8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS POETRY What the stars see KAREN L. TOTTEN Groundcover contributor What the stars know, What the North Star sees could take years to tell. They see the tops of our heads, sleep tossed hair, many different hats—scarves and ball caps, knit winter beanies, UM golf caps, a child’s tiara. They see flowers of umbrellas blooming at the first touch of rain, the chalky beams of yellow street lamps, lamp light reflections in inky pools of water and the hood of the bus hurrying, hurrying, late to dinner. They see the roof of the sky kissing late spring snowy hills, the passing hours of the innocent, wanderings of the lost. They see the river Huron like a vein pulsing across the skin of the Earth. Throat of the sun, moon’s bald pate, the surrounding broad kingdoms of trees, the arboretum, Gallup Park, full of mysteries, and faerie doors, and frogs. What the stars see of me is none of my business. I feel their gaze even in the heat of day. I am writing. I keep writing. I keep thinking we all find what we go looking for: shadows, halos. My friend Carolyn said, “This is a city of many people, trying.” I Have Not Given All I Can KAREN L. TOTTEN I have not given all I can to the effort of healing my heart. CELEBRATE from page 6 Here it is the sixth decade of my life and still I am a babe who longs for mother, child looking for a home, woman walking alone, unable to save her parents from the inexorable climb life makes toward death. I am going about this wrong, I think. Forgiveness cannot be found in regret. Here is the world all around us every moment, if we only look. In my backyard the splendid willow tree bends to caress the wet face of the earth, the peonies unclench their tight fists to open their very colors. Life is sometimes a dark room where the light comes in only if we lift the blinds. from 1:00 to 2:15, beginners can learn from experienced Ypsilanti Poets David Boeving and Michelle Lietz how to make poetry out of their ideas in From Your Past to the Page: An Introductory Poetry Workshop over Zoom. To register, visit https://attend.ypsilibrary.org/event/7933444. Then on April 29, in Toward a Poetic Album: An Intermediate Poetry Workshop, the same writers will “introduce intermediate poetic devices and challenge writers to imagine a suite of poems they can write after the workshop.” Though the April 29 workshop is more advanced, people of all skill levels may attend. The registration can be found at https://attend.ypsilibrary.org/event/7895785. Combining National Poetry Month and Earth Day is probably not a unique idea but the Ypsilanti District Library Michigan Avenue Branch (229 W. Michigan) is hosting the only such event in our area on April 22 at 1:00 p.m. Performers. including Leslie McGraw and Desirae Simmons, will offer up their work followed by time for an open group conversation and a limited number of Open Mic readings. There are many more celebratory events during April, including a National Poetry Month Meet-up April 23 (4:00 p.m.) at the downtown Ann Arbor Library. This month, take a step out of your comfort zone and enjoy a poem — or write one! How To Grow A Beautiful Heart KAREN L. TOTTEN No one said it would be easy An early spring rain and sun can awaken you, the ripening summer days. Just stand by the open windows and listen to Joni sing, try to sing along. Walk down shady streets beside yr. dear friends as they travel through their lives. Be someone’s anchor; be yr. own. Beauty and tribulation can walk together, but don’t let sadness make you mourn yr. life. Learn the verses to love poems, to sad poems, and recite as needed. Yr. past regrets and mistakes become kindling for the cold flames of yr. secrets. Draw courage from these transformations as you become you over and over again, every moment. Yr. heart turns bright scarlet as the burning bush of autumn behind the little house on Beyer Road, a meeting place for God and spirit. In the moments of one hero’s true life remember joy waits in the golden light of forgiveness in yr. luminous wounded heart. APRIL 7, 2023
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