Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Wild Woman Crafts Gardens Out of Her Wounds

 “Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn’t people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?” – Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

The world weeps
for the Wild Woman.

“Your blooming days are gone,
they tell her. “Life gutted you
and Death is flying in to fill
your sky, balance
dangling from its beak. You are
afraid of the end, we
understand you just too well.”

The Wild Woman shows how
she has crafted gardens out of her wounds.
But the world’s eyes are wept shut. Still,
the Wild Woman speaks her truth, and hopes
for working ears:
“I don’t fear the fall—
a forest is not afraid
of decaying leaves”
The world weeps and weeps
for the Wild Woman
they can’t see.


September, by Cat Schappach

a not-so-wee note

- since I know that some of us are much too human to keep from drawing certain conclusions out of poetry, I should clarify that I am not dying just yet (at least, not more than any other living thing). This poem was inspired by a recurrent theme in my life: the way some people continue to tell me that they understand why I would want to curse the whole world. I keep telling them that I don’t want to curse the world—certain presumably human creatures? Maybe. But not the world—I enjoy the world. Projection is a curious thing. I do wonder how much happier some of us would be if we took the time to see, accept, and embrace the reality in front of us, and dwell less in the doom and gloom preconceptions can paint over our eyes.

- for Poets United Poetry Pantry (498) and Sanaa’s Weekend Mini-Challenge: Take a chance and step into the mythical realm, at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads (find a piece of art… and create your own poetic mythology around it).

57 comments:

  1. Magaly, this is gorgeous. You words ring true. It's all about our own perceptions isn't it? Some choose to eternally live in darkness, and that's such a shame.

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  2. I like the image of creating gardens out of one's wounds...what a positive way to savor the life one has. We all have wounds, but not all of us make gardens out of them....but we should. I enjoyed this, Magaly.

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    1. We certainly should. But goodness knows that it can be really hard to get there.

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  3. This is SO BEAUTIFUL. I love it to bits. I have a prompt coming up at Toads November 4th that this would be perfect for!

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  4. This is absolutely wonderful, though at first I was concerned about you... the wild-woman is so much needed, may she come back, mending her gardens.

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  5. A glass half empty or half full -that is the question. I tire of chasing after people’s perceptions. We are either on the same page or not. I love the line in your poem about crafting gardens out of wounds from words-it’s perfect.

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    1. Trying to make people to agree with them--when they clearly don't want to--can be exhausting business. We need our energy (for living and such).

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  6. We all need a wild woman that can take the hard and still make it something special. I love this Magaly! The strength that it speaks of is the true strength that is surely yours!

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  7. What a truly wonderful poem in every way! And you chose a wonderful illustration to inspire you, too. I agree – I am in love with the world (not so much what some of us have done to Her) and shudder at the thought of anyone cursing Her. She is not to blame for our misfortunes.
    I love that the Poets United team has more than one Wild Woman to actively celebrate life!

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  8. Some people just luuuuuuuuv doom and gloom. Glad you don't!

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  9. Bless the Wild Woman and all that are born from her gardens. We need more wild women in this world. More wild women to heal, protect, and to give laughter too.

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  10. This is one of the most beautiful poems I have ever read, Magaly!!❤️ The emotions here are absolutely raw and brimming with resilience and courage. I especially love and resonate with the idea of "crafting gardens out of wounds," it puts me in the mind of positivity. Thank you soo much for writing to the prompt 😍😍

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  11. I love the title and the wonderful way the poem expands

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  12. A beautiful piece, Magaly, and I love the thought of crafting gardens out of wounds. There’s nothing to be afraid of when a forest or a garden isn’t afraid of decaying leaves, and beauty is everywhere, not just in blossoms and flowers. Carry on rejoicing, Magaly, even when your words are often dark and have teeth!

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    1. When we dig deep enough, beauty shows her (pretty) teeth.

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  13. I saw Wild Woman as wild nature, that we are killing because our eyes are "wept shut". A wildly wonderful write, Magaly. I love the lines about the leaves!

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  14. It's amazing what a small shift in perception can do. We can waste out time weeping at the inevitable, or enjoy the beauty we find along the way to that same end. I can respect that might be harder for some than for others, but sheesh people! Try not to bury people who are still living their life.

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    1. All that dirt makes it really hard to breathe (when a body still has a nose).

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  15. Yes'm. THAT'S how it's done!

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  16. How very wise the wild woman. I love the analogy to the trees not mourning their leaves. They just need a chance to rest and renew and will be growing again soon. This growth theme ties in very nicely to the garden of wounds. I hope those tears are used to nourish the ground in which the wild woman stands tall. The image you selected is a perfect accompaniment!

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    1. I love the thought of tears as nourishment (and cleanser).

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  17. I think the world who weeps is wasting tears. The wild woman will never give in.

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    1. And I agree. The world would see it, too, if they pay more attention. But... the world is not good focusing these days, lol!

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  18. I see the wild woman. Her blooming days are never ending...for what is decay but the blossoming of more life?

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    1. Dying flesh is food for bones waiting to be born.

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  19. A thoughtful write, Magaly. “A forest is not afraid of decaying leaves”

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  20. That quote is wonderful and so spot on, birds do sing after a storm. And the poem...heartfelt and beautifully written. Before I read your notes at the bottom, I thought of it as a piece dedicated to Mother Nature. See, how far one’s imagination can go! :)

    But on a serious note, your words always carry across great strength. It takes enormous courage; a warrior spirit to craft gardens out of wounds. Let the Wild Woman speak her truth!

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    1. I think that if we look deep enough, every poem is about Mother Nature.

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  21. Wow, loved this and well crafted too. I continue to enjoy reading your work

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  22. This...definitely takes an ax to something inside.

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  23. You are so right!!! "They" say everything happens for a reason. We cry, we laugh, we scream, we love, we heal, we grow. Some of us don't heal and keep repeating things. I see this now, so clearly. I know there is so many horrible things that happen, but we have to live for the moment. That's all there is, is this moment! I don't know if I'm saying these things correctly, but I hope you understand! You are an amazing person and I love you! Big Hugs!

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    1. You are saying it clearly. If we look inside, we can always find meaning. Even when the surface looks terrifying (perhaps, especially when the surface looks terrifying).

      You are loved, right back!

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  24. It is clear you are a strong woman and will confront any illness with the same amount of courage that you show in writing your unique and powerful poetry.

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  25. Very wise reflections in this. The path to peace, I believe, requires us to make conscious choices about how we want to BE in this world.

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  26. eyes wept shut - goodness I loved that.

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  27. Continue to bloom wild wicked woman... awesome post (and art)

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  28. People want to channel us through their perceptions. This is a beautiful poem with so many lines I love so in essence I would be reposting the entire poem. This is one of my favorites..awsome

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    1. That is so true. And it rarely matters what we do, others will see us exactly how they imagine us.

      So glad you liked this one.

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