I Am Often Late to the Party…

and I don’t know if that’s fashionable or not. On the one hand it’s embarrassing that “everyone” seems to know what I don’t. On the other hand, it’s kinda cool to be able to share genuine excitement over a new-to-me find and possibly give something, that deeply deserves it, a little lift out of “old news”.

This week, I discovered (re-discovered?) this collection of poems I would give ten stars on a scale of five.

Joyce Sidman . My goodness, Joyce Sidman. How does someone write enchantingly beautiful poems that are relatable and meaningful to every reader from age 2 to 102? I surely don’t know, but I am grateful that she does. Granted, What the Heart Knows-Chants, Charms, and Blessings might be a little lofty for the two-year-olds, but Joyce has plenty more for them, poems about colors and frogs and friends.

She is a wonder. As the world continues to churn and burn, I am so grateful for her.

I will AGAIN be traveling to Washington, D.C. this weekend to be seen, to be heard, to Not Look Away. I am inspired by Joyce’s words in the poem below. This is our world. May we make it better every day, starting now.

Starting Now by Joyce Sidman

It is time for us to wake:
we who stumble through the day
with our gripes and complaints,
who drift numbly
through thronging halls and streets –

you and I,
who rant about injustice,
who see all that is wrong in this world
but believe we are shackled
and powerless.

It is time to look into
each other’s faces,
we who glide along the surface,
time to dive down
and feel the currents
of each other’s lives.
Time to speak until the air
holds all of our voices.
Time to weave for each other
a garment of brightness.

Open your eyes.
Feel your strength.
Bless the past.
Greet the future.

Join hands.
Right here.
Our moment:
starting now.