terra cognito

terra cognito by ed hart

if it be true

that all conventions

of mind and heart

also are present

                         so what

so what

the marks of time's embrace

scar and mold and count

the pages of the years

could beauty be drawn

any else

             where

woman is marvelous

                               a man

can point or say a tallish thing

while she

              alone in the wild creation

mirrors the worth of a hand

and warms and weighs

so that comfort and ease

and color and song

enfold  unite  confirm

Dear Learner,

This poem is about recognizing the true nature, purpose and contribution of women to the history of mankind. The poet begins by speaking of how certain things are considered a given in matters relating to the "mind" and the "heart". He then speaks of the effect of "time" and says "the marks of time's embrace scar and mold". The expression "pages of the years" and the image therein prepare us for what will be "drawn" on those pages. And then, the poet etches the portrait of all women when he says "woman is marvelous" and an embodiment of "beauty". The way he speaks of how "a man can point or say a tallish thing" but a woman "mirrors the worth of a hand" reveals the respect he has for women.

Society is defined by the way it treats its women. Where women are treated with regard, societies evolve faster. The poet celebrates this spirit of evolution and adds to the value of all voices that enunciate the need for a better world for women. That the poet is a man who describes the contribution of women as being the force that "warms and weighs" as well as "enfolds", "unites" and "confirms" makes this poem even more significant in a world where women are still not considered equals by other women (let alone men). 

The music and rhythm of the English language are articulated beautifully in this poem. The repetition of the expression "so what" works wonderfully. The play between the words "scar", "mould" and "count" in the first part of the poem and the words "enfold", "unite" and "confirm" in the end of the poem is simply stunning. The expression "warms and weighs" is a fine example of alliteration. And, feminine qualities are described amazingly well with the skillful use of simple words like "comfort", "ease", "color" and "song".

This is a poem I turn to when my psyche gets affected by the toxic levels of despair inside or around me and I forget my purpose. Needless to say, it always heals me and enables me to get back on track. I think that I have been able to stay the course in the last few years of my life (at least from my perspective) because of this poem and what it says to me. I've also viewed Indian History from the perspective that this poem articulates and have found that women have indeed shaped history the way the poet says they have. Men have played a significant role but women have played the role of the significant other.

If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.

Warm wishes from a fellow learner,

. serah .

gardener

gardener by ed hart

the expectant earth

surrendered

another row today

my back girdle-cinched

against a concert of injury

my shovel

puts strength in my arms

as the black soil peels back

worms and tiny roots

me and the yellow sun

are glad to be

ahead of the game

sitting in the swing

i hold hands with her

                               she thinks

the garden is country casual

with its chicken-wire fence

but i picture

that salvaged patio lumber

forming next year's border

and a new fence

to keep the rabbits out

the squirrels go where they go

Dear Learner,

This poem is the heart-song of the quintessential 'gardener' -- not just one who loves gardening but one who loves to see life as his garden and teaches us all how to be worthy gardeners. He begins by speaking of the effort it takes to sort out one 'row' of a garden. It reminds me of life and how many 'injuries' it takes to sort out one dimension of one's life. He then speaks of how the process of sorting out empowers him when he says "my shovel puts strength in my arms". Then he describes the sense of triumph one feels when one accomplishes something. He speaks of how enlightening the experience is when he says "me and the yellow sun are glad to be ahead of the game". Following that, he describes how he is sitting on a swing with his love by his side and how he can see beyond the apparent. The image, her thoughts and his thoughts are (for me) a reference to how we can break up a complex task into simple tasks and how the visionary can see beyond the obvious -- into the future. The final line is particularly compelling. It resounds in my heart as it's a metaphor for all those who we have no control over -- the "squirrels" in our lives.

This poem illustrates a fine balance between a sense of 'doing' and 'letting go', and, in that sense, is very much the essence of the core message of the Bhagvad Gita. 

If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.

Warm wishes from a fellow learner,

. serah .

broken

broken

words are not things
like rocks and ships
that mean hard
or we sail at dawn

goodbye doesn't end
with saying
as though thought
could set the tides

we grow roots
into each other

where wither that
when dreams awake
alone across the rolling days

fine edged speech
does not mend the ache
within a clumsy heart
that dies by just that much

Dear Learner,

For me, this poem is about the significance of sensitivity and communicating sensitively. We need to be careful when we choose our words. There are times when we say things that we think are not hurtful but are hurtful for the person we're communicating with. We must err on the side of caution. 

The poet expresses this sentiment very gently. The opening lines of this poem speak about the nature of words. He then highlights how "we grow roots into each other" through words and get connected to each other in a profound way. He also speaks of how "fine edged speech does not mend the ache" to express how hurtful words stay with the person who has been hurt by them.

We live in the age of communication and yet we are not sensitive enough to each other as human beings. This poem is special for me because it reminds me of how hard we need to work -- on an on-going basis -- to ensure that we don't hurt anyone's sentiments with our words and cause permanent injuries that other words cannot heal later.

If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.

Warm wishes from a fellow learner,

. serah .