Poetry from Aline Page
Two thoughtful poems from ALINE PAGE…
ASH WEDNESDAY MEDITATION 17/2/21
Holy Spirit,
Split me in twain,
Down to my spine,
Like shelling a green pod of sweet peas,
A lifetime’s faithful kindnesses,
Exposing pink fleshiness
To Thy cleansing light
Dissolving my ego,
Dipped into the acid of vanity,
to tiny particles, set free
from ashes of lived experiences;
to roam, to rise, to be
hovering dust motes gently, drifting,
Ascending through stained coloured light,
Wafting, softly billowing, releasing,
Coasting on sea breezes, soaring,
Endlessly swirling around the globe, stuck,
Circulating, not fully expanding into Oneness, infinity.
Earthed … de-stone my acre of heavy obstacles,
Plough my bleached bones,
Rake and de-knot my thoughts,
Like carefully combing tangled hair,
Loosening and removing stubborn stuckness,
Where ego still clings to this patch,
Rooted, from which pink petals unfurl,
Ruby roses, with thorny briars, grow
Alongside hopeful daffodils, wild and free,
As the crowning lotus flower,
Multi-dimensional reality stillness, eludes me!
PANDEMIC YEAR Anniversary 23.3.21
The lines in the mirror reflect
The cost of surviving a year,
Given over to a fearful pandemic,
Filled with comfort eating and false cheer;
Insufficient laughter, fun and sun’s warmth,
Letting go of bright tomorrows, hugs,
Live music, singing and dance.
Staying in, squinting at screens,
Shutting out daylight when want to let it in,
Hoping to be seen and heard,
If the pixellating internet works!
Underneath the pale skin, the dull long hair,
Despair? Curiosity? Daring to be happy?
Masked, hidden from view, smiles muted,
No hurrying, no pressure, patient unwinding,
At leisure to relax and take pleasure in simple things.
Decluttering, released from frenetic activities,
Free to take time, to be,
At one in the present, truly me,
Lovingly embracing life’s shadows,
With new clarity and purpose
As spring dawns on all that’s alive.
Aline Page is a reflexologist, complementary practitioner, and dance/artist who fell in love with Pembrokeshire’s wild, untamed beauty in her late teens, moved and has now lived here for 30 years. She says: “I’m inspired by stunning cliff walks, massive rugged rock slabs that vanish into pounding waves, beautiful beaches, vibrant hidden coves, myriad textures and colours, embracing bays, bracing winds and terrifying winter storms that cut us down to size, reminding us how vulnerable we are, how dependent on nature, and the importance of safe havens and a warm welcoming community.“Pembrokeshire is multi-layered, rugged and challenging on many levels and sometimes feels as close to island existence as you can get living on the mainland. It’s far away from suburbia and Disneyland, remaining relativity untamed, yet is inspirational to film directors, artists and photograhers etc.”
