Welcome to Poetically Yours, where you'll hear the voices of Illinois poets as they share their words about the world around them. This week features Rhonda Parsons. It's called, "Dew on the Rose."
Dew on the Rose
How can we thrive, how can we flower? if we don’t bathe in the sunlight and drink the water that turns the City of the Heart into a veritable rose garden?
We’re rocky soil trees for fire It’s not supposed to be that way We, the earth, are living spirits of the Eternal Rose Let’s turn to the Mother and follow her ways
Look into her eyes of water, Break through the illusion of separation flecks of green and shimmering sun mingle with clarity above behold the beauty of the Divine within Heaven’s but a breath away Just like the surrounding pines
Study her limbs swaying to melodious birds flexibility, strength, grace, the twirl of the green Can you see her dance casts shadow and lets light in?
Consider her breath how it cools the swelter how it stokes the fire no person no prairie is caught downwind what can it say, but you are me, I am you unrestrained in Love we be
Admire her posture, how she stands just so, something about it says I’m with you all day Can you see her “hello” as a revolution of love moving with her? She holds a brush in her hand and paints twice daily A call for pause and reflection appreciation of beauty these colors convey
She sends the stars and moon out and I love to see them play they tell me I can be calm even after a hectic day “She’s amazing in her movements” those stars say little do you know it her revolutions mark the sacred circle of time I see the confirmation in the twinkle, twinkle and her eyes like the lake. I hear it in her breath, subtle over peaks and valleys There’s a sense of urgency yet she’s warm as the noon day sun
“Grace is the breeze from the sweltering heat love is rain seeping through cracked soil” But you’re wilting in the sun, petals losing color because you’re not rooted to common ground Heartache, Struggle, Striving, yearning to be, Spirit, better life, better world these elements make the human garden grow Stop, blocking the sun saying yea and nay without the inner search Stop, tumbling from heavens embrace labeling things good and bad don’t you know, it just isn’t so?
When it seems too much Remember: There’s a lotus in the mud and roses among the thorns just turn to the breath there’s power there Breathe in through fear's sting breathe out when doubt looms strong send out sweet scented thoughts till the downpour quenches every thirst till every heart petal opens Trials and tribulations will cease to alarm and become dew on the rose
Rhonda Parsons discovered she had a talent for writing when she elected to take creative writing at Hononegah High School. The first assignment was not a poem, but a story inspired by the wind. In an effort to prepare for the assignment, the class went outside, linked themselves together and ran into the wind. She said it was such a unique way to become inspired. The story was to be read out loud with a piece of music accompanying it. She chose instrumental music and the wind was metaphorical. Hence, the title, Written on the Wind. That story was the first of the positive feedback she received that semester. It encouraged her to continue writing after the semester ended.
Since then, she has received an award from Rock Valley College and the Rockford Writers' Guild, for her book, “If A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words.” She’s also shared her vision in newspaper editorials and performed publicly at Holy Day celebrations.
Parson said, the reason for her success lies in the words of one of her favorite poets, Robert Frost: "no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader."
She is excited about the opportunity to share her poems with new people. The reason lies in a rather interesting story which occurred several winters ago. She was looking out the window. Most of the ground was covered with snow, except for one green patch. To most people, it would just be grass. However, Parsons said she has been blessed to hear the "voice" of nature. Thus, the grass had a message: the world is waiting for your vision.
Besides writing, Parsons enjoys painting, hiking, meditating, and playing with the family’s chihuahuas.
