Editorial Commentary (on the state of the planet as well as this delightful summer issue)
by Bea Garth
copyright 2011
Welcome back to this late summer edition of Eos: The Creative Context. This has been a summer of consequence, following as it has on the heels of the March 11th earthquake, tsunami and Fukishima nuclear disaster in Japan (which is somewhat contained now, but only barely–though at least for that we are thankful!).
There has been much unrest amongst the world’s populace: many young people leading their elders, waking us all up into realizing our future is in our hands since otherwise most all opportunity seems to be gobbled up by the powers that be. While most of us do not condone the violence, there is a growing wind of change and liberation that has shown us the positive side of this commotion, as in Greece, the Middle East, Italy and even Spain and parts of the U.S.
I would submit all is not dark, despite whatever the pundits might say about the most recent uprising in Britain. These are the rumblings of a new reality giving birth to itself. The earth itself cannot support business as usual much longer. A new, more nurturing gestalt is called for.
We have to think of new ways to approach our needs–such as actually making a commitment to use renewable energy rather than devastate ourselves by increasing the possibility of nuclear disaster (which many of us now realize could happen anywhere), not to speak of wars often fueled by the fact the availability of oil is fast dwindling.
In addition, given our increasingly connected planet, the importance of building social and economic networks that actually help the populace has become paramount, rather than starve the poor to serve the rich, as it now seems to be devolving if we continue doing things as they are without change.
Meanwhile, however, the earth continues to show herself in all her glory–shining appropriately near the Pacific Ocean as well as many other places (where its not burning hot or whipping itself up in yet another hurricane or twister), reminding us that it is summer after all. A time for family and vacation, for connecting with the abundance of nature and each other.
Thus this issue celebrates the summer, the oceanside and relationships–both functional and not, as well as the in-between. Scroll down and you will find excellent poems by several newcomers here including a poet from Greece and another from Jamaica, as well as several American poets, including our own San Jose poet, the delightful Howard Pugh.
I have included two photos of mine celebrating the coast this year, as well as one of my gouache paintings depicting the entanglements and delights of love. Three of Elizabeth Parashis’s lovely expressive artwork (painting and drawing) also grace these pages. And Al Preciado’s new painting “Cat!” is a vital punctuation to the article about the new 3rd Friday poetry, drawing and music events held at Works Gallery’s new location.
I finally completed the issue with one of my gluten free recipes: Banana (Chocolate Chip) Cookies.
Scroll down to find all the particulars–and enjoy yourself therefrom!
—————————————————————————————————
Silver Ribbons
by Terry D. Robertson
copyright 2009 and 2011
Editor’s Note: previously published in BROKEN WINDOWS, REFLECTIONS OF A FOOL, copyright 2009, also featured as an audio cassette book by the Library of Congress
.
.
The night is filled with silver ribbons
Tied in bows around the shining moon
Two people seeking what they need
Gaze at the stars strung together like beads
But broke and scattered much too soon
So I found these words on
Lilac sprays and butterfly wings
And then sat and scrawled down all these
Crazy things
Then gave in to your passion beneath the silver ribbon moon
.
Now the years pass in the dimming of the day
Love is waxing, longing to be free
Having to get married anyway
It turned out to be a necessity
Wait—was that applause I heard
From the mistress of the moon?
Or just the bumping of the logs
The breeze filled with silent silver birds
.
Two lives grew apart like a dying flower
He turns to me and says
“You robbed me of my shining hour”
I said “You took me for your vanity
Under that silver moon now so dour”
Love is an unanswered prayer grown colder
Now I write on wilted flowers
But my words have turned cold and sour
And the moon is fifteen years older
.
The silver ribbons hide behind the moon now
All alone—as I weave them in my hair
Yet I still want to believe
All your broken promises where we once sat
You must have had magic up your sleeve
Beneath the silver ribbons
Getting us to feel like that
_____
.
Bio: Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Terry Robertson was published on audio cassette by “The Library of Congress”. He is the author of the novel, “Fill My Eyes”, available everywhere online and a book of verse taken from the original Library of Congress papers “Broken Windows, Reflections of a Fool.” The author lives in North Carolina and hopes to make enough money to move back home to his nativeUtah where all his novels take place.
To find Terry’s book of poems go to: http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Windows-Reflections-Terry-Robertson/dp/1449595871/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2
To see Terry’s new novel FILL MY EYES go to:http://www.amazon.com/Fill-My-Eyes-Terry-Robertson/dp/1606720937/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313681027&sr=8-1
Categories: blog commentary by Bea Garth, poem by Terry D. Robertson
Tags: Dysfunctional Relationships, poem, poem by Terry D. Robertson
Eos: The Creative Context 
Ken,
I really like what you wrote in regards to the poem, “Silver Ribbon’s” by Terry Robertson. It sure says a lot about life and you put it so well.
Linda Torrence
LikeLike
Terry:
What a beautiful poem. Love comes in many stages of life and comes in many forms. This poem is filled with love and sentiment. I greatly enjoyed this!!
Sandie Angel :o)
LikeLike
Sandie,
Yes, love does come in many stages of life, some of it stays and some of it goes. A very nice comment about a very reflective poem, by Terry Robertson.
Linda Torrence
LikeLike
In his poem Mr. Robertson paints a vivid picture of a love that is found and then lost. Through the power of his chosen words, strong melancholy emotions are felt and the reader gains a great empathy for the universal human condition. Bravo!
LikeLike
Terry Robertson has hit the nail on the head with this poem! He has explained young love, that has went sour, so eloquently. The “Silver Ribbons,” starts out with what was going to be, only to show you by his poem, how it died. The “Rose Colored Glass’s” turned so grey and cloudy. What happened to that sweet, innocent love that was to be? To much happened in all those years and the Ribbons started dying, one curl at a time. The promised made by the two young lovers, died, one by one, until those promises meant nothing anymore. Just two strangers, passing each other by day after day, only to wake up and start all over again. How sad, that the years have slipped by, never to feel those Silver Ribbons in her hair again. Just the cold darkness of the night, creeping behind the Silver Moon. I’m sure it applies to a lot of lives and you put it into a poem, so well done. You should be very happy about your work.
LikeLike
maxine6, above is Linda Torrence.
LikeLike
Terry,
What a beautiful poem. You’ve always written so well. I see a bit of myself in there. It reminds me of my first husband and myself when we were going through some trials. Another great one, Boo.
LikeLike
I find Terry Robertson’s poem to be stunning – and not just because I am at an age when many people are looking back on their lives with both nostalgia and regret. I believe he strikes at the heart of both the pros and cons of young love, young lust and the spontaneity of it all that sometimes leads to a commitment – then disappointment later on. He captures what I believe is a universal experience. If you’ve never been in love, then you won’t understand this poem. But most of us HAVE been in love, for good or bad, and we can understand the mood Terry is reflecting upon in this very poignant, moving and visual poem. I love it! Bravo!
LikeLike