How To Remember A Moment in Words

To find the beautiful words
appropriately translating intentions is often impossible.
But then your mind strays,
And stays
- Lingering among the beautiful words.
As if the thoughts themselves will materialize
And become the truth.

Sometimes they do.

So let's ponder
Over the time you walk down the isle
Or watched someone you love walk down the isle.
Or fantasizing about having an excess of money - and what you'd do with it.
Or actually having an excess of money -
Doing what you want with it. 
Like simply giving it away.

Or tossing your child into the sky,
and feeling the weight of pure glee falling back into your arms.
Again you thrust your arms up with the same pure glee 
- transferring joy between the two of you like a game of catch. 
Ending only when overwhelmed with laughs and satisfying sighs.

And your mind enters the beautiful words.
Mixing and combining into a palpable reminiscence.
You choose one to cling onto,
and the words transform into visualizations.
And the visualizations transform into a chemical release,
a raised heartrate,
and a tear falls as you remember the joy of running home at night,
through a field,
and perhaps a few of the neighbor's yards
- increasing your footspeed through the yards of those you know are a bit grouchy.
And making it home
to a plate of dinner.
Heading to the sink to pretend to have manners,
to wash the dirt from your face and hands.
And chugging some milk
- not because you love milk, but because it's the only cold thing in the fridge.

Then you see your own child do the same.
And the words you've put together begin to have more depth and emotion.
And when your grandchild does it - in your kitchen - pretending to have manners. You'll forget about the financial security, about the isles you've walked down, about all of those pets.
And your eyes will begin to see beauty again and again. And the words used to describe them will, in fact, be more than appropriate for your own recollection. Even though those witnessing your words will feign to understand. 
And when you realize that it will never be shared completely, 
you'll search for the words to describe it.

So you can remember the beauty of the moment.


Jordan R Shaver
11.15.2013

10 Things I'm Certain Of

Watching a short video of a poet and instructor, I decided to take her advice and put into writing 10 things I'm certain of.
Here's what I came up with:

Here's the link to Sarah Kay's TED talk where she performs her poem and give a few anecdotal stories from her teaching experiences. http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter.html
I realize now that I'm sure I know less that what I think I know. I'm also sure that any deep, analytical thought I may have is better off disassembled and put into a list. I'm also sure that my memo feature on my phone is pretty handy.
I think I'll be making lists more often.

Jordan R Shaver 11.7.2013