Seeing the Signs
Between the stoplight at the intersection leading into town
and the office where I spend my day on Courthouse Hill,
this morning, for some reason unknown to me
except that maybe I'm awake to it, maybe I'm not lost
somewhere as often I am on these familiar roads,
wondering at the end how I came this far,
or maybe it's nothing so profound; maybe it's just that I clearly see,
between the light and the hill, the signs--
Clip 'n Curl, Kingdom Hall, Baby Face, Fueled on Juice,
even one that says it's one mile into town,
as if, on this narrow road, you couldn't see or
there were any other place you'd go.
I can't help but think when I see these signs,
of our need to say, Here I am. Look at me.
See me. Need me. Buy me. Love me. Me.
and then I look in the mirror at my red lips
and know these for my signs. Know the me I want to be.
In the yard just before I left for work,
I saw a single beam of sun break through the trees
and streak across the grass to light a poplar trunk
from the ground up through the central branches
to the parachute of limbs. A single line of light,
a sign as sure as any, an announcement: Here I am.
Know me. Believe me. See me. Me.
Karen...yes I get it we are us not the signs we followed to get to here and now.
ReplyDeleteNot the signs...not the labels by which we are named. Just us. We are who and what we are.
DeleteOh wow - I love your last sign very much. Kind of like Tuesday night's rainbow over Xenia.
ReplyDeleteOn a less profound note, I'm having some problems with wearing lipstick lately (terribly afraid I've developed some sort of allergy) - & I feel naked without it. Like I'm telling people - don't bother to look here. Nothing to see. Silly.
Hey, Bug, I just changed the picture to the actual sign. It occurred again this morning - a trick of the light that I love!
DeleteI am addicted to lipstick. I can't stand not to have it, but it's not me. Maybe just who I want to be. I also want long nails and flowing hair. Oh, well!
Wow! So many signs in our life if we are awake to see them. Love this and where it took me.
ReplyDeletea very rewarding read.the movement of the poem from its initial stuttering hesitant groping to its eventual assured conviction is beautifully portrayed and captures the beauty of the chosen moment.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the signs and being guided is a beautiful experience. Half the battle won so it is! Great write Karen!
ReplyDeleteHank
beautiful Karen!
ReplyDeleteReally like this introdpective piece. The look in the mirror at your red lips really struck me. I'm addicted to lip balm. I guess that doesnt count, eh?
ReplyDeleteI love this. There is so much in the familiar that we miss as we set the autopilot and travel into our day. You seem to have seen so much of it on this morning, and captured it wonderfully in your words. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI like your reflections on the busy roads and signs...very one grabbing our attention but you hit on the most important one, on ourselves ~ Enjoyed this ~
ReplyDeleteIntrospection at its best, a prodding of the most sophisticated sense and a lesson well learned on my part. I loved this philosophical journey. Great work.
ReplyDeleteWhat you look like and who you are are not always the same thing. I enjoyed this look at self and these reflections. In the end, the beam of light speaks to the soul within. A lovely vision, Karen.
ReplyDeleteStraight is the way and signs abound for those with eyes that see.
ReplyDeleteI like the imagery of the mirror and seeing the signs you know as yours for it points out that God calls us with His signs. Your last six lines give voice to that seeing. Well done!
While I'm here, I want to thank you for your insightful comment that you left on Night Sleeps. You are the only one that wrote of what I thought and intended with the piece. I treasure greatly such comments.
Peace my friend.
How exceptionally beautiful this poem is, easily carrying the weight of its observations. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteyes once you start to think about it there are so many signs...
ReplyDeleteA single beam of light on the poplar tree... Lovely photographic image... I can see why it inspired this poem!
ReplyDeleteThis is so good, you brought the many signs back to you and then back to the One. A very nice treat finding your poem.
ReplyDeleteYou illuminate an elemental human need for attention, and the fact that the creator always gives it. Lovely.
ReplyDelete