Dear Fellow Dreamer,
July greetings! As promised, I’m sending you this letter—a poem—to say hello and let you know I’m thinking of you. How has your summer been? Any highlights to share? As ever, I’d love to hear from you.
Over here, in the long light, much has been happening. I’ll have new things coming this fall. Look for a more detailed newsletter from me later in August. In the meantime, here are a few of my own life highlights since I last reached out:
Summer travels with my family in Ontario
New writing emerging (much of it poetry)
A self-directed artist residency at my home, in late June, with another yet to come in August
Being invited to read my work in great company at poet Laurie Koensgen’s launch of her gorgeous new chapbook, this clingstone love, in Ottawa on August 21st—such an honour
Immersion in some of the transformative principles and practices I teach, which has given rise to the idea of creating a unique series of online writing workshops (all levels); let me know if you’d like to learn more
Embracing deeper, yearlong studies in Celtic Shamanism with one of my favourite teachers, Jane Burns—a dream come true; as with all my practitioner trainings, it will help inform how I serve others
Reading, ever bordering on enchantment: one of its many essential gifts
I wish you a beautiful month ahead, in peace, spaciousness, and the magic of the season. Now for the poem…
Life Review
I am grey feather on the gleam-water, choppy passage foam Here is the mouth painter see him bend, drip red, wet-blue you are a tube of light I am four—all things cornered and beaten deep in Earth, foundation stone Here is the Baker's Man baking a cake as fast as you, blue glowing comma brilliance of night water lapping strait— passage from one state to another moving between continents, daisy petals, sleeping bees I am turquoise heat— desert reaching to bloom in sharp flowers pungent needles, hot-pink and yellow as Sun Here is coiled Snake in the deep spine of dancing barefoot in dust you are dust under my dragonfly feet playing at being solid, and vapour waiting for rain I am rain forgetting body—grind of skin on skin, lost in altar and drum, the running horse Here is wet cardboard bloated on life force in the smoky garden, kale curls to chew Two plus two equals De-sire—of the Father? Matter—the Mother? who are you? bare leather soles pad a path through tall grass shimmering I am the sound of lightning pause and rumble, kiss, squeeze, tremble Here is a waltz dripping melon, tasting fig on that bridge above the gorge our picnic place inhaling cedar You are Crow circling— black glint of wing songbook of prayer words like a purse shaken angel-open worlds falling I am wings— drop a grey feather on the Bosphorus Here is Child dancing crushing ants you are Goat turned to stare at me across the terrace through daisies water flashes and flows we are sailing today © Robin Blackburn McBride
I can't wait to hear you read at Laurie's launch!
Beautiful "Life Review" Robin. You take us with you to magical places soaring on a feather, sailing over seas. Left me breathless and wanting more life like this!