CB's Kitchen

[Hopalong]

Hi CB,
Thought I'd reply over here to your story about work. I'm really sorry that jealousy and racism are poisoning the place where you've been so happy. It's not right.

I admire you a lot for not backing down...and I hope that you will speak honestly and naturally whenever it goes too far. You can't be made responsible for her pain, her feeling of being overlooked or sidelined or exploited. You are not the Big Gringa Enemy.

I love this poem, it's for you --and everyone here--today.

Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

lots of love,
Hops

[Ami]

WOW-- that is a beautiful poem                                     Ami

[tayana]

I love this poem, Hops.  Thanks.

[Poppy Seed]

Well, that poem made me teary.  Anybody have a kleenex?

Pops

[lighter]

::sniff...handing Poppy a kleenex::

That poem was wonderful, CB.

Sorry you had to let go of something that made you feel good.

People are quite something.... they feel so entitled to storm about in other people's lives with no thought about what they do.

[tayana]

CB, I loved the second poem as well.  For those who might be interested, here's a bio on Mary Oliver:

http://www.glbtq.com/literature/oliver_m.html

[lighter]

Ahhhh.... you're trying to retreat and he's beckoning to you... please stay.... sounds like something out of a play... ::snapping fingers::. 

The Sharks and the Jets rear their heads on the board, yet again!

Only... this time the rumbles in the kitchen.....

over comedas; )

[Hopalong]

Hmm. Never knew she happened to be a great lesbian. 
Just knew she was a great poet.

She's used in our church services a lot.

xo
Hops

[tayana]

I thought that name sounded familiar, and when I googled her.  I remembered why.  She helped gather up Edna St. Vincent Milay's things.  Or else I just remembered the name from when I read almost all of the literature entries on GLBTQ's website.

In church huh?  That's really ironic for me.  I love irony.  I'm not being disrespectful, just a little surprised.

I'll have to look for more of her poems.

[Hopalong]

Tayana...
This is my church:

http://uua.org/visitors/justicediversity/6252.shtml

Is there a UU congregation near you?
They have a search box on the UUA home page...

Hops

[Iphi]

And when you look back, you wish that you had just thrown in the towel at the beginning and accepted reality.  So that's what I'm doing.

CB123 - what a total gem of wisdom that is.  I missed the post where you described the recent difficulties (where?) but I'm sorry.  Lighter also had a gem about how people come across with their big fat opinions about other people's business - my paraphrase.  Keep on keeping on.

The UU congregation by me regularly posts signs in support of gay marriage - and they get torn down - and they go up - and down and up and down.  Polite, but persistent, our local UUs. 

[tayana]

Hops,

The closest UU church is about an hour away.  There is one open and affirming church close, but I haven't been there.  I'm not sure I want to go, truthfully.  It's one of those things I hope will come back with a little distance.

[Hopalong]

 

Huzzahs to CB and Senor M!!

Such heartwarming news.

Bravo to you, CB!

hugs
Hops

[cats paw]

  I love those poems, had only read the first two previously.  Now they'll be at ready reference, right in CB's kitchen!

  I'm really happy for the simmer that's going on your stove now too, CB. 

cats paw

(edit for typing errors)

[lighter]

Hah.... for some reason "gettin jiggy with it" played in my head while read your post, CB, lol. 

I like that M is a grown up.

I like that you went against your instincts and backed the mob down.

They didn't get their intended response and it took the fun out of throwing tantrums, it sounds like.

::doing the happy dance to gettin jiggy with it!::