Live Virtual Group Session: 6PM EDT August 14th 2023

14 Comments

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this session!

For this session we read a poem “All the Words I Can Remember Are Poems” by Michelle Peñalozachelle, posted below.

Our prompt was: “Ask a question about the world.”

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Please join us for our next session Monday September 11th at 6pm EDT, with more times listed on our Live Virtual Group Sessions.

“All the Words I Can Remember Are Poems” by Michelle Peñalozachelle

Source: Poetry (July/August 2023)

14 thoughts on “Live Virtual Group Session: 6PM EDT August 14th 2023”

  1. Rita B's avatar Rita B

    Ask a question about the World
    Rita Basuray

    The world! … Prithibi!
    Why ask a question? … Kano?
    Don’t we know everything? … Na?
    No. We have so much more to learn. … Shotti.
    So, what is the burning question? … Ki?
    Ugh! I had to say “burning” … Ish!
    What else? The effect of climate change on all living beings on the world. … Prithibi
    On the surface, above in the air, in the water and under the soil. … Shob jaygay
    We are burning. Like Pompeii yesterday, like Maui today and like what tomorrow? Ki?

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    • michele348's avatar michele348

      Beautiful, Rita and so much in the footprint of our poem for tonight. BTW, so truthful about the ignorance of mankind in truly seeing what lies right before our eyes.

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    • Andre F. Lijoi, MD's avatar Andre F. Lijoi, MD

      Rita, your speaker’s imagination to craft a poem in the shadow of Penaloza’s work in the short time we had inspires me. The “burning” question is chilling but in keeping with the calls for justice and responsibility that we heard often tonight. Thank you. Andre

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    • Elizabeth's avatar Elizabeth

      This is so much in the shadow of the poem. What a beautiful and creative reflection-especially on climate change. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. Michele348's avatar Michele348

    Ask a question about the world~~~

    So what’s the purpose of existing in this world… a world filled with smoke, fire, war, famine, and disease?
    Is it to test the strength and determination of its inhabitants
    or is it to test our foolhardiness in tending to the gifts given to us by our Creator?

    I am in a quandary… it seems we are slipping off a slippery ledge.
    But I have hope we will see, from the heavens above, beams of light which will bring understanding… an understanding to right the wrongs.

    Be quiet my mind… listen to the heart.

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    • Andre F. Lijoi, MD's avatar Andre F. Lijoi, MD

      Michele, your speaker asks a challenging existential question. Is life merely a test. It will be a very unsatisfying existence. The light is here and only requires that those who reside here broadcast it, acts of cooperation. Andre

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  3. Andre F. Lijoi, MD's avatar Andre F. Lijoi, MD

    Prompt: Ask a question about the world.

    S: “World what can you tell me about yourself?”
    W: Can you be more specific? What do you want to know about me?”
    S: “Well I know your name and that you are the third rock from the sun. Your age? You are older than history. What do you do for a living?”
    W: “I keep turning. For some reason it is important that I keep going round. You can tell it by the breeze you feel.”
    S: “Have you ever known peace.
    W: “For a short time at the beginning of time I was at peace. It might have been a hundred thousand years, maybe more. I really don’t know how long exactly. After that the realities of life set in. They call it human frailty. Some must feel like they are the best, have the best, have the most, are the strongest, must dominate, are never satisfied with what they have and yearn always for something new. Sometimes, some wish the good of an other and other times the same humans recede deeply into the self.”
    S: “ When will peace come back?”
    W: “It is still there, but, we must wait for it to arrive again, here.”

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    • Michele348's avatar Michele348

      I would have loved to have been there during that conversation… I wonder if it would have gone “rogue” on Twitter if it had been posted? Seems like the “world’ was being a bit vague in its answers but I guess from all its spinning and all we’ve put it through, it has the right. 🙂

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    • Elizabeth's avatar Elizabeth

      Andre, I love this creative journey that you took us on. What a dialogue ! I like the line about turning… Maybe that is earth’s way of putting one foot in front of the other… Like we human beings do. Spinning can also lead to spirituality . There is a lot packed into this writing. I will return to it.

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  4. Elizabeth's avatar Elizabeth

    Mahkoreh What’s going on?
    Mahpitome Why all of a sudden?
    Mahnishtana Why does this feel different?
    Mahzeh What’s all this?
    Mahhasof How will it end?

    Loyodaat Don’t know,
    Lowona Can’t answer,

    Rakyoshevet Just sitting
    Imshealot With questions.

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  5. Elizabeth's avatar Elizabeth

    (FYI… My piece was supposed to look like the poem with the individual words on the left in one column and the English words aligned, but the configurations turned out this way after I entered it… And so we go with the flow.)

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    • michele348's avatar michele348

      Great job,Elizabeth! Between you and Rita I’m learning new languages! The poet for tonight’s session had nothing over the two of you!

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      • Elizabeth's avatar Elizabeth

        What a sweet comment, Michele. You are always so nice to comment when see other people’s work. I have enjoyed your work and also your readings during the sessions. Thank you.

        Liked by 1 person

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