l i g h t

l i g h t, originally uploaded by horseshoecrab.

i am so absolutely in love with life right now -
i can feel the slow flow of things,
the ebb and the ecstatic flow that passes through
us, all, everything
the eyes of strangers
the threads that bind their pupils together
that stretch across streets
ignoring streetlights
so engrossed
in the sudden
unexpected hello

i walked by a yellow sign outside of a bookstore
and hardly comprehended the words
through the door i could see rows of people -
a book signing? a reading?
poetry the sign said - sign up in advance, five minute reading
enter through the back door
ah to pass through the strange narrow alley
slip in and perch on the black bucket shaped step ladder
as i do in any bookstore
and listened to the professed poets of montpelier
peel their words from paper and pass them through the crowd
some of the faces i knew by sight
or a once-latte passed over a counter
but one in particular nudged me and said:
hey, aren't you reading?
i shrugged and smiled - the sign up was in advance, ah well, nothing prepared.. the usual bs that i've always used to back out of readings and slams.
but then i realized, why the hell not? these are just humans as i am, some of them impatient, some of them reverent, some of them dreaming, some of them shivering with nerves and anticipation.
they have sweaters and purple jackets and artsy frames and a host of well worn honest vermont boots. who knows, it may snow tomorrow, and even if doesn't, these are the most comfortable shoes we own.
someone passed by me with a clip board, and i asked her if i could read.

and i did,
but no paper.
i looked out with hands shaking,
lips curled in a smile that i can only describe
as one that could crack the limits of my face.
and i just spoke. i was myself
moving from face to face
touching those strands hanging quietly from brow to brow.
they were listening and i was listening
and i took words from the room
shaped them and returned them smoothed
and kaleidoscopic
i was the unexpected one
who spoke of wanting to walk across the country
but realizing the true journey was here
and now
and why leave montpelier
when montpelier was far from finished speaking in tongues
and offering me cigarettes?

the applause was startling.
i found a tiny bathroom sized waxed paper cup
and made 4 ounces of water disappear.
faces, eyes, mouths congratulated me
asked my name
asked where i was going
who
how
and above all
thank you
that was
amazing
keep the light burning

two beautiful elder women spoke to me in the parkinglot
one gave me a journal
the other a ride
she drove slow
like mudseason, like spring
and she told me to never poison my mind
and to keep spreading the light

she named me the trubador -
bard, wanderer, artist, truth bringer

and so i am
and so i am
and so
i am

love over pouring,

- amy