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The poem of our closing – Transition Nelson

May 21, 2010 By Chris Corrigan Poetry

It has become a standard practice for me now to make a slam poem from the words of opening or closing circles, as a way to reflect to a group something of it’s wholeness.  These poems are completely improvised, using the words of the participants as material.  There is a lot of reincorporation of people’s words in these poems which makes for a lovely reminder when I read it out and participants shift their awareness around the circle

A poem I wrote at the end of the Open Space for Transition Nelson.  One of our participants brought her two chickens to the event to look after them while she was away from her house.  On day two the chickens escaped, which explains one of the lines in this piece.

Practicality, courage

Where's the agenda?

Appreciative thanks

amazed it didn't tank

This scenario is a dream and it seems that

whatever happened, happened.

Woooo….

Gratitude is the attitude of rebirth

A reenergized connection, soft walk on the earth

Want to pass a torch but also linger on the porch of this

new house created by friendship

and the magic in the talk…

We gonna rock…

I'm already looking younger, cultivating the hunger

for transitioning, repositioning,

gestating and relating, digesting and reflecting

seeing what is born this morning

feeling what is important to raise

in these days of unity, community, in what is bigger than me.

I'm new to this place

but what a face you wear –

a community of angels who care.

It's open and I'm curious to see where it goes,

two feet, ten toes

I don't know, but somebody knows

and I feel direction, infection

a virus of creative work

the explosion of potential that stars from a spark,

light sparkling in the dark.

Thanks to the angels and the bees

and all that frees us to fly, respond to the calling

pick up those that are falling

and send them back in the air.

I'm more connected than ever before

walked through a door to a store full of knowledge  and inspiration

full of awe at the creation of what's going on –

knowing that together I can be strong enough

to live off the grid, draw on my own power,

this is the hour!

Even the chickens have become free!

It's hard to do this alone,

to clear a field full of stones,

to live a peace that is co-owned

bring a bell to the young,

three deep breaths,

words that rest lightly on the tongue

and hold the terror of action,

the commitment to a fraction of change

to a group that can rearrange the best of what we have –

time, ideas, muffins –

strange resources for a movement, but sustenance is a must for sustainability

so that's good.

So in the shadows of locally hewn wood

in a place free of shoulds,

I acknowledge the work we have done

and the potential of what is to come

life springing from ash,

passion leading to action,

a rekindled fire that burns off

guilt and fear.

Inspired –

our future starts here.

via The poem of our closing – Transition Nelson.

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