Pose Poetry
In the Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy training which I just recently finished (hooray!), one of our assignments was to explore the "metaphysical elements" of common yoga poses. My method was to spend several minutes in each pose, observing the sensations, images and words that arose within me. Coming out of the pose, I would immediately start writing stream-of-consciousness poetry. After the practice, I went back over the poems and cleaned them up a bit. Here are two I particularly liked. I am intrigued by the ways the body can be a source of creativity, and may one day put together a workshop on the topic.
Plow / Halasana
follow the golden spiral
into the galactic center
snail shell taut and soft
insistent push into earth
winding the spring tighter
lotus curling closed
hide the jewel
block out the noise
private counsel
listen for that sweet voice
singing flame flickering unseen
painting light on lantern pains
whispers of inner mysteries
for your eyes only
Knee Down Twist / Supta Matsyendrasana
dragon's repose
tired of the clouds
laying long on moist earth
basking
light and dark
bleeding into center
mixing spinal spiral
ah! this life!
weapons surrendered
edges softened by rain river moss
may these bones be swallowed up!
a forest from my corpse
white stones in moonlight
a dragon's repose
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