Sunday, January 29, 2017

The Roosters




















Photo: (c) Jamie K. Reaser


“Wake up!”

“It is time to rise!”

***

One morning, I awoke from a dream in which
roosters were crowing, and there were
still roosters crowing. I didn’t have roosters
at the time. Well, I didn’t when I went to
sleep the night before. I caught them by
the stream, near the road, in the pouring
rain. My legs were cut by the mountain laurel
and bleeding. It felt like childhood.

I loved those roosters. They lived with me for
eight months before they decided to try
to kill each other. I put them in my shower
to wash all the blood off and then nursed
them back to health. I gave one to the lady
who works at the post office and kept
the other one – the orange one that got
along well with the dog. The fox ate that
one while I was away. It felt like having
something precious stolen – like adolescence.

I loved those roosters.

***

I’ve spent a lot of time over the years thinking
about waking up – how we have a delicate yet
powerful moment gifted to us in which we can
imagine our way into everything that is to follow.
Every day we get the chance to emerge from the
darkness and take a dream forward to an
anticipating sky.

Somewhere, in my adult life, I have found a
grand responsibility in this – in waking up.

I miss my roosters dearly, but I no longer need
their reminders.

***

“Wake up!”

“It is time to rise!”

That’s my voice you are hearing.



© 2017-2020/Jamie K. Reaser
From "Truth and Beauty" (a work in progress)

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Friday, January 20, 2017

The Antidote
















Photo: (c) Jamie K. Reaser

“The antidote can only be delivered
through an act of giving. Something
of value must be released to be
in service of something greater.”

“Oh,” I said. My heart suddenly
understood why it had needed
to grow so strong.

© 2017/Jamie K. Reaser

From “Truth and Beauty”
To be published by Talking Waters Press

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The Moon Said
















Photo: (c) Jamie K. Reaser

"You must notice you are note alone," said 
the moon. I said that I noticed. Then the moon
said, "Good. Then, I'm not alone either,"

(c) 2017/Jamie K. Reaser
From "Truth and Beauty"
To be published by Talking Waters Press