Fighting Wars

Image: Gregory Colbert, Ashes and Snow

I’m not opposed to the wars that you fight

on the inside of the precious container that hosts your soul.

Struggle is a gift claimed only by the living.

Inner-conflict, an initiation rite for those who have

finally sensed their humanity.

Do embrace the enemy that is the sweet angel

come to wake you for mid-day prayer,

And, then,

let this be it!

Refrain from enlisting in the projections of another’s battle.

Well, yes,

you may decide to lure their combatant

into the trenches and bless them there,

But,

this is all.

You must become so busy learning not to be at peace

with this world

that you finally surrender,

courageously

pledging your allegiance to

love for everything and nothing more.

© 2014/Jamie K. Reaser

Written in Phnom Phen, Cambodia - where, if you listen carefully, the ghosts of genocide will tell you what they have learned.

(Feel free to share. Poetry is meant to move.)

Valentines

Photo: (c) Jamie K. Reaser

Years ago, on a day near spring,

the world came to life.

Music was found in every bush

and near every stream.

The composers played not instruments,

nor did they have hands, nor lips.

Yet the music played on,

and many melodies mixed.

The suitors chose their lovers,

and the lovers gave them

their hearts.

On the couples sang,

and the melodies took new form:

No longer were they solo,

but now duet.

As the daylight grew dim,

the songs broke off,

And all the wood birds were silent.

~ Jamie K. Reaser, Author

Written for a 10th grade 'Humanities Class' assignment

Note: Valentine's Day - like many of the holidays celebrated in modern times - appears to have its origins in practices intended to honor Nature. However, at the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius outlawed the season's Nature-based traditions (probably related to Lupercalia festivities) and declared February 14th to be 'St. Valentine's Day.' The Middle Ages mark the beginning of 'love' as a focus of the holiday. At that time, it was commonly believed in England and France that February 14 indicated the start of the breeding season for birds - and thus the date became associated with romance. The first written Valentines didn't begin to appear until 1400AD.

Whether or not we have a certain someone to celebrate love/romance with on Valentine's Day, we can all take a moment to honor that one relationship that sustains us throughout our lives - Nature's gift of abundance.  Consider putting a little something special out as a reciprocal offering to the birds...

Offerings

Photo: (c) Jamie K. Reaser

I knew the weather forecast,

so I arose early from under my pile of warm blankets

and put the seed and suet cakes

out for them.

I was still in my pajamas (or, something like that).

It was cold. Bitter.

The first flurries –large flakes – were falling.

They rushed in while I was still standing by the

feeders. They too knew what was coming. Somehow.

And, I started my day thinking about offerings:

How they can become so few and scant

in this human-clad existence.

Yesterday, a new friend stopped by for a chat.

I offered her tea and homemade cookies

of peanut butter and molasses

and other fine things from my cupboards.

And, we talked for a brief while.

This was a mutual offering.

What should one do with a life

that is lived with the luxury

of hands and feet

and eyes

and mouth,

but make offerings?

Once the other becomes visible,

How can you not but go to them

with hands outstretched and full?

(Maybe the invisible ones too.)

I am here, again, at my keyboard,

compiling words, wondering how best I can

make an offering of them to you today.

Somewhere among them is an unwritten question

about the presence or absence of something.

Please,

offer it up like the kind of prayer

that you can actually believe in,

like the kind of prayer that can

change

this world.

And, please: gift it to yourself.

© 2014-2016/Jamie K. Reaser

From "Winter: Reflections by Snowlight"
Published by Hiraeth Press
www.hiraethpress.com

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