HOW I LEARNED TO SURF

Years ago
I felt my legs trembling
and could not see the cause

so I decided to close down
and sat myself down 
on a flat desert stone. 

But in stillness
I started to feel
mysterious energies
working within me: 

an emotional ocean heaved and crashed 
in waves of constant conflict.

I tried
but could not tame that storm.
I wanted to run 
but felt too weak to stand. 

Fortunately I remembered
a claim made by the ancients: 

way down below can be found
the foundation stone of our being. 

Desperate for security
I then dove
into those unruly waters— 

in search of the stone 
I fought my way down 

and down 

until I felt a calm powerful presence— 

its big ocean bell 
sounded out this message: 

open... 
open up… 
open more! 

From experience I knew: 
inner guidance must be obeyed 
even when the action seems hazardous. 

So I opened my toes 
my hands 
my chest 
my stomach 
my groin 

then opened my eyes
to find myself
standing on that flat stone— 
my feet planted apart
and my arms spread wide
for balance, for balance
as I surfed
over waves of soil and sand. 

A victory, yes 
but I must admit 
now, years later
I still tremble with tension.
But when a little becomes too much
I refuse to shut down— 
no, I open more 
and go with the motion.

In that way
I manage to stand strong 
and ride the waves
of this incredible ocean storm.

How I Learned to Surf

Recorded on September 18, 2017, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Heather Christle: "Mistake"

Recorded on October 23, 2017, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Howard Altmann: "After Hours"

Recorded on October 25, 2017, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Deborah Landau: from "Soft Targets"

Recorded on December 15, 2017, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Megan Levad: "Foundling"

Recorded on April 13, 2018, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

James Richardson: "Essay on the One Hand and on the Other"

Recorded on July 19, 2018, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Erika Meitner: "A Brief Ontological Investigation"

Recorded on July 26, 2018, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Francisco Marquez's Album

Janice N. Harrington: "Burn"

Wasting Time : written and read by @megwaf for #WhisperingNeds 151 (Wasting Time)

Wasting Time : by @megwaf for #WhisperingNeds 151

she shuffles her feet : written and read by @megwaf for #WhisperingNeds 151

she shuffles her feet : by @megwaf

Bury me where... written by Chris : read by @megwaf  for #ReadMeSpeakMe No.99

Bury me where... written by Chris : read by @megwaf

I claim to be a novelist, poet, essayist, cartoonist, graphic artist, peace monger--and I'm trying to be a world citizen. As for my backstory...let's just say I've lived and worked all over the United States.  I'm self-taught, for the most part, which is like stumbling around blindfolded while looking for the right door.  It's an on-going process. Lacking any true musical ability, I try to make music with language, while also making meaning.  

How I Learned to Surf

mythsteps

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