Poetry Of Hope
“I stay in the realm of realism,
but always carry with me the fantasy,
the romance, the wish fulfillment–
the poetry of hope.”
~~~
Lynne Greenerg
The Body Broken
During the last 2 decades I’ve read most everything I could find to help me make sense of my unexpected plight with chronic pain, and the complex medical maze that I was suddenly thrust into as a young mother at age 30. During a particularly difficult time several years ago, I read a book entitled, The Body Broken, by Lynne Greenberg. This book had a profound impact on my outlook, and my approach to life.
Lynne’s book is a lyrical memoir, written by a talented writer, sensitive soul and professor of literature who faced, quite similarly to me, a world that suddenly ‘changed on a dime’. I would recommend this book to everyone. It is a literary treasure, and poetic masterpiece that speaks honestly and directly to the plight of facing adversity, and discovering courage to reinvent a joyful life in the face of challenge, and physical pain that is not easily remedied. Lynne taught me a great deal by her noble example, and for this I am grateful and honored to share her work.
I invite you to take a few moments here to view this video clip of a brief interview with Lynne (aired on ABC with Diane Sawyer). It will provide you a flavor for her wonderful book, and also introduce you to the brave, beautiful and creative spirit that she is.
click here: Living With Chronic Pain | Video – ABC News
Much Love Always
~
Robyn Lee
My Lens
As we stand before
the garden
so
lush
~
you
ask:
“Which lens
will you choose
to view
the world?”
~
Without hesitation,
I reply:
“I choose the lens
that
illuminates
the sky…
so
I may sparkle
amongst the
evening
stars,
and
slide down
the golden rays of
morning
sun.”
~
Approvingly,
you nod,
and
query:
“Can you tell me more
about this lens
you
long for?”
~
I exclaim:
“I wish
for
this lens
to
enlighten,
and
show me
how to dance
with trees,
as they
sway
to
and
fro
with
reverence
for
wind’s most
soulful
song.”
~
You gaze at me,
with a most
curious stare,
and say:
“Ahhh, but tell me,
can you
even
find
such a
lens to call
your own?”
~
I pause,
and
wistfully
declare:
“Oh yes, Oh yes!
I will
find
this lens;
This looking
glass
that
inspires
my fingers
~
to
touch
the delicate
silken petals
of
even the
smallest
flower,
and
to
explore
the deepest
lines
ingrained
on
earth’s fallen
leaves.”
~
You sigh,
seemingly
satisfied,
“Hmm,”
you say,
in a low
contemplative
tone,
“but this wonderful
lens you
speak of…
tell me
of
the most
perfect
vision
it
will
ultimately
reveal.“
~
And then,
I smile,
slowly closing
my
hopeful eyes,
and
profess:
“I choose the lens
that guides me
gently…
through
the open
doors
of
my own
heart,
so that I
can
see
~
with perfect
precision
and
clarity
~
every
glorious
color
of
~
Your
Love.”
~
© Robyn Lee
Divide
Lines
Define
~
They
Separate;
~
Borders
~
Boundaries
~
Shields
of
Fate;
~
Beyond
the
Fences
~
That
we
Build,
~
a
Path
~
a
Link
~
True
Hearts
Fulfilled;
~
Where
Love
Flows
Like
Water,
~
Grace
Resides;
~
Moon
Beams
of
Light
…
Our
Sole
Divide.
~~
©Robyn Lee
Storm Surge
Tide Surge Raising Fear
Penetrating Eye Of Storm
Hurricane, Have Heart
~
The above self-portrait was shot at
9 o’clock pm Monday night.
This was high-tide for our area, and the
the height of intensity for Hurricane Sandy.
As many of you know, following mandatory evacuation,
I fled with my puppy to a hotel location on Sunday, and
took shelter there with many other evacuees where we lost
power, heat and hot water.
Both humans and pets shared a common bond,
in the midst of the pending natural disaster.
Together at our “safe haven” hotel, people quickly
became caring friends. There were 11-year old twin girls entertaining
Rumi for me, as people offered to share flashlight batteries, and
whatever food they brought along.
Sadly, many lost their homes, and there were
numerous heartbreaking stories of
personal struggle and devastation.
