waves crash, children sing
as the world seems to be burning
golden torches in the wood
goldenrod in the understory
michigami
Poetry
“On Laying Awake All Night” (from _Sunk_ Collection)
In an anxious week for a variety of reasons, I wanted to put something positive out into the virtual world, if for my own sake if no one else’s—though I hope you might find some enjoyment here too.
Here’s audio of a poem from my collection Sunk in Your Shipwreck, about a night spent sleepless in a tent outside Chicago, IL (it’s more positive than it sounds).
Peace!
state natural area poems, supplementum #6: totem mound park @ turtle creek
jewelweed nods agreement
as Turtle marches on
clear sky thru oak leaves
jewelweed
turtle effigy mound facing south
trail to turtle creek
turtle creek
our welcome sign
Thanks to the City of Beloit for maintaining this area and preserving this effigy mound (and the smaller mound to the east).
state natural area poems #12: rock river prairie
the rock calls us home
evening primrosing with open arms
waves and waves of petal
(Some evening primrose and field bindweed growing in the prairie and its edge.)
Rock River Prairie SNA is a dry prairie above the Rock River b/t Janesville and Beloit. Lots of grasses and flowers, though woody species are encroaching. Still great for a walk, and several first IDs on flowers. Thanks to the Wisconsin DNR for tending this plot of earth.
Dame Gertrude More’s poem for St. Benedict
Second installment for St. Benedict’s feast day!
Here is my reading (with a small cameo from my daughter) of Dame Gertrude More’s (1606-33) poem to her master in the monastic life, St. Benedict.
Dame Gertrude was a Benedictine nun in exile on the continent and a great contemplative of the early modern period when the English Catholic Church persevered thru persecution. You can pick up a copy of her poems and shorter prose here if you like.
A nice one in common meter. Enjoy!
New Swami Abhishiktananda Audio for St. Benedict’s Day
A happy St. Benedict’s day to all!
On this big feast for Benedictine and Cistercian monastics and their oblates and associates, I thought I’d post some new audio of Benedictine poetry I’ve translated or edited over the last few years.
Today’s first installment: a short poem from Swami Abhishiktananda (aka Dom Henri Le Saux, OSB; 1910-1973). “OM Wholly Burnt” is a dense little poem with lots of pathos included in a letter to Swamiji’s disciple, Swami Ajatananda (Marc Chaduc) written toward the end of his life.
Here’s the audio:
state natural area poems #11: the ridges sanctuary a & b
redwings and frogs in the rushes
call—croak—call
earthtime marshmusic
porcupine lumbers clumsy
a nameless karst swale
into his whitecedar root home
silence all around
the ridges sanctuary was the first land trust set up in wisconsin, in 1937. among other features, the main point of interest is the series of ridges and swales that resulted from the lowering of lake michigan’s shoreline. due to its ancient history, its southward facing, and its proximity to lake michigan, the ridges contain largely boreal forests similar to those found far northwest in wisconsin, while the swales mostly contain marsh and bog flora. they are a sight to behold. this unique ecosystem makes the site one with a high ratio of rare plants in the midwest. –oh, and we saw a porcupine!
special thanks to the ridges sanctuary, inc. for protecting this site for almost a century!
photo credit on amanita above and porcupine: mamie riyeff again
state natural area poems #10: toft point
bryophyte elders
thallus-thick, mossgrown
small-talk on the pineduff path
toft point state natural area is a 732-acre piece of land in door county, wi tucked between two bays. with boreal forest, mesic forest, and sedge meadow and swampland, it boasts one of the most diverse bryophyte communities in the state. it was a distinctly different feeling walking thru these woods.
thanks to uw-green bay and the wi nature conservancy for maintaining this patch of earth.
state natural area poems, supplementum #5: heins creek nature preserve
watercress succumbs to the current
where crayfish come to die
blueflag holds even glaciers
can’t change everything
heins creek nature preserve is located on an isthmus in bailey’s harbor, door county, wi. the creek flows from kangaroo lake (a former bay) to lake michigan, keeping the lakes connected despite centuries of land incursion.
northern blue flag was in arresting bloom when we visited, and the mosquitoes plentiful. thanks to the door county land trust for preserving this unique spot.
photo credit on amanita: mamie riyeff!
state natural area poems #9 a and b: riveredge creek and ephemeral pond
sedge sings out in tussocky throbs
to lonely kettle’s close
skunk cabbage now green parasols
riveredge creek slinks on
rivulets run like a web
while silent iris strains
riveredge creek and ephemeral pond state natural area is part of the riveredge nature center, a 61-acre slice of land that includes fen-like habitat with lots of skunk cabbage and spotted cranesbill (wild geranium).
thanks to the riveredge nature center for protecting and rehabilitating this area.
a programming note for myself and anyone who might care: as the final lines of both these poems allude to, i think the timeline of this project has closed. it was originally conceived as a way to get out of the house in safety either alone or with my family when the pandemic first really hit and we were all sheltering in place hard. but with the return of the warm weather and the first serious pushes of reopening, it feels like this project has done its work. i may continue to add more here and there when i get out, but i’m retiring the series as a reason/impetus to go out in the first place. i know several folks have been reading lots of these, and i appreciate your time and care. thanks for reading.
we’ll see if more press themselves on me…
Jacob Riyeff 