“Prelude” – The Ashlee Craft Show – Episode 038 – Poetry
In Episode 038, I read a poem from my book “So Long, Lonesome Place” called “Prelude”. Enjoy!
In Episode 038, I read a poem from my book “So Long, Lonesome Place” called “Prelude”. Enjoy!
POEM 1: https://youtu.be/n_ccVs8QAwU
POEM 2: https://youtu.be/owNvh9CecxY
POEM 3: https://youtu.be/4mNDij1hU_E
FOG: A ZINE: http://amzn.to/2zzz30b
Here are the previous poems:
2017 was the most outstanding year of my life so far! I read the essay I wrote about it, titled “2017 In Review: I’m On My Way” where I talk about what 2017 felt like.
FOG – THE WALLS ARE NOT GRAY ANYMORE
I floored it –
out onto the empty road –
gray mist rose up around me –
floored it –
ahead the fog cleared –
I saw the vibrant nurturing rainbow –
& the meadow where I will thrive –
non-linear joyful skip dance drive towards it –
suddenly finding myself closer to arriving –
the fog clears –
gray walls around me melt away revealing rainbows –
I am no longer confined
by my own false belief that I did not deserve to be free –
floored it & didn’t need to look back into the fog –
floored it –
away vroom vroom –
freedom, I am free finally finding it –
I KNOW WHO I NEED TO BECOME NOW
Then, I read a poem titled “Christmas Day” from my Christmas poetry book!
—
CHRISTMAS DAY
waking up earlier than we normally get up. It’s Christmas!
Christmas Day! the thrill of Christmas gifts fills our eyes
& we’re rushing from our rooms & heading towards the tree
brightly wrapped packages in cheerful colors with bows & ribbons around the tree
we shout with excitement
thrilled, exalted, joyous
we rush around & scarf down breakfast
we don’t want to wait another minute!
when we’re done we rush out towards the tree again
first we remove our stockings from the mantlepiece & dump them onto the floor
beautiful things spill out of them
we shout & smile thrilled by these gifts
then we move on to what’s under the tree, tearing the paper from the gifts
& being thrilled by what we see in front of us
so many dreams, so many wishes, so many hopes
coming true
Christmas Day is one of the best days of the year
the air is filled completely with happiness
& our souls are smiling
–
later on everyone’s in the kitchen cooking
making all the delicious things we’ll eat tonight
kind of like Thanksgiving all over again!
the delicious smell of eggnog
& main dishes & side dishes & rosemary & oregano & cinnamon
& cheesecake & everything else delicious & wonderful
filling the house;
we can’t wait to eat it all later!
–
then it’s Christmas Day dinner
& we all sit down at the table
the house in happy chaos
& us smiling with every cell in our bodies
we eat together
once more thankful for all that we’ve been blessed with
after dinner we talk & laugh some more
–
& when we go to bed that night
tired, smiling, aglow
we are so happy
for Christmas has come once more
Silent Night
silent night / holy night
you sit there looking into the down-turned eyes of lonely strangers / lost on a cold, unforgiving ocean to which there seems no chance of rescue & the boat seems on its last leg / it’s Christmas eve & you huddle in the canvas tents while the boom boom boom explosions nearby shake the ground / fear flows as fresh as the blood in their veins as the cramped isolation begins to take its toll & you suddenly feel as though you’re falling thru an empty world yet the overcrowded illusion & warmth stifles you / the cool night air outside seems as cold as the desperation – frantic grasping rapid fire falling falling falling into an abyss to which there is no return hope is gone from your soul & all you want to do is go home / the isolated desolation & illusion of paper-thin canvas walled tent huddled, silent, seems as fragile as the beating of your heart which could stop any moment & you feel the liquid cool of night air sifting thru your palms / mind goes back to ten years ago when you were a kid
you feel cold despite the heat in the tent & the putrid smell of sweat fills your nostrils & you feel empty – cold – alone – your heart beats madly against the wall of your ribcage, beating so strongly yet seeming so weak like a baby bird just hatched attempting to flap it’s wings & fly / you see the fear felt in your heart mirrored twenty times in the faces around you / what do they think of, what do they feel / the same as you, each in their own way / you avert your eyes to the dirt floor & suppress the urge to tear the nightmare illusions around you down, tear down the canvas backdrop & the projections of people & the illusions of fear / but you can’t / it’s not an illusion & it’s the only reality that there is
your heart aches for your family & friends & the thought crosses your mind constantly that you may never return to them / you wonder why you signed up for this but there’s no turning back & you feel alone in the world
first Christmas away from home / your heart reaches the most desperate lonely despondency distraught with fear & misery
silence is broken / a voice so warm & kind, trembling slightly beneath the weight of the war & world & fear, overcomes the situation & rises to do what they know they must do / they feel the same fear as you & their young face gleams in the pale lighting, a reflection of your own
the song raises thru the air & wafts onto the roof of the tent & it remains there / as more of the song is revealed, the air becomes heavy with the hope & fills the whole tent / other voices join in & you suddenly find yourself singing / your spirit soars & suddenly somehow you know you’re gonna be okay
you’re gonna be okay
the Christmas voices & spirits soaring flying alive for this one moment enter into each heart & hope is restored
in the midst of loneliness & pain came the soft words bringing hope / the midst of war & hate, for just a moment, there was love & peace
silent night / holy night / all is calm / all is bright / round young virgin mother & child / holy infant so tender & mild / sleep in heavenly peace / sleep in heavenly peace