Category: Tenneson Woolf Poetry

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A Particular Kind of Invited Openness

There is particular beauty in Utah’s redrock regions that I haven’t known before. It’s the sheer cliffs. It’s hue of red stone and mountain against blue sky. It’s a particular kind of invited openness.

There is also particular beauty in life sweethearted together. Cliffs to approach together. Compliments. Hues. Invited openness.

There is beauty in connecting it all together. Life out there. Life in here. Endeavors shared in work and community. It’s what I’m grateful for. It’s what I wish for in so many places.

This life goes on,
rising to what matters.
Sun-blessed.

This life flowers,
budding yet again.
Sweetheart-kissed.

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Poetry Guides — A Simple Story

It was Delta Flight 2800 ten days ago. Salt Lake City to Dallas Fort Worth. Seat 10F. The flight was delayed several times, originally departing 10:40 am. Eventually departed 4:00 pm. Late enough in the day to catch sunset as we got close to Dallas. It was a day of a lot of moving parts. And patience. And working at the airport. And taking breaths — in the spirit of “why not enjoy it.”

I love the horizon view. Seen and scene through the airplane window. It’s natural to pause when seeing such a horizon. Moves my heart. Creates focus. Shares beauty.

If you’ve been reading this blog over the last two years, you’ll know that relationship with Sweetheart Dana is a tremendously compelling horizon. What a thing to live out our lives together. To live out our love together. To live out our choices together.

Often, my health and well-being grows through poetry. Some read. Some written. I’m one that needs and is inspired by the simple stories. Recently, I wrote it this way, affirming the compelling light of love.

One simple story 
centers and grounds
many big stories.

This I know,
and need.

“I just love you so much,” 
she smiled,
when I asked for the simple story now.

This I know,
and need.

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The Potent Learning of Now

Wyoming, Snake River, Flow, Potent Learning

The photo is of recent trip to Wyoming. That’s the Snake River. I was drawn to the beauty of water flowing next to snowy forest.

The words below reflect learning to me. Of specific circumstance present in my life. Yet also of generic circumstance so common to many.

I seek to follow the potent learning of now. It’s beauty. It’s challenge. I seek to be with what I myself might be asking, subconsciously, for Life to teach.

There is potent learning here.
Of loss.
Of judgement.
Of poor behavior.

It might be true that Life gives you what you ask for.
Or need.
Or that challenges.
Or that sometimes even transforms.

While you are in your poor behavior.
I am in mine.
We are in ours.

And life goes on.
Teaching.
Yet, perhaps inviting flow.

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Voice of the Moon — An Anthology

Voice of the Moon, Katie Norris, Still Speaks, Moon Poetry, Slivered, Full

Katie Norris compiled and edited an anthology of poems, Voice of the Moon. I was glad to have one of mine selected, and to read poems from others also selected.

I wrote this poem after a walk where I live in Utah. The moon was big, having just crested over the Wasatch Mountains. I was appreciating and celebrating the invitation to stillness.

Give Katie’s collection a look. Here’s my poem below.

Still Speaks

Full.
Or portioned.

Light lifted from vast dark.
Or dark that nests focal light.

There is magnetic attraction.
To things whole, to things slivered.

I listen to the moon.
With slowness, and softness.

To the things whole and slivered within me.
To what is full, or portioned.

The moon still speaks.
And speaks still.

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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In My Nature is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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