Carrie's Sunday Post - Feathers

& Poetry, Community Question, Tour, Sale, 3rd Single On The Way!

Photo by amanda on Unsplash

Hi Folks,

I’m posting another of my “conversation with a Hafiz” poems…

There have been many times when I’ve wrestled to come to terms with a hard decision or a persistent question, only to realize, when I finally reached the decision, deep down I’d known what was needed for some time. It takes awhile to connect with our own inner teacher, and even longer to trust its wisdom. It often takes quieting the noise of our busy lives and opening up a welcoming space. I remember an afternoon sitting on the porch with my friend Richard. He loved birds and I have a couple of feeders that are attached to the porch overhang. Several friends were engaged in bright conversations around the table, but Richard had removed himself to the edge of the porch and was sitting quietly with his right hand open with a bit of bird seed resting in his palm. He sat there for quite some time, calm and quiet, exuding a sense of safety and welcome. After some time, a small sparrow hopped up on the ledge, then inched closer to Richard’s open hand. After a few starts and stops, the sparrow approached his fingers, looked at him appraisingly and then took a bit of seed. Now Richard was a bit of a mystic, a painter and deeply connected human being, but it was seriously wondrous to see a wild bird (that would remain wild) approach and take the seed he’d offered. Richard saw then that I was watching from across the porch and he smiled back at me, sharing a secret between us that still feels like such a gift.

What Thomas Merton called “a hidden wholeness” is a bit like that bird, it is always there, but sometimes it might need us to take a bit of time away from the fray, to open up our palms and allow enough time for it to settle in our hands.

Feathers

So much of the immaterial world
Is perched upon our material shoulders
A bird that sings
And sings again
With a song so intimate
It might go unnoticed
But for the feathers 
That keep showing up
On the dresser
Next to the coffee cup
In a coat pocket
Unworn since last winter.

I mean, who knew 
That while I searched and scanned 
The unknowable horizon
With ardent and determinedly polished binoculars 
All that I needed
Was already 
Patiently waiting 
Close as my earlobes. 
Which face it, 
Are easy to miss
As unassuming
And practically placed as they are.

How easy it is to look anywhere
And everywhere
But here
For what lights easy on our shoulders
And what the heart already knew.

Question

In the poem I use a bird and feathers to describe the presence of beauty, wisdom and wholeness always present - even when we can’t see it just yet. If you were to create an image or metaphor for the presence of wholeness in your life, what would it be? An animal? An image from the natural world?

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Third Single “Start With A Stone” Released on Monday Sept 25th!

I’m so excited for the release of the third single “Start With A Stone” to be released soon on all streaming platforms and a lyric video on my YouTube page. The song was co-written with my friend John McCutcheon and I’ll write more about it next week. Here’s a link learn more about John’s recordings and a fun online show he’ll be doing Sept 24th. I won’t be performing on the show, but he’ll be featuring songs co-written with myself and lots of great songwriters.

Great Wild Mercy Tour Schedule

For Tix and Details Visit My Website Tour Page

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Just a Reminder

20% Off Store Wide Great Wild Mercy Celebration Sale Is Still Happening

Here’s a Link to my online store!

Here’s