who is hosting the gathering of Spiritual Journey posts today.
This morning I turned the calendar to July and wondered where my summer is going. Carol invited us to write about Nurturing our Summer Souls for Spiritual Journey first Thursday. I thought I would wake up early and write, but the thing about summer is expectations fall into the sun. I woke up tired. The only thing I can figure is the water aerobics class last night has affected me in more ways than I thought possible. I have welcomed these classes, the time with friends, the cool of the water, and the invigorating feeling of exercise. But this old body is finding muscles that have been dormant. It’s a good thing, right? Remind me.
My summer soul is being nurtured by the National Writing Project’s #WriteAcrossAmerica virtual writing marathon. I’ve participated in three different stops. Each Tuesday a different project site takes on the marathon. This week I went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a place foreign to me. The story map is full of places to explore and writing prompts to contemplate. I stopped at the Indian Village Site and followed a link to Margaret Noodin’s Ted Talk.
I’ve been fascinated by Margaret Noodin’s work since listening to Poetry Unbound from On Being. Margaret not only shares my name, but she also sings. She sings her poems in Anishinaabemowin and English. Being Episcopalian, I love a good chant and that is what Margaret Noodin delivers.
As I listened I wrote. This poem follows her words and weaves in my own words as if we became a confluence of thoughts, two rivers meeting and flowing together for a time.
Minowakiing: The Good Land
Languages
teach us of place. In this Good Land,
we can keep ourselves alive,
hearts beating wild, transforming
the world
in a net, networking, working in
interconnection.
I see lessons in light
see a word East
move into melting
transitioning time to place
word to word.Listen to sounds singing of fish
bobbing in the water.
Let’s listen to each other.
Remember we are in a good place.Remember the bird knows,
the grass knows,
the old oak knowsWe inherit the language of our ancestors,
Margaret Simon, with Margaret Noodin
reminded how to find the road, the map
to our own lives.
Here. Together.
Reflections on the Teche 
Yes, Margaret, it is a good thing to find those dormant muscles (just reminding you, as you asked me to! Ha! Keep up the water aerobics–those muscles are going to keep waking up!)
I really liked these lines in your poem today, picturing you listening to Margaret Noodin while you wrote. Nice and rich poem, “Here. Together”
“Listen to sounds singing of fish
bobbing in the water.
Let’s listen to each other.”
Oh, my goodness…what an experience. Sorry about the muscle memories. That’s a bummer. But, how neat that you have had several interactions with Margaret Noodin. I’m going to have to find her TedTalk. I usually start out summer like gangbusters and then wind down to doing nothing, nothing, nothing right about the time I head back to school. I’m not sure why that’s the pattern. But, I recognize it. I love the idea of inheriting language from our ancestors. The words of our ancestors in us…connecting us to each other and to time and to place. They really are the net, aren’t they? Wonderful poem and post…especially since you put this all together after waking up late! Bravo!
I woke up early and finally grabbed my computer since I was trying to keep all the lines for my list poem in my head.
I love your poem, especially the final stanza. Now I’m off to explore Margaret Noodin’s work.
I’m interested in learning more about the Write Across America project. We used to write postcards to people in other states and ask for a return postcard from their state. We tried year after year to represent every state. We never succeeded, but we had fun along the way!
Margaret, I love how each stanza you write about a different aspect of language and how at the end your bring it all together in the last powerful stanza from inheriting language to “our own lives. Here. Together.” Outstanding. I had to visit the story map because my sister lives in Milwaukee and I’ve visited her there about a handful of times. I’ve been to Summerfest, which was amazing and I enjoyed reading about the different areas. Thank you for taking me on your journey through your poem.
Margaret – I can relate to so much of this, beginning with muscles, which sometimes ache from unrealized overexertion in places I didn’t know I had them. Moving on…I adore this line ‘lessons in light” along with these:
Remember the bird knows,
the grass knows,
the old oak knows
…for I believe this to be true, in the deepest reaches of my heart. Thank you for the incredible truth, beauty, and reminders you have offered here.I treasure it all.
Margaret: I also participated in the National Writing Project, though it was so long ago. Still, I’m glad to touch bases with another NWP friend. I will look into Margaret Noodin’s Ted talk. I do share a strong feeling about our native American friends, and I have been pondering the importance of our connection with the land. Your poem is a good reminder to listen… always listen. Thanks.
Now I’ve heard Margaret Noodin, I find we have another connection. We lived in Minnesota before moving to NJ, and my husband and I would canoe in the boundary waters in the early years of our marriage, and drive up along the shore of Lake Superior. And I was born in Wisconsin. Yes… these are good lands. I love the lake country, and I enjoyed hearing her sing and explain. Thanks again.
Now I’ve heard Margaret Noodin, I find we have another connection. We lived in Minnesota before moving to NJ, and my husband and I would canoe in the boundary waters in the early years of our marriage, and drive up along the shore of Lake Superior. And I was born in Wisconsin. Yes… these are good lands. I love the lake country, and I enjoyed hearing her sing and explain. Thanks again.