Sometimes, all it takes is a quiet moment to find a poem. Not necessarily one polished to perfection, but something that captures a feeling, a fleeting thought, a truth in the moment. It's like stumbling upon a hidden path in the woods, unexpected and yet, somehow, exactly where you needed to be.
I've been looking through some recent writings, and it strikes me how often poetry emerges from simple observations, from the raw stuff of life. Take, for instance, the idea of being "in the wilds." There's a piece that speaks of being "moonbathed," urging us to "remain silent" and "heed the voice of the great outdoors." It’s about letting go of the small stuff, the "petty worries," and allowing ourselves to "travel the mindscapes." The thought is that by doing this, by truly immersing ourselves, we can be "baptised anew," seeing the world with "a new pair of eyes."
It’s a powerful image, isn't it? Like shedding an old skin and stepping out, invigorated. This feeling of renewal, of shedding what weighs us down, echoes in other verses too. There's a sense of seeking something beyond the ordinary, a place where "certain trees forever hide in plain sight," or a call to "take the medallion to the arid borderlands where Eagle Rock embraces those who dare to live decisively."
And then there are those moments of quiet reflection, like watching "the flocking crows shall guide you to look skyward where the travelling Sun paints its November skies." It’s about setting aside rigid thinking, the "ideologies," and just observing, letting nature be the guide. It reminds me of the simple beauty found in things like "juniper leaves" or the "thorny rose, beautiful and untouchable."
Poetry, in this sense, isn't always about grand pronouncements. It can be about remembering someone when "bitter frost shortens your breath," or acknowledging the "locked gates" and "forgotten hopes" that come with "being without becoming." It’s about the "memories of the Wind Fish," those encounters that "speak of the moment's beauty."
Even a "brightest dog" can inspire a poem, a journey "skyward to the summit" towards a "righteous dawn." It’s about capturing that spark, that feeling of being alive and connected, whether it's the "desert wind" burning through your skin or the "mermaid" emerging from the seabed to warn sailors.
So, if you're looking for a poem, perhaps the best place to start is within yourself, or in the world around you. Listen to the whispers, observe the subtle shifts, and allow those feelings to find their way onto the page. They might not be perfect, but they'll be yours, a genuine record of your moment.
