The Insides of Clouds
Erasure poems and more
I didn’t have another 4000 word treatise about a plant or more bitching about the hospital in me this week. I’ve had a lot of big feelings about nothing in particular this week, so I was feeling more expressive than persuasive this week.
The Insides of Clouds
Erasure Poetry from
’s total delight Our Lady of the Dark CountryMoonlight, moonlight An earthquake trembling Could protect and reveal longing For snow geese Walked the edge of the moon On the water Skidding across, honking Paddled to shore Veils of water-drops Around their shoulders Fluid as water Grew taller Became six women The skin and legs and arms and hair The insides of clouds were gone forever
I Did Not Wake Up Under the Ground
Erasure Poetry from The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Remember Dirt Body Creature Mother My heart did not demand respect My heart's coldness knew I hated weakness I trembled Rise up Gods of the underworld Come, take me Without so much as a sigh Hunted, I ran Searched Sang about abundant rains I did not wake up Under the ground
A few weeks ago, I hosted the COVID ceremony. My creation during that time was one of those where each thing I added made the picture worse, but
knocked it out of the park. I love the way she captures texture, the beaver chewed tree, and I suspet there’s some mullein on the right. Check out her Substack, Fire Songs.
I found the COVID ceremony to be a rich experience, and I’d love to do it again, but we didn’t have too many folks in attendance. If there is interest, I’d be happy to give it another go, let me know.
I always love your erasure poetry and am glad you introduced me to this artform (maybe one day I will be brave enough to try it myself!) Also, are your essays really 4,000 words?! Impressive. I loose steam after writing about 2,000!
I really think anyone who didn't attend the COVID ceremony was missing out. I found it really affirming to be able to connect with a few people who'd been working the front lines in healthcare, in an intimate and supportive setting. There was so much hate and resentment between clients/patients and their families trying to navigate all the troubles and new restrictions, and the medical professionals doing their damnedest to get through the day with their sanity intact. But the space you created made it easy to talk across that divide as human beings. Everybody has painful stories. It was healing to be able to share them and to listen to theirs. Even the push to set aside a full day simply to be in this place and make space for whatever comes up was valuable.