heart, his mind and comfort him of my love for him, forever more•
Blow your spirit through him of who we were together and what he will become•
I know you make me arise so that others will know that I have lived and loved in and through them•
Shalom,
Kim
Make it so I can understand•
Whisper the love that has embraced me•
Whisper the kindness of this one's sweetness•
Speak to me of my life•
Make it plain for me to see•
Show me visually where I have done wrong•
Show me visually how I may make it right•
Speak to me of my life•
Make it so that I can hear•
Sing to me the grace that I may grasp•
Sing to me the grace that I need and must extend•
Speak to me of my life•
Make it difficult or make it easy•
Speak to me of my life•
Make it so that I will always show love in the most possible ways•
Speak to me of my life•
Make me embrace the one that I am and grow in understanding to the one I will become•
Oh, you the spirit that takes shape as the wind•
Blow through this complicated being and cleanse me within•
Oh, you the spirit that takes shape as the wind•
Come sweep your loving and feather-soft hands across my furrowed brow•
Soften the wrinkles that show of my concerns in life•
Come swish your gentle body through this fragment of a figure so that it may be ready•
Ready to take in the love of others, the pain of others, tears of children, the loss of memory of old age, the broken hearted, the homeless wanderer, the rapist, the victim, the abandoned, the one in the darkness of their soul•
Blow through me so that I am no longer entrapped by my selfishness •
Blow me out so that I too may become like the spirit who takes shape as the wind •
So that I may bring peace to others, extend grace to others, to endure and love others, to help others in their very moment of need and most of all make time for others at all possible moments•
How quickly life can leave us and sometimes without a moment to say goodbye•
Oh, spirit that takes shape as the wind•
Please speak for me when I am gone so others will know I have loved, I have enjoyed, I have laughed, I have thought of them•
Oh, spirit you are marvelous in all your ways: through the wind, through my dreams, through my words, through my eyes, through my heart and most of all through my life•
Oh, spirit you have given me a wonderful and marvelous life•
I shall cherish it to the end•
Oh, spirit draw near and close to Michael always•
I whisper to him of my love in moments of despair, in moments we shared•
But when my time has come I know he will be in great pain•
Oh, spirit speak to his heart, his mind and comfort him of my love for him, forever more•
Blow your spirit through him of who we were together and what he will become•
I know you make me arise so that others will know that I have lived and loved in and through them•
Shalom,
Kim
Seinfeld wannabes: photo by jim
Posted by: kimthanh
Speaking of my travels, this experience and now the photo just gave me great joy as I am a huge fan of Seinfeld, as I'm sure many of you are as well. When I asked our friend Jim if he'd take us to the Seinfeld restaurant, I had no idea we'd be walking a thousand miles of New York pavement to get there. But it sure was worth it!!! As many of you know, this corner is used in the show. They actual location inside of the restaurant was never used. But of course, as Seinfeld fans you would already know this. It was still a kick in the pants to see it despite the August New York humidty.
Somewhat of a world traveler: photo by kim
Posted by: kimthanh
I have been blessed beyond words in my life. Between having been adopted, having grownup in a large family, having been asked to marry an amazing and talented man, and having been able to travel beyond California.
Thanks to my parents, Michael's family, one of Michael's old employers and finally a an anonymous person, I have been fortunate enough to see a bit of the world. My parents have taken me to Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Hawaii, Austria, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and finally Paris, France. I was able to travel with Michael to New Jersey (his 20th high school reunion) and then on to New York to visit our close friend and his old college roommate. Then with Michael's family I've been able to experience Virginia and the backwoods towns of Mississippi. Michael's old employer treated me to Vancouver, BC so that I could accompany him while he was on doing a press check there. Then anonymous treated us to a cruise to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerta Vallarta. Oh what fun I've had seeing a smidgeon of the world.
I feel extremely fortunate to have visited all of those places, experienced the various cultures, the terrain, the people, the customs, the amazing food, and the sights and sounds. I could never say thank you enough to all of those who have made it happen. And in keeping up with my taste for travel, foods, and cultures, I needed to photograph what I had experienced. The first time I went to Europe with my parents, I think I was too excited that I was going that I didn't think to take many photos. And I'm sure at that time in my life, they probably would not have turned out very well anyway. It's only been in the past five years that I finally have come to where I am now. And that isn't saying a whole lot. I have so much more room to grow and understand when it comes to photography. But for now I have a good foundation.
But fortunately I was able to return to Europe years later and capture somethings that I had seen and not seen in my prior trip. I know I can't take the photos with me when I'm gone, but just having the pure joy and reminder of those experiences is enough to sustain me in the here and now.
This photo is of Venice, Italy for those who may not have had the chance to travel.
I hope one day you are able to do a little or a lot of traveling before you leave this beautiful and rich world.
Shalom,
Kim
Canoe on Lester Beach: photo by michael
Posted by: kimthanh
I love how my husband, Michael and I have such similar taste when it comes to home decor, most movies, art work, and photography. He has a great eye for photographing subjects as well.
This was taken on Lester Beach, at D.L. Bliss State Park, in Tahoe. As you can see it was a perfect mountainous day.
I just love what his eyes captured and the amount of texture, color and lighting. That's my hubby! What a proud wife I am.
Lil Cowboy-Ponderosa Ranch
Posted by: kimthanh
I always try and ask permission from parents before taking a photo of a child because I want to honor their protective and parental right. But this lil cowboy's parents were too busy with their other kids to ask them. Digital cameras unfortunately have a delay before the clicking of the photo. So I had missed a few great shots of this cutie. But then I found my opportunity, once again, as he was so intent on picking up those rocks, that I was able to take this great shot with him in the foreground, the horses and the old-time firetruck in the background.
Kids are so amazing and beautifully innocent. Why do we have to grow up and become aware of our surroundings and ourselves? Staying innocent would certainly seem to make our lives a little freer.
Innocence is a virtue that only children are able to remind us of where we've strayed.
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