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Beth Patterson

Host, Virtual Tea House

when you’re walking on thin ice anyway

untitled poem by Eunice Tietjens

The stone grows old.
Eternity is not for stones.

But  
I shall go down from  
This airy space, this swift  
white peace, this stinging exultation 
And time will close about 
Me, and my soul stir to the 
Rhythm of the daily round.

Yet
Having known, life
will not press so close
And always I shall feel time  
Ravel thin about me.

For 
once I stood 
in the white windy 
presence of eternity.

‘eternity is not for stones’

tinnitus in my soul’s ears

all is impermanent

might as well dance

magritte-lovers 
by Magritte

One Single Impression. Thanks to Kuyerjudd of My Heart up Close for this week's prompt, indurated.  Roll over there like a stone, if you dare.

I know I say this every week, but there really is some amazing poetry over at this site, and for some reason, this prompt really touched a spark, at least in my soul.  Thank you, all my friends at OSI.

Published Tuesday, January 12, 2010 11:01 AM by Beth Patterson

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Comments

 

zoya gautam said:

the  expanse of silent snows or the bohemian winds _

i like both the poems

lovely ..

January 12, 2010 4:30 PM
 

Tumblewords said:

Powerful reminder, poetically tuned. One of the hardest concepts to 'get'.

January 12, 2010 4:52 PM
 

SandyCarlson said:

Aging rocks. That airy space. Beautiful. Thanks.

January 12, 2010 9:50 PM
 

Jim said:

Hi Beth, 'eat, drink, and be merry (dance) for tomorrow we shall die.'

I have tinnitus in both ears.  Like stereo, it seems centered in the

middle of my hear.  And never stops.  So like your poet, I just live

with it.  :-)

..

January 13, 2010 12:36 AM
 

patti said:

Both poems have a lot to think about- great interpretation- and you are right..."might as well dance"  

January 13, 2010 9:10 PM
 

one more believer said:

blind or seeing i still feel the sting... excellent...

January 14, 2010 7:48 PM
 

DancesWL said:

That tinnitus must have a rhythm you can dance to!  LOL, "white windy presence of eternity" who could do anything but dance? Love this!

January 15, 2010 2:01 AM
 

Melanie Bishop said:

Breathe taking poem, Truly from the soul. Sometimes life becomes so loud that we lose ourselves. Beautiful.

Melanie

January 15, 2010 10:22 AM
 

Jeeves said:

Enjoyed both of them

January 15, 2010 1:47 PM

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About Beth Patterson

The Virtual Tea House website became 'word-ripe' when, over a cup of jasmine green, I realized that the web has an expanding part to play in the communal aspects of spiritual growth.

With a master's degree in religion, my career spans 30 years in end of life care and child abuse intervention and advocacy.

Here in beautiful Central Oregon, my spiritual homes of the high desert and the mountains are both in proximity. And for good measure, four hours away is Grandmother Ocean and the stunning Oregon Coast.

I'm making decent progress on the goal set by my mother early on: she taught us that the goal of humanity should be to become ever-more eccentric, i.e. more fully human.

Entering the 'forest-dweller' phase of life, I am honored to host the Virtual Tea House for all who wish to explore how our lives are enriched and made new a thousand times each day by the spirituality we embody. Exploring this engagement together is the purpose of the Virtual Tea House.

Welcome! Let's have a cup of virtual tea together and share what brings us joy, what we are being taught by life, how we are leaning into the Big Questions posed to us each day in sometimes 'distressing disguises'.

Follow me on Twitter, if you must
http://twitter.com/MyraB

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