03 Joy and Pain from 100 Days by James Navé
The first night out of the hospital, stars greeted me from outside my bedroom window, which I'd raised to let the cool breeze enter. The stars reminded me the world is full of joy and pain. Billy, down the street, has a broken finger. Up the way, Sally has just baked a chocolate cake. Around the corner, Sam can't stop admiring his goats grazing along the fence. The ravens riding the thermals above the crags must know something of pain and joy, and so must the oaks, maples, and poplars. I've walked a little since I've been here. My steps are easy and slow, like the redbuds flowering on the ridge.
Here are your two questions: 01 What do you think about when you stargaze? 02 How steady are your steps?
Special event: THE LAKE EDEN WRITING WEEK-May 19-25, 2024, with Nickole Brown, Allan Wolf, James Navé, and special guest: www.jamessnave.com.
BACKGROUND NOTES
Twelve years ago, celebrating Poetry Month beginning April 1, I wrote 100 poems in the 100 days following my surgery on March 30. I shared each poem on Facebook; I self-published the poems six months later.
Last year, 3: A Taos Press published the poems in a beautiful book: 3taospress.com/authors/james-.... In the spirit of Poetry Month, I'm revisiting this journey by reading one poem daily from '100 Days' over the next 100 days. I hope you enjoy the poems.