Poet Jane Hirshfield said "... the feeling I have about poem-writing (is) that it is always an exploration, of discovering something I didn't already know. Who I am shifts from moment to moment, year to year. What I can perceive does as well. A new poem peers into mystery, into whatever lies just beyond the edge of knowable ground."
I bring a different poem to the writing classes each week, not only to inspire but to introduce new poets to the group members.
If I could by Louise B. Halfe–Sky Dancer
If I could I would sing the land let it drift into your mouth slide down your parched throat moisten the bone-lodge that houses your heart, where my Elders teach Intelligence resides. If I could I’d cup your face guide it toward the sun allow the gentle winds to wipe your sorrows down the furrows of your skin. If I could I’d cross the rivers guide you through the murky turbulent flow on the footprints of the rocks, take you to the distant shore. We’ve met you and I spirits sharing this common space. We’ve made brief eye contact examined each other head to toe as we hurried by. Your country has been my sorrow muddled fear and caution that brought confusion and terror to my tribes. My country lives in the muscle memory the grandmothers and grandfathers hovering by Yet, here we are history having woven us together, our forefathers, our foremothers at our feet. They wait to share this feast where intelligence resides. I yearn for a community that has the ears of a moose the wide heavens of the eagle’s eye the curious smile of a mouse. Releasing us from these wounded hearts. I echo my ancestor’s words, tawâw There is room. ~ from the Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate website