Fear & The Prospect of Angels - A Sunday Poem
Recently I’ve been revisiting the poems of Hafiz. Hafiz wrote a body of mystical works that explore the themes of beauty, humor, love, devotion and what keeps us from living more fully . I decided for period of time to read one Hafiz poem in the morning, meditate upon it for a moment, and then write a poem in a conversational response. Its been a lovely way to “get inside” a thoughtful poem by thinking of it as conversation (you might want to try this yourself with a favorite poem or song).
This is a response I wrote this week in conversation with the Hafiz poem “Your Mother and My Mother” It is about fear and the possibility of deeper connection. It got me thinking about how my fears can impoverish my life and keep me from sensing the deep connections within me, between us and a more graciousness and the great wild mercy that still inhabits the world… always available, always close.
Fear & The Prospect of Angels Fear is such a poorly made coat Ragged cuffed and thread bare At the elbows and shoulders. I would hope to see you More warmly dressed In a hand knit sweater Created stitch by stitch With you in mind Fear acts as if it is something Of importance or substance, Giving off the illusion of fullness Like a 7-Eleven Big Gulp Or a bathtub filled with iceberg lettuce I would rather for you A ripe plum Or a tall glass of cool water Something sweet and real That pulls up a moan of pleasure And satisfies all that’s been hollow or hungry. Before we were born Before we floated in our mothers’ womb We both swam in the inner ocean Of the Beloved And if we could only know the truth of this We might recognized one another As the old friends we are. And yet Fear is a growling animal A song with on note And dangerous when cornered. I would hope for you a bird That sat riding on your shoulder All day long Delighting you with how Many many songs it knows That occasionally flutters into the air Wings quickening Softly and beautifully beating, Like a heart when it hears the one voice Its been waiting forever to hear A flash of what angels must sound like When they pass by So near As they so often do.
Question
What might happen if the next time you noticed a fear holding you back from some small (start small) connection, you stopped and listened for the humming of something gracious and true in your life? Perhaps remember a time when you took a step forward when it felt a little risky and it worked out in a beautiful way?
Did it help you have to confidence to take that small step toward connection? If not…what might be helpful?
Laying my hand on your heart and saying “oh honey” always helps me :-)
Tour Schedule - A Great Wild Mercy Fall, Winter, Spring Tour
This month I begin A Great Wild Mercy Fall, Winter & Spring Tour. I’m so excited to have the opportunity to share these new songs and old friends with you all. I’ll be performing in several wonderful contexts, as a duo with my good friend, musical collaborator and the best traveling conversationalist - Gary Walters. I’ll be doing select shows as a trio with the always luminous Allie Von Wassenaer- Summers, and three special shows with The Gathering of Spirits String Quartet! I hope to see you at one of these fun shows soon! For more Info, Tickets & full tour schedule on my website www.carrienewcomer.com/tour
Two announcements!
Sept 16, 2023 The Buskirk Chumley Theater, Bloomington Indiana, presented by BLOOMINGTON ROOTS has only a handful of tickets left. Get you’re soon! I’ll be performing with The Gathering of Spirits String Quartet, which includes Allie van Wassenaer-Summers AND with new string arrangements by Gary Walters. We’re also excited to have special guest Tommy Prine on the show.
My October 29 Eddies Attic, Decatur GA has been sold out for over a month with a large waiting list - SO we’ve added another show in the afternoon! So check for matinee tix if you are interested in going! Here’s the Link
CARRIE’S “A GREAT WILD MERCY” & STORE WIDE 20% OFF PRE-SALE
Pre-order 20% Off Sale Is Here!
From September 1-Oct 13th you can order A Great Wild Mercy T-shirts, Ball Caps, Cds, Posters and Super Supporter Angel Bundles at best discount prices of the year! Just use the coupon code GWM20 at check out! Note: You must order by Oct. 1 to guarantee that your items with arrive before the GMW Oct 13th release date. I'm so excited about this new album, beautiful poster and fun t-shirt & cap. I hope you'll check them out at www.carrienewcomer.com/store
MANY THANKS to those who have already purchased An Album Angel Bundle & Received Their Digital Access To The New Album.
These bundles very much help support my work, AND they receive access to the full album digitally before release date AND they are included on my website as an Album Angel. Ok…and they are 20% off during our sale :-) Here’s the link if you would like to check it out and become an Album Angel Here
Most Recent Single - Potluck
My most recent single “Potluck” has been released on all streaming platforms. I hope you check it out. Its about being in relationship and the experience of community when it is good hearted and welcoming, where we can show up as ourselves and trust what others bring to the table —with humor, a bit of grace and maybe a hot dish. Here’s the link. I hope you’ll check it out and share it with those who share this potluck of life with you.
Today is the eleventh anniversary of my dad's passing.
So when I read the following lines, I felt them giving me comfort:
'Like a heart when it hears the one voice Its been waiting forever to hear
A flash of what angels must sound like
When they are pass by
So near
As they do often do. '
Thank you.
Carrie, Thank you! Your thoughts prompted me to take a step forward in dealing with a fear I have carried for a long time. As I wrote them out to get them out of my head, I was blessed with a message.
“There is still time,” the light says. “There is still time,” love promises.
My mind pauses, “Are you sure?”
My heart over rules. It has heard reassurance in the fluttering of wings. “Even as this autumn air urges all that grew and gave to let go of the life it had, let the damaged fruit fear produced fall from the vine. Let it become the ground that will yield a plentiful harvest in the season to come.”
Yes, let it become.