Category: Tenneson Woolf Poetry

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Reflecting on Goodness

I am a person that reflects on human nature. Mine. Yours. Ours. I can’t seem to not, as I flow my way through the days and weeks, the rivers and the brooks. The ponds. The meadows. The city blocks.

And often, such reflection, proses its way to a few stanzas of meaning, that point to purpose in the small things and in the big things. Mine. Perhaps yours. What I would offer as helpful to ours.

Such it is, this morning, affirming a certain natural goodness.

I suppose it is true that my job,
just like it is for many, 
is to move forward, 
or start again, 
with consciousness. 
With kindness. 
Inviting life to flow and call as it does.

I suppose it is true that my job, 
just like it is for many, 
is to celebrate being alive, 
to delight 
in others being alive.
To create together.
And to enjoy the goodness of it all.

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Joy Matters; Joy Is Possible

I’ve been thinking a lot over the last week about a recent conversation I had with a UCC pastor. I was inspired to offer framing with him, to contrast efforts that focus on “what’s wrong” and invite efforts that focus on “what’s possible.” It’s a stuck point that many of us find our way to. It’s also a key release, a key action, to unstick with some focus on joy’s alchemizing ways.

And that got me to my journal, writing. Poetry, writing. Joy, seeking.

It matters
that some of us
seek
joy.

Even when
there is such prevalent
suffering.

Joy
isn’t
denial.

Joy is 
fierce
insistance.

Joy guides.
Joy lifts.
Joy reminds.
Joy carries.
Joy opens.
Joy positions.

Joy doesn’t overlook
what is hard, 
nor what is unjust.

It interrupts it,
claiming
matters.

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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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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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