I too like the places
where categories are neither
and both—indistinct forms
replace the sharp edges and play
with what is no longer there.
Past and future give way
to presence, and dissolve
who I am—nothing
has yet been decided.
There is no need
to consult time, to hasten
the turning of the wheel–
life pauses–
the landscape seems different,
unattached to words
or specific actions as it
gathers me in, murmuring
my pulse with invisible
currents.
Crow calls to my soul–
a shadow casting deeper
than darkness or light.
The NaPoWriMo prompt for today is to write a poem that responds, in some way, to another. Liu Xia is a Chinese artist, activist and poet. “Twilight” is one of the poems in her book Empty Chairs. Although that particular poem is not available online, you can read some of her other poems here.
K. 
This leaps off of the page for me:
“There is no need
to consult time, to hasten
the turning of the wheel–
life pauses–”
It instructs one to ask the question, by whose clock must things tick to. And when it pauses, that’s ok too.
Kerfe I love your stitched artwork. To me, it looks like wind traveling over a neighborhood that has oak and maple but also cherry trees in bloom. My spirits rise.
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Thanks Jade. All my artwork for weeks has been from the archives. It’s good in a way to see things I might want to do more exploring with. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get back to art, honestly. I can’t even find where I packed the scotch tape at this point. Once I get there everything will be good, but it’s going to be a process. Longer than I anticipated…(K)
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You’re most welcome. This pause is.
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There is no question that these are the words of an artist. And a damned good poet.
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Thanks Ken. Good inspiration helps.
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Yes, those in-between places, like wastelands, forgotten corners, they are so rich in meaning. Life making something out of nothing.
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They hold the richest veins.
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They do.
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I, too, love those in-between spaces. There are so many wonderful lines in this poem, whether it is responding or not.
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Thanks Merril. I mostly responded to the feeling of her poem. I took her book out of the library a few years ago and had to buy my own copy I liked it so much. A rich source of inspiration.
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Deep poetry.
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Thanks Jude.
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Such a pleasure
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