excuse me while I kiss the sky….

Cheers to a newborn month
and,  everywhere,  seeds swollen with hopefulness,
beginnings and endings ,
ripe hellos,
and  serendipity
as it startles and soothes
like a song when it finds you ready
and it’s magic.

To my parents moving new to my own city,
settling in near
so that this season of their lives can be kissed sweet and close with rest.
and  to fresh wind finding  sails
and fluttering  dreams with light and lift,
and to how it is grace to let hope dance wild,
all bountiful and voluptuous.

To freshly remembering why we do the thing
called Rivergreen,
this sometimes maddening business of shovels and soil and seeds and sweat
connecting heaven to earth
with fresh tumbles and bruises and groaning and growing pains
and how when I press my ear to the chest of the thing
I still hear a strong heart beating out freedom
and I smile
and sigh peaceful.

To living glad in my skin,
freckled deep and  thorn scraped and already tan
and my dermatologist will again scold my passion for the sun
and I’ll nod and agree weak about hats
that will come off when the wind reaches in slow to kiss
and I’ll choose breeze over caution,
purple over gray,
and drink deeply of these days
as they are given.


I’m playing along with shiny Liv’s little bliss list this week;
come on over and join the grateful rumpus!

39 Comments

  1. rachel awes on March 2, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    waaaaaaaaaaa!
    i love the purple in your hair!
    YOU are becoming your fields.
    xoxox

  2. Connie Smiley on March 2, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    Bless you, Jennifer, for all that poetic sunshine.

  3. Bren on March 2, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    A purple kind of gal 🙂 Great post, uplifting and vibrant like you and that beautiful collaged card.

  4. Louise G on March 2, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    wow.

    you make me want to run
    wild
    free
    kissing sky
    and tumbling snow
    (yes, we are still snowclad
    as you dig into spring’s fresh earth)

    you make me want to sing
    loud
    laugh
    hard
    spin
    wild.

    Thank you.

  5. Nancy on March 2, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    My favorite color is purple…looks good in your hair……You are such a breathe of fresh air…Whenever I come over for a visit, I just want to play with you….

    Have a great weekend friend

  6. Lee Ann on March 2, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    Oh I’m so happy to hear your momma and papa are going to be living close by you!!!! Maybe that is part of the joy that also found it’s pretty purple way into your beautiful hair! The sweet girl coming out with freedom to play in the sun and in the field of flowers!!! Like Nancy, I want to come and play with you too. Do you have an extra purple pretty you could put in my hair? (by the way, I saw where you can use watercolor crayons on strands of your hair to add a punch of color on any given day….I need to try that)

    Red rover red rover, send Jen right over!
    Hugs to you,
    Lee Ann

  7. Karen Stout on March 2, 2012 at 11:25 pm

    I love your work and your words. I wish you could come over and I would make us a drink and we could visit. I’m almost positive there would be a bunch of laughing out loud. 🙂

  8. Mary on March 3, 2012 at 7:21 am

    Jen do you know how inviting you spirit is? It’s filled to the brim and spilling over with life!!

    Love you!
    Mar

  9. bonitarose on March 3, 2012 at 9:01 am

    your hair is so so lovely! I’m participating in bliss this week too!

  10. Kirsten on March 3, 2012 at 11:23 am

    Beautiful! The pictures… the words… they make inspiring music.

  11. Judy on March 3, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    Beautiful, beautiful collage, photos and heart thoughts! Your phrasing is exquisite ~ “it is grace to let hope dance wild…” ~ I feel so uplifted when I read your words.
    Thank you, jennifer, for spreading sunshine.

  12. Jean on March 3, 2012 at 3:07 pm

    Your blog reflects your spirit – beautiful and kind. I love the colors, the images and mostly your words. Thank you for all your kind support. I hope your giving comes back to you ten-fold.

  13. Jean on March 3, 2012 at 3:07 pm

    …and you said “rumpus”. Hee hee. 🙂

  14. Kathy on March 3, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    How wonderful that your parents are moving closer! I can imagine dancing now, purple streaks flying! Happy weekend to you, Jen!

  15. Sue on March 4, 2012 at 6:58 am

    Spring reminds me of renewal as does your post. Love those daffodils!!