What was obvious and uplifting though,
was the instant shared camaraderie and faith among
these strangers, in the face of fear.
I am very thankful that my
home has remained mostly
in tact, less some property damage,
I will finally be returning tomorrow,
as we just received word that our power,
heat and hot water have
been restored as of this evening.
I offer continued prayers for all of those who
have suffered loss and struggle in
the wake of this powerful storm,
and want to express my most heartfelt thanks to all
of my wonderful friends here, who have kept us in
thought and prayer for safety.
Much Love,
Robyn Lee
I Must Flee
All alone in
my own
little
corner
All alone in
blog magic:
that’s
you
~
Lost in
flight
of your
words
~
With
a
vision
so
clear
~
Feel
your
touch
~
Taste
your
tears
~
All the love
that we
share;
~
But…
~
The clock,
it
strikes
twelve
~
And the
doorbell
rings
fear:
~
“ You must hurry”
they say,
“you must go,
you must
flee
~
For your
corner’s
not
safe
~
From
the
wrath
of
Sandy.”
© Robyn Lee
In the midst of my denial, while enjoying my
wonderful blog reads earlier today,
I was evacuated from my home
due to approaching Hurricane
Sandy.
Sandy, aka: Frankenstorm, is predicted
to be the most lethal hurricane
in U.S. history to hit this part
of the country.
As luck has it, my husband
is out of the state, and now
unable to obtain access to air
transportation given this
state of emergency.
I’m taking shelter with my
puppy now at a hotel location,
and hoping
the storm has mercy
on our area and
everyone stays
safe.
Will miss visiting everyone during our
impending power outages
but will be back
to “my own little corner”
to see you all as
soon as
possible.
~
With Much Love
~ Robyn Lee
Below I share lyrics from a special song,
In My Own Little Corner,
featured in
Rodgers and Hammerstien’s
Cinderella,
one of my most favorite
childhood films:
~~~
I’m as mild and as meek as a mouse
When I hear a command I obey.
But I know of a spot in my house
Where no one can stand
In my way.
~
In my own little corner
In my own little chair
I can be whatever I want to be.
On the wings of my fancy
I can fly anywhere
And the world will open
Its arms to me.
~
I’m a young Egyptian princess…
Or a milkmaid
I’m the greatest prima donna
in Milan
I’m an heiress who has always had
her silk made
By her own flock of silkworms
In Japan
~
I’m a girl men go mad for
Love’s a game I can play
With cool and confident kind of air.
Just as long as I stay in
My own little corner
All alone in my own
Little chair.
~
I can be whatever I want to be.
I’m a thief in Calcutta
I’m a queen in Peru.
I’m a mermaid dancing upon the sea
I’m a huntress on an African safari…
It’s a dangerous type of sport and yet it’s fun
In the night I sally forth to seek my quarry
And I find I forgot to bring my gun.
~~
I am lost in the jungle all alone and unarmed
When I meet a lioness in her lair
Then I’m glad to be back in
my own little corner,
All alone in my
Own
little chair.
She Spins
round – and – round she twirls
dreamer spinning fairy tales
orbiting wonder
~~~
we came spinning
out of nothingness
scattering stars
like dust
the stars made a circle
and in the middle
we dance
the wheel of heaven
circles God
like a mill
if you grab a spoke
it will tear your hand off
turning and turning
it sunders
all attachment
were that wheel not in love
it would cry
“enough! how long this turning?”
every atom
turns bewildered
beggars circle tables
dogs circle carrion
the lover circles
his own heart
ashamed,
I circle shame
a ruined water wheel
whichever way I turn
is the river
if that rusty old sky
creaks to a stop
still, still I turn
and it is only God
circling Himself
~Rumi~
Beyond
Take me beyond
these rocky
shores
~
Beyond
twilight
skies
~
Through
celestial
doors;
~~~
Show me your
deepest
fiery
place
~
Where we
dance to
Love’s
song
~
In
our
sacred
embrace;
~~~
Take me beyond
the raw
edge of
day
~
Past the
fields
of
forever
~
Where moon
shadows
dare
play.
