12/1/09

what would rilke say?

maybe:

"[dear madam]...you know, after all, that you are in the midst of transitions and you wished for nothing so much as to change." (letters to a young poet)

victory!

yes, i still believe in magic, synchronicity, meant-to-be, dreaming, spirits, love, energy, and whatever other like thing is irrational, unrealistic, intangible, not true, unprovable, sappy, et cetera. i win!

8/22/09

michelle obama's arms

remind me that it's okay to be powerful.

7/20/09

the law of process

"the biggest man you ever did see was once a baby." bob marley ("coming in from the cold.")

7/8/09

turn, turn, turn...

michael is gone. maxwell has birthed a new album. to everything, there is a season.

from redding street to macarthur boulevard, a wire-enclosed footbridge spans interstate 580. i walked this footbridge this morning; stopped in the middle of it to really feel how good it felt for the wind to flap my dress every-which-way. one motorist looked up and waved. that at that speed, with the wire enclosing and all, he spotted me and had the thought to wave, and then did so: a miracle to me. i waved back, and then waved, waved, and waved some more. the wind, the sun, the fast cars, and the early morning--all felt good.

later...i am sitting at this fabulous coffee shop in oakland, when the longingly beautiful, and talented suheir hammad walks in. just like that. i'd been thinking of her for months, wanting to tell her that that story, which she'd so generously complimented me on, at a workshop reading a year ago, now appears in the antioch review. finally, without seeking or grasping, i had the opportunity to share.

"are you writing your novel?" i replied that i am. "it's time," she said.

yes. to everything there is a season.

6/26/09

music: love

"the minute i heard my first love story, i started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. lovers don't finally meet somewhere. they're in each other all along." rumi

"a song for you." (video)

human nature

6/22/09

he's baaaaaack!

this song makes me wonder of my own wings.

and i know i'm getting old(er) because upon hearing it, i thought: now this is good r&b music.

5/27/09

releasing faith...

a little over a year ago, a writer whose work i've admired, gave me a 20 dollar bill. i put it in an envelope, which i labeled, "faith money"--a self promise that some day, like this writer, i too would be living my dreams. i also promised that i would not spend this money unless i had absolutely no other choice; thankfully since that time, i've had other choices.

and then, this morning: i thought about how within the last year, i have repeatedly placed my self belief at the mercy of others' judgment--often deciding that my failure/success depended upon their support. this afternoon, i spent the money. finally. but before handing it to the cashier, i wrote on its face: "all the faith you need is already within you." may this find the right person at the right time.

5/19/09

tekere, tekere!

this, "tekere", is my favorite song by the marvelous salif keita; i dance (sitting, standing, lying) whenever i hear it. and the women in the video make me proud that i am one of them. watch the one at the 4:26 and 4:55 mark--she is possessed of her fierceness! the confidence in her body makes me smile...