  16. annie! on March 4, 2012 at 9:13 am

    I am so totally thrilled that I get to read your poetry. How wonderful! If I read right, your parents are coming to your area so they can rest while their daughter helps care for them. What a wonderful daughter. You will never regret these days with them. You’ve put a smile on my face and in my heart today. Thank you.

  17. lisleman on March 4, 2012 at 10:46 am

    Your hat gets blown off in the most poetic ways.

  18. Anita on March 4, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    Best bliss list ever!!

    I lovelove the purple! So stunning. And what lovely things to celebrate! Parents nearby, self employment, Spring, sun and daffodils. Bliss indeed!

    xo, Anita

  19. Lindsay Drya on March 4, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    You are so poetic! I love the way you write about your little bliss list. 🙂
    And your hair, omg! BIG LIKE!

  20. K.Young on March 4, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    Well now. What a cool space here. Janis Joplin cool ~

  21. Barbara on March 4, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    Your words are so full of life and light! I love the feel of sunshine on my face and the wind in my hair, too, and actually envy all the time you get to spend there! Glad your parents have moved close!

  22. jeanie on March 4, 2012 at 2:17 pm

    Oh, joy! Daffodills! I have wee little sprouts coming up and hope it doesn’t snow or ice enough to hurt them! I’m delighted your parents are moving closer — it’s a comfort to have them near by. Much loveliness here! You make me smile!

  23. beth on March 4, 2012 at 5:44 pm

    “a newborn month”….i

    think i will have to treat it gently then, which i can do as long as it doesn’t need middle of the night feedings 🙂
    xoxo

  24. S. Etole on March 4, 2012 at 7:45 pm

    Such bounty of color while the world here is still blanketed in white and gray.

  25. Jess Morrow on March 4, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    Oh, Jen … gorgeous, gorgeous, voluptuous words. As always. 🙂

  26. Lorinda on March 4, 2012 at 8:45 pm

    What a beautifully written and visually stunning list!! xx

  27. Lorinda on March 4, 2012 at 8:45 pm

    What a beautifully written and visually stunning list!! xx

  28. Michele Bergh on March 4, 2012 at 9:33 pm

    I so love this post. As always, your words are like music to my hears. I feel as if I’m right there with you, getting kissed by the wind:)

  29. JillsyGirl Studio on March 5, 2012 at 9:30 am

    i’m sure you are overjoyed about your parents coming to live close to you. your posts are always so uplifting!

  30. leslie on March 5, 2012 at 9:47 am

    thank you for this lovely reminder to hope extravagantly, in this season of resurrection… and boy do i relate to the dermatologist’s scolding (and the love of being sun-kissed, anyway)

    p.s. do you really have those adorable purple stripes? i love them!

  31. elk on March 5, 2012 at 7:54 pm

    you sound so happy .. and that makes me smile! So glad you are going to have your folks close ..know your busy time is upon you as well in the garden ..enjoy enjoy ~ I always love stopping by here!

  32. Jema on March 5, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    “To living glad in my skin”
    You are a creative, enduring woman. I see you standing strong in your soul. I love this line and your constant encouragement on my own stretching. I stand beside you learning to live glad in my skin.

  33. Marcie on March 6, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    So beautiful. So full of hope and love and spring sunshine!

  34. donna on March 7, 2012 at 1:50 am

    oh I love the rich colours and beautiful images, and inspiring message, thank you for sharing, just so wonderful and wild.

  35. Marjie Kemper on March 7, 2012 at 11:24 am

    How fabulous is this? LOVE it! Freeing, cheering, inspiring… thanks for the great big dose of sunshine.

  36. kelly on March 7, 2012 at 8:49 pm

    this was wonderful and made me smile… love this: “it is grace to let hope dance wild”
    yes.

  37. Dulcy Stewart on March 8, 2012 at 7:56 am

    As I read this post I’m so wowed by the colors, and then I saw the beautiful hair!! Color every where and it makes me so happy! I’m going to drop by the blog you mention and see just what is up. You beautiful girl………

    xo
    dulcy

  38. eydie on March 9, 2012 at 2:05 am

    I love how the streaks of purple found their way through the fire in your hair.
    Beautiful pictures, beautiful you.

  39. Poetic chronicles on March 9, 2012 at 7:50 am

    Just catching up with your latest posts…:) Makes me smile and resonates with my own feelings, sweet Jen! Choosing breeze over caution sounds appealing, and celebrating this new month by enjoying what’s given feels just right!

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