free zone
Free zone
a blank page
on which I create
without the scribbles from the past
A blank page
filled with promise of what can be.
I am joy
I am prosperous
I am love
Detours taken
are erased
any time I want
so I stand freely
in the love I am
in the prosperity I am
In the joy I am.
JOHANNA VAN GELDER, November 20, 2018
© 2019 Living A Poetic Life. All rights reserved.
a poem
A poem wants to come
forth
But I don’t know
what it is
Relax, relax
into it…
Let it come forward
Give it space
Give it breath
Let go of the
clenching
Open your hands
Let go
And the poem of life
happens.
JOHANNA VAN GELDER, February, 2018
© 2019 Living A Poetic Life. All rights reserved.
generousity
Bigheartedness of friends blowing away cobwebs in your mind.
Bountiful bubbles in a bath drawn to soothe.
Liberality in laughter lifting all who hears.
Generousness shown in portions joyfully served at the Junkyard Cafe.
Largesse love lavished upon the lonely.
Munificence of my cat Ms. Fluffington whose silky fur calms my nerves.
Openhandedness in welcoming others observing the truth of their being.
Openheartedness in letting people rest in our presence overflowing with peace.
Philanthropic service supporting humanity by serving the homeless a satisfying breakfast.
Unselfishness made possible by knowing our ever-present nature.
JOHANNA VAN GELDER, September 6, 2018
© 2019 Living A Poetic Life. All rights reserved.
meyer lemon yellow
To surrender
to love
to possibilities
to that space of knowing
That space of knowing
that is light in my heart
A light golden yellow
guiding my every step
A light yellow pleasant to the eye
which is in the hearts of all
The first impression
of the word spoken for a New Year
A golden yellow light, but not too golden
Yellow like meyer lemons,
the deep yellow,
so pleasant to the eye
The deep yellow
A yellow poem
How many shades of yellow
are there?
Infinite like the Divine
expressing
in its myriad forms
Infinite shades of yellow
Variations I have never seen
Others come and go
Deeply familiar with some
Superficially familiar with
others
And I have my own yellow
a Meyer Lemon yellow
it shifts
it moves
can’t grasp it or hold it tight
I can surrender to it
and it’s so pleasant to the eye.
JOHANNA VAN GELDER
© 2019 Living A Poetic Life. All rights reserved.
take time to look
Places I cannot reach
Experiences I haven’t had
Worlds I don’t know about
The desire to know it all,
to experience it all,
to understand what
life is like for others.
The Divine manifesting
Itself so it gets to know
Itself.
Is that what this desire is?
Or is it just plain curiosity?
Is there such a thing as plain?
Is a Meyer lemon plain?
When I stop
and take the time to look
its beauty springs forth.
Stop!
Take time to look
(with love)
JOHANNA VAN GELDER
© 2019 Living A Poetic Life. All rights reserved.
the feminine
Moonlight dancing softly on the dark surface of the lake.
The healing power of listening allowing the fountain of inner knowing
to run over into the basin of the conscious.
The father nurturing the young so they can be themselves in the world.
The gentle whispers of intuition catching our attention.
Creative out-of-the-box thinking I see evidence of all around the house.
Sensual lips of my beloved.
The beautiful curves of the body.
The rise and fall of our emotions informing us, protecting our well-being.
The earth receiving seeds in its rich habitat allowing the seeds to grow into whom
they were meant to be.
Water in a creek gliding through the open woodland scattered with periwinkle.
The pleasure of wearing your skin and perceiving your sexuality exuding from it.
The flowing movement of a flag in the summer breeze.
Our muse inspiring us to reach and stretch into greater articulation.
The feminine, she resides in us all.
JOHANNA VAN GELDER
© 2019 Living A Poetic Life. All rights reserved.
thank you very much!
Thank you very much
Dank je wel
Danke schon
Merci beaucoup
Muchas gracias
Grazie mille
I give thanks
on All Saints Day
for those
who have walked before me
and found their way
into the Heart.
Rumi, Hafiz, Rabia
your poetry
guides me through the
maze
of day to day existence.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Jesus of Nazareth, St. Catherine of Siena
your teachings
enliven
every action I take.
Rabia, Mirabai, St. Teresa of Avila
you show me
how to be unstoppable
in my pursuit
to live the Light.
And
I give thanks
on All Soul’s Day
for those who have
walked before me
on this earth.
Geertje and Adrianus
for giving me life
and values
a home to protect me.
Gerda, my big sister
who by stepping out
of tradition
gave me permission
to walk my path.
Omas and Opas
some of you
I’ve hardly known
but your hardworking creed
was passed on
to me.
Ooms and Tantes
you formed
the tribe
I could call my own.
For All Saints Day and All Souls Day
I say
Grazie mille
Muchas gracias
Merci beaucoup
Danke schon
Dank je wel
Thank you very much.