wild winds and work gloves…
Grace found me this week wearing work gloves,
while my heart wore soft bright frocks
and twirled beneath the pear blossoms
listening hopeful for tender whispers
and watching for signs of love.
And always they came
dressed as long slow rambles with the dogs,
provision wrapped in surprise,
muscles worked strong and stretched smooth by sure hands,
flowers plunked smiling into cans
and banana popsicles easing the weary from long afternoons.
And I arranged the days to make space for ballet,
to let my body remember the childhood motion
because it is joy
without the rush and urgency,
without the pressure to perform it perfectly
and this is kneading knots of ancient worry
from places where I stored it long ago.
And grace rolled over me,
as work gloves drying on the clothesline
fluttered with wild windy bluster
and my tired eyes settled on the motion
and caught the kiss that heaven blew
as breezes billowed beneath the gloves,
raising one, fingertips to sky,
a graceful ballerina hand lifted high
and how the leather tough wrapping of circumstances
can’t hold down what fills the skin and bones of me,
palms up and letting go,
I am still free.
sweet dancer,
i loooooooooooove your dresses art!!! let’s snuggle in next to each other w/our dresses on!
+ that flower-pop can photo is fresh + delightful!
you are as sweet as those blossoms, jennifer.
xoxox rachel
Lovely words and photos. I hope you are doing well and enjoying your spring.
Hugs,
Briana
i think my heart is going to have to learn how to wear bright. i’m such a grey, black, taupe and white person, but this is the season for color. have you been shopping lately. oh lord. brights everywhere.
lucky for me i have a wonderful fuchsia bag, so if the colors don’t work near my heart, well my hands will just carry it instead 🙂
your words spin color in their beautiful dresses …
smiling at the blooms from the cans ..and as always ..your poetry!!
You prepare our way for a new season with all it’s wonders that await us….If we’d been friends as little girls we would be having one fun time…..
Hugs to you sweet girl….
Oh Jen . . . those blossoms! They’re still only a fantasy here–but today was sunny and a gorgeous 67 degrees . . . I thought of you and your flowers and your gentle nurturing hands today. Love, love your canned flowers–and loosening that ancient knot of worry. Oh, how I recognize it–and join you in gently letting go. Mentioned you in my Spotlight today: https://ripplespeak.com/2012/03/the-wind-beneath-my-work-gloves/ So much love to you.
Ha, oops! Didn’t quite get the link right. It’s on http://www.persistentgreen.com. How silly. 🙂
I know if we’re very patient, we’ll see blossoms like that in another month or so, but rightnow we are grateful for 60 degrees an sunny! I simply adore the flowers in the soda cans! As always, when I visit you, I feel uplifted!
I’d like to drive down your way just to sit in your sunshine. I always receive a special treat from your words. You should have been named Joy.
Big, big, hugs.
With love,
Sherry
Jennifer, again, your words paint vivid images! … of carefree days and experiences of nature as they are meant to be felt coursing through out bodies and imaginations. Thank you for a wonderful read on this morning! NOW, I can start my day with a renewed mind of adventures and wonders ahead of me.
I can see and feel and hear that little girl in you shining thru. Your words and images are overflowing with love and lightness and joy!
Dearest Jennifer,
I so love your poem about dresses, and I love it even more as art! You did such a beautiful job with it.
Your photosGerberrber daises in soda cans and the sun through a blossoming tree are both art quality also. Clearly, hours spent digging in dirt are nurturing to your creative spirit.
Please keep sharing your beautiful words and images; the interwebs is a wonderful place as long as you are in it!
xo, Anita
Jennifer, your visit always feel special. It kind of feel like I’ve been visited by a fairy sprinkling it magical fairy dust my way…
Is there anything prettier than a blossoming tree? I love how magical it looks against the sky and I can only imagine the fragrance. I’d love to drink it’s nectar like the bees, how lucky they are. Something so delicate pushing their way through the tough bark and dressing the branches in all their splendor. Now there’s a fancy ballerina dress.
Your words seems to have a color palette of their own, painting a vivid picture that stirs the heart. How do you do it with such eloquence? Always a pleasure to come visiting your blog. Hugs Julia
I just love the juxtaposition of those bright blossoms in the soda cans. So fun.
I see you twirling and spinning
tipping on your toes
as your dress follows you
in the breeze.
I love the flowers in those Sundrop cans.
Hugs
Eydie
Eydie stole my comment! I have an image of you twirling, arms stretched high to the sky, a joyous smile on your face, a colorful dress billowing and swirling around you. Thanks for the bits of sunshine you bring with all of your posts!
I cannot get over how wonderful and beautiful God’s nature is. And to think that He desires to please us in this beauty. And sadly many of us go by it unnoticed! Thank you Jen for capturing His beauty. Blessings.
Jen, I found you via Amanda’s spotlight of you over on http://www.persistentgreen.com. I love how poetry seems your native language, coloring all you do and say (at least the bits I see of you here :). Your wide-openness inspires me.
Sweet water to quench my thirsty soul. Your poetry is a marvel. Thank you for sharing it with the world.
Oh my goodness Jennifer. What a joyful, glorious picture you paint with your words! I can see the glove uplifted by the wind and it made my heart lift reading about it. I washed dishes this morning with a pair of orange gloves that have a beautiful orange and white checked cuff. 🙂
there’s a whole lot of joy here… despite “the leather tough wrapping of circumstances.” love these gorgeous images 🙂
Lovely words and photos, your blossom is ahead of ours and looking glorious.
I love all of this and especially the flowers in the pop cans! So natural and inviting!! Thank you for sharing.
Jennifer, you made me smile again. I love the image of the ballerina glove with “fingertips to the sky”, and “and how the leather tough wrapping of circumstances can’t hold down what fills the skin and bones of me” Bravo! You go, girl!
your words conjure up such great images in my head!! love the photo of the flowers in the soda cans…they absolutely do look like they are smiling!!
I used to draw dresses, too, when I was a little girl! I designed wedding gowns, ball gowns–I was a very girly girl!
Love the little bunny popping up in the corner! My bunny says hi to you!
Jennier, you have such a way with words. The images you painted in my heart make me smile and give me light 🙂
Thank you xo
Always lovely words! Flowers in the cans so clever!
I can’t believe you love banana popsicles too…how about that
and as for your day and beautiful words…
they brng me joy…..thatnk you for the gift of them
…and yes, I am enjoying some benefits of prednisone….my hip doesn’t hurt anymore…
but the rash is still there….bummer
I hope to get out in the garden today…before it storms….
it is one of my life’s joy…..my garden
I think and pray for your son daily….know that dear Jennifer
You don’t change, do you? 😉 Always graceful and soulful and playful!
Super images with words and with pictures! I now feel like lazing around for the rest of the day! 🙂
Super images with words and with pictures! I now feel like lazing around for the rest of the day! 🙂
Another point is that you have to go to the lessons. Knowing this fact can change the way you approach your golf game in the future.
The golf swing should be similar to the pendulum on a clock.
Changing gloves throughout the day isn’t just annoying: it’s also an inefficient way to do your work. A better way is to choose gloves is to find ones that both protect and enable your hands to meet the wide range of demands on the job. That might be a tall order to fill, but you’ll be happy to know that it is possible.