#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Wind Chime Gong

. . . In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air,

any thing can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp,

praise song for walking forward in that light.

~ Elizabeth Alexander, excerpt from “Praise Song for the Day”

There was sun, bright sun, blue sky, at the beginning of this tragic and historic day. I walked into the woods, looking forward to leading my Farm Pond Writer’s group. I walked into the woods appreciating clear January skies. And the writing workshop was wonderful. And then all hell broke loose on the day. Stunned, I watched the tv, feeling so sick to my stomach. Especially, seeing photos of rioters in the seats of the Senate and rioters ransacking offices of congresswomen. The assault was horrible to witness. I stayed glued to coverage, but I managed to make dinner. A vegetarian stew with dumplings. Comfort food for the family. We watched the coverage while we ate. I tore myself away tonight, sheer discipline. I had a poem to draft for my poetry workshop tomorrow. I had just begun working on it when the assault began. I managed to go upstairs and close the bedroom door and sit down and craft a very first draft of a new poem about my daughter’s garden. It felt just right to be in the garden. I have many strong opinions about what’s going on. I have been talking them out non-stop, texting them out, sharing them all day. Here, in this place, I am finding comfort from Elizabeth Alexander’s poem, and my morning picture of the sun coming through the trees and the remembered sound of the snow covered gong of my favorite wind chime at the end of my walk this morning, and my faith in the renewal I experience on my daily walks, #newthisday.