~~~
©Robyn Lee
Pier Anticipation
will
wait
for you
On
the
wooden
planked
pier
honest
and
free
the sea,
you and
me.
arrive
before
for
two;
can
bring the
chilled
wine
time.
watch
day
turn to
skies
glow
salt
air
our
eyes:
The Most Famous Question…
To be,
or not to be?
That is the question—
long life.
line in Shakespeare’s soliloquy has resounded as the most famous quotation
throughout literary history, and has implications reaching
far beyond the context of Hamlet amongst our
contemporary existential thinkers.
My Mother’s Light
~
Just as the magnificent sun shines high in the sky,
my Mother’s light illuminates the heart of each
soul who is so blessed to know her smile,
her kindness, her radiance…her Love.
Happy Birthday Mom;
I Love you Always!
Robyn Lee
The Mother
~Kahlil Gibran
The most beautiful word on the lips of mankind is the word “Mother,”
and the most beautiful call is the call of “My mother.”
It is a word full of hope and love, a sweet and kind word
coming from the depths of the heart.
The mother is everything– she is our
consolation in sorrow, our hope in misery,
and our strength in weakness.
She is the source of love, mercy,
sympathy,and forgiveness….
Everything in nature bespeaks the mother.
The sun is the mother of earth and gives it its nourishment of heart;
it never leaves the universe at night until it has put the earth to sleep
to the song of the sea and the hymn of birds and brooks.
And this earth is the mother of trees and flowers.
It produces them, nurses them, and weans them.
The trees and flowers become kind mothers
of their great fruits and seeds.
And the mother,
the prototype of all existence,
is the eternal spirit,
full of beauty and love.
Figs: The Secret
The Fig
is
Erotic?
Oh please,
tell me
How
~
I’d not the
slightest
idea,
until here
until now;
~
Please pardon
my
blushing,
Don’t mean
to
offend
~
But I must
share
my discovery,
Since we’re
all such
good friends;
~
So
savor this
image,
And when
your joy
is complete;
~
Learn the
secret of
Figs
Through
a poetic prose
treat!
~~~
😉 RL
Figs
excerpted from the poem
By D. H. Lawrence
~~~
The proper way to eat a fig, in society,
Is to split it in four, holding it by the stump,
And open it, so that it is a glittering, rosy, moist, honied,
heavy-petalled four-petalled flower.
Then you throw away the skin
Which is just like a four-sepalled calyx,
After you have taken off the blossom with your lips.
But the vulgar way
Is just to put your mouth to the crack,
and take out the flesh in one bite.
Every fruit has its secret.
The fig is a very secretive fruit.
As you see it standing growing,
you feel at once it is symbolic:
And it seems male.
But when you come to know it better,
you agree with the Romans,
it is female.
The Italians vulgarly say, it stands for
the female part; the fig-fruit:
The fissure, the yoni,
The wonderful moist conductivity
towards the centre.
Involved,
Inturned,
The flowering all inward and womb-fibrilled;
And but one orifice.
The fig, the horse-shoe, the squash-blossom.
Symbols.
There was a flower that flowered inward, womb-ward;
Now there is a fruit like a ripe womb.
It was always a secret.
That’s how it should be,
the female
should always be
secret.
~~~
And for even more fascinating information about this sacred, and sultry fruit :
In awe, and so very touched ~ Penny has created a post (featuring her phenomenal illustration) , and a challenge inspired by a simple comment I made on one of her wonderful blog posts ~ ‘A Pigment-of-My-Imagination’. Penny you rock! Thank you dear friend … Enjoy – and Lots of love to all! ~Robyn Lee
This one’s for you, Robyn!
In September I posted A Pigment of My Imagination . At the end of the post was a graphic (the one above). I asked viewers to tell me what it might be a picture of. One of my favorite people (who inspires with every photograph she takes and every word she writes) answered:
Robyn Lee “Ok – in the picture, I see a mystical but loving sea creature emerging from the depths of an enchanted lake — after sunset… doing his magic for the good of all of mankind.”
Since then I had been thinking about what a “loving” sea creature would look like, I thought of Robyn’s personality, one that embodies “loving” to me. Yesterday I saw a photo of a bronze rendering of a dragon and I knew I’d found her. Last night I drew this dragon on my notepad. A beautiful (I hope) female sea creature emerging!
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THROUGH THE HEALING LENS 
