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| Original Tarot Card Design Copyright Kerry O'Connor @nexuscarddesign |
Wheel of Fortune
I sense the universe
with the soles of my feet,
in the elements of starfields
wherein I, and all, find means to grow.
There are things I cannot move
by will alone. Things deeper
than forgiveness.
This Earth, this planet, is part
of a wheel turning
within infinite wheels, a cog
of cosmic ecology, and I
am revolving through
a synchronicity
of inner space and time,
with no more weight
than a single grain of sand.
There is healing to be found
in acceptance, in letting go.
Written for the final Wordy Friday with Wild Woman, Sherry Blue Sky, who has been a constant source of inspiration to me from my earliest days of online poetry blogging. Without a shadow of a doubt, none of this would have happened without her. The Wheel of Fortune brought us together. Now one cycle may be over, but a new cycle will begin in the fertile grounds of the old - such cosmic energy cannot be destroyed.
We made a cosmic leap with words from all corners of the globe. I love the starfields and cosmic ecology in your poem, and the synchronicity that sparked a thousand poems, or more.
ReplyDeleteYes, we did indeed! And the world is a better place for it!
DeleteOne of the biggest lessons I have to learn in this lifetime is that some things just won't budge through will alone. There is a special healing in acceptance, even if for me it's time spent just catching my breath and figuring out what it is I *can* move.
ReplyDeleteHow very true! I am glad this poem resonates with your experience.
Delete“within infinite wheels, a cog
ReplyDeleteof cosmic ecology, and I
am revolving through
a synchronicity”
I love that — the sound, the way it feels to read it.
You are a profound and timeless poet, Kerry. A philosopher through and through. I so look forward to reading and taking to heart your wisdom.
Thank you so much, Shawna. Your words and infinite support mean the world to me.
Delete:)
<3
DeleteI love the intensity of this series - so profound and explorative. What a brilliant way to end the prompt (sadly though) and begin the New Year
ReplyDeleteI felt it was/is a fitting conclusion, and reminder that the wheels are ever rolling and we must roll along with them.
DeleteStunning, Kerry, and I don;t throw that word out there very often. Whenever there is a prompt like this, I always wonder how the heck one is supposed to write POETRY about topical issues of the moment. Well here's the freaking Master Class and you've shown exactly how it's done. "Things deeper than forgiveness" rocked me. Just stellar, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shay. Kind words.
DeleteI concur 100% with Shay. This topic is really difficult for me too, but you get it and I'm grateful. xo
Delete"...acceptance and letting go." Yes. Indeed.
ReplyDeleteMy hat is off.
Many thanks.
DeleteThe first three lines stand out like the Shakespearean simile of a "rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear," hanging on "the cheek of night.." and draw the reader in to your vision of a universe of wheels within wheels which we in our brief time here can only dimly sense, yet perhaps, sense enough to accept, to begin to see that not everything is our task, or under our control, or perhaps even about us at all. We do our best when we can learn to live in harmony with these things, as the universe and the wheel will turn regardless, and we will fall and rise and fall and rise with it. Once again, thanks for all the masterclasses you have hosted at the Garden, and all the grace you have shown and given. Though one thing ends, our ways continue, and surely will cross again as long as we are on our feet, feeling the earth with our bare soles.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your heartfelt words, Joy. You have influenced me greatly as a poet, especially in my early years, when I was finding me feet. Your encouragement and ability to read beyond the lines really helped me to develop a 'voice' of my own.
Delete"Things deeper than forgiveness" Love. that is it. I often walk barefoot in my yard, feeling the earth through my feet. a stunning poem Kerry. Thank you for it. And thank you for your years as the Queen of Toads.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you feel it as the earth beneath your feet.
DeleteThank you for your insights.
A beautiful, timely, and profoundly expressed reminder that while the Wheel of Fortune indicates the ups and downs of Fate, Destiny, Chance, Luck (or even Fortune!) – whatever one calls it – when it turns up in a Tarot reading, it always indicates a change for the better. Your words give a new depth to that interpretation. And your card is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Rosemary. As a novice in the interpretation of tarot, I do appreciate your feedback.
DeleteClever thinking, Kerry. Like the old fashion alarm clock when it's wound. Unless catastrophic events occur to upset there is no stopping until it runs down.
ReplyDeleteHow very true. Thank you, Jim.
DeleteHere I think the card excels where the poem struggles to match the sentiment. I think it needs more tooth and heart in the revolvings. Change is gonna come, and we had better find strength through acceptance, but I look for that in the eyes of a lion about to be pounced upon by an eagle. Still, it's a great concept and strong contribution to the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brendan. You know I have both tooth and claw in my arsenal, but I wanted to match Sherry's challenge for a positive way forward. I am happy to know you like the card.
DeleteSometimes I feel clogged as a cog in the cosmic ecology, but the wheel of fortune is a fortuitous positive card that reminds us how it keeps on turning round and round.
ReplyDeleteCycles of endless repetition... but sometimes the card is a call to break free.
DeleteI believe I already commented on this magnificent poem on Instagram, but now I’m back on my laptop, I can comment in a little more detail, Kerry. I love the way you reflect on the macro and micro of the universe, especially the idea of sensing the universe with the soles of one’s feet and the elements of starfields. I also like the foregrounding of interconnectivity in the alliteration of ‘a cog of cosmic ecology’.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim. I am so happy you recognized the technique behind the words, that was the effect I intended.
DeleteKerry,
ReplyDeleteI love your words,the Earth as "a cog of cosmic ecology, and us as grains of sand, but with the footprint of a behemoth.
A very perceptive comment. Thank you, Yvonne.
DeleteKerry, I wanted to stop by to say thank you for your poetry. It does seem appropriate the Wheel of Fortune. I see much in this card. The serpent is a continuous wheel of change in a garden of blooms but, death comes beneath it as layers of self need to be shed to be renewed. Synchronicity to me is when the universe screams at us to take notice of what is going on around us. I think it is wise to walk barefoot to be on solid earthly ground. There is a connection a bond that keeps us going.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to stop by! I really appreciate it. I also take much from your reading of this card.
Delete