Have you ever had a friend who seems to read your thoughts? Someone who just *gets* you? Sarah W. Bartlett is like that for me. We often seem to be pondering the same questions at the same time, even though we live hundreds of miles apart.
Sarah is a poet and teacher and a philosopher and a mentor to women–and luckily for me, a generous and enthusiastic collaborator. We’ve both been wrestling with the topic of wholeness–healing the divided self. So instead of haiku, today I share with you a poem that she and I wrote together.
Two Selves Dancing
I rock, sway in this dance of selves
one drawn to dally, drift, dream;
one pulled to tasks – none essential
though demanding Do! Deliver!
One drawn to dally, drift, dream
pinned down fast by expectation
though demanding Do! Deliver!
these tasks – naught but noise and vapor
Pinned down fast by expectation
I struggle to be free from all
these tasks – naught but noise and vapor
better to be the stuff of dreams.
I struggle to be free from all
Merge dancer and work weary other
better to be the stuff of dreams
Idea and action reunited
Merge dancer and work weary other
one pulled to tasks – none essential
Idea and action reunited
I rock, sway in this dance of selves
Words by Jeannine B. Everett and Sarah W. Bartlett
Photograph by Sebastian Fritzon ©2008 Creative Commons
awww – twice in one week you’re saying such beautiful things; i might begin to believe them!!! seriously, this first foray into distance dancing has only whetted my appetite for more. so bring it on – with gratitude for your kind words, gentle heart, and fine example.
Wow, how wonderful. I love the dance of support and challenge. I hope to see your dance card filled in further. Cheers to your both!
Oh, my. GORGEOUS, ladies. Beautiful of its own right, but a simply stunning Pantoum.
This is sooooo me, to a T:
“one drawn to dally, drift, dream;
one pulled to tasks – none essential
though demanding Do! Deliver!”
I absolutely LOVE this dance of selves, and what the title means as a collaboration, as well. Absolutely perfect. I will come back to this again and again.
de
Lovely! Do I recognize this as a pantoum? Makes it even more special, that you could do this collaboratively!
It is a pantoum. Sarah suggested that it would be an interesting form to work together on, sending quatrains back and forth. It was really wonderful to watch it take shape!
What a wonderful idea and beautiful piece. I love “naught but noise and vapor”.