Poetry and Pubs

Last evening at Angela's great enouragement I entered a poetry contest held at the White House Pub in Limerick City. I have never read any of my poetry before a audience,let alone for a poetry competition. But the idea appealed to me, it felt right,and so I just went for it. Now I never expected I would win nor did I,but the experience of being in a crowded pub full of poets and poetry lovers was a very lovely thing. I met so many interesting people, had long talks about spirituality with a very nice many who is quite and intuitive and with an artist whose speciality is to create sacred spaces, and whose poetry was the antithesis of his contained artist demeanor. His poetry was delivered with great animation and humor, others were delivered with sadness, poems of lost loves and lost lives. Some spoke angry poems and some spoke with great reverence for the special places or events in their lives.

Each and every poem was the expression of unique voice and individualty. It was fascinating to listen and to see how those are practiced presenters bring dramatic life to what they have written.I learned a great deal and it was an interesting evening to be with so many different people expressing themselves in their own special way. I was glad that Angela brought the contest to my attention and that I decided to enter. I found I liked presenting my own poetry. It was like being on stage again. I haven't been on stage in quite a while. I loved the poetry readings of others and the intellectual and creative atmosphere of the event and its participants.

The pub has a poetry corner set up for weekly readings by published poets and open mic nights for anyone wanting to get up and read. I know I will go again to be in the audience and if I am compelled to get up and read another poem I will do so. It was just a wonderful experience all around. Good poetry, good conversation and good fun.

I leave you with my poem on a visualzation of peace, written after 9/11. I chanted the very last line. My I was brave.

Love from Glocca Morra.

Harmony
A meditation for peace

Visualize harmony ~ visualize it everywhere.
See a softening of the earth’s atmosphere,
How it floats and gently falls to earth,
embracing all inhabitants
with a luminescent light that quivers and shimmers
like moonlight on the water.
See the entire earth and all that inhabit it,
breathing easily and gently as One.
It’s a quiet, easy, loving breath.
Just keep on breathing
Now see the trees in the forests,
the grasses of the meadows, the mountains,
deserts, birds, and all creatures;
all species are singing a new song.
They are singing it together.
There is a new order.
One of gentleness, effortless ease.
You can feel it.
It is everywhere you turn.
It is harmony.

Everywhere and in everything there is a new order
a settling of the dust ~ so to speak.
Life has become quiet.
Life has become profoundly meaningful.
Everything is lighter.
Everything is easier than it has ever been before.
It is easier to breathe.
It is easier to smile.
It is easier to move.
It is easier to love.
There is a restored simplicity.
There is a restored gentleness.
There is a new world order.
It is harmony
Visualize this and keep on visualizing this,
Until it is so.

CHANT… May Harmony descend upon the earth and peace and love prevail.