Akua Naru: Love, how does it feel now?

Love, love mmm...I told y'allWe would be the band to play it.
My ghetto butterfly flew away from me.I wait patiently, by windows and doorsteps.Play, make believe, as my tears, poor chest,won't succeed to breathe, if not to hear of you.
Surely there has never been a shade so blue.A stank attitude, so not mad at you.Not a magnitude to encompass the latitudeof my love for you.No space and time compatible.
What do I have to do? What do I have to do?Uh..my friends say I got it bad for you.I do. But there's nothing in this world I'd rather do,but you.
I want to make love to your existence,drenched in the colors of your energy,then masturbate to the memories.I wanna lose myself inside yourselfUntil you find me. Confine me,to the freedom of your prison.Exist in the same space, same time.Combine until your thoughts slow grind with mineCombine until your thoughts slow grind with mineCombine until your thoughts slow grind with mine
My, I wanna drink the sweat of your intellect,reflect, and watch your light passion walk my neck.Caress the sights of your presence with no question,undress to the nakedness of love, pure love.I want to make love to my soulmate... my soulmate...make love to my soulmate...my soulmate...make love to my soulmate, uh shit...I wonder, how does it feel to make love to your soulmate.Kind of like writing poetry till climax,till the point and place where space and time match.Can we cross the line, perhaps tell me would you like that.Now would you like that, tell me would you like that,would you like that, tell me would you like that,would you like that, tell me?
I'm gonna ask you again now, tell me..Would you like that, tell me would you like that,now would you like that, tell me would you like that,would you like that, tell me..
I wanna love you more than madly.Wrap these legs around your words,until your speech is straddled deep, gladly.Swim the currents of your vibrations,be separate in onewith the same meditation..Uh the same meditation..
Uh you know what..This, right here is poetry..
Enjoy.. Ualy, play that saxophone right now!
[Sax solo]
If love..If love had a soundthis would be that sound.And we,well we,We would be the band to play it.

@Eleder

Congrats Jonathan Coe!

I had the pleasure to meet Jonathan Coe the day before Wosonos 2012 began in London. Charming, smiling, open man. Now I know he is the OSLIST Poet Laureate this year, invited by Lisa Heft.

Very happy with these news!

Here a piece of him I´ve loved:

Space Open Circle 

from Open Space Technology - A Users Guide by Harrison Owen

Note: This poem is in the 'found poetry' form. I have made selections from the original text and decided how to shape and punctuate it.

I have removed all the other words from the book - but none from the selected phrases.

The circle is the fundamental geometry

of human communication.

A circle has no head or feet,

no high or low

no sides to take;

in a circle people can simply be

with each other,

face to face.

The geometry of the circle 

and the rhythm of breath.

Show Up

Be Present

Tell The Truth

Let It All Go.

Do nothing and remain

invisible.

Be prepared

to be

surprised.

Who ever heard of a square of friends?

-- Jonathan Coe (London, England)

... and here the piece that became him this year´s laureate:

WOSONOS 2012 

In Stoke Newington Town Hall I fell in love with nothing,

and it was no thing that I loved.

Alone, knowing no-one and nothing I walked the circle

I got present

I was connected.

Presence,

absence.

The empty space of the opening circle.

Profoundly empty,

containing no thing

Through me 

everything and no-thing, in me

the circle, in me

the space, in me

the people, in me

butterflies and bumblebees.  In me

body, in me

mind, in me

image, in me

thought, in me

feeling, in me

sensation, in me

nothing. 

It started at the right time

The right people were the ones who came

The only thing that could have happened

Was what happened

It was over when it was over.

The bees were buzzing

The 'flies were flitting

The space was open.

The circle was squared.

-- Jonathan Coe (London, England)

Congrats, Jonathan!


@Eleder_BuM
www.burumapak.blogspot.com (Basque)   
www.in-fluyendo.blogspot.com (Sp.)
www.flowandshow.blogspot.com (En)
http://www.bilbohiria.com/gaika/berbaz (radio interviews)  

Oh my, oh my! Congrats Agnetta!

Agneta Setterwall, new OSLIST Poet Laureate (2012)

An open space?

I hesitate

A call somewhere?

I hesitate

An open door?

I hesitate

And people too?!

I hesitate!

Supposed to speak?

I hesitate!!

Tell what I need...

I hesitate...

Tell what I want?

I hesitate!

And they all hear...

I doubt they do!

They will not care!

I´m sure, I´m sure...

And... there they come!

Oh my! They do!

And now we talk!

We do! We do!!!

...they listen too...

...and so do I...

...and what will come...?

Oh my! Oh my!!!

-- Agneta Setterwall (Uppsala, Sweden)

______________________

History of the OSLIST Restricted Form Poetry Contest

“For all those who might be curious, the OSLIST Biannual Restricted Form Poetry Contest started in the spring of 2000 when I issued the challenge to the list.  [The late great] Ralph Copleman actually began the whole thing with a contest in the fall of 1999 (which I won) and so he is the “Poetry King” for all time.  I just claimed the “Poet Laureate” title in an effort to have some fun.  It was something of a one martini idea, and I was out of gin at the time...”

'Restricted form' means some described form or boundary for the poem - as in this recent Poetry Contest where you were invited to create poems about or inspired by Open Space and breathing, trusting the unknown, and emergence.

 ______________________

Our Past OSLIST Poet Laureates

Ralph Copleman 1999

Chris Corrigan 1999 

Chris Weaver 2000

Jeff Aitken 2000

Florian Fischer 2001

Laurel Doersam 2002

Audrey Coward 2002

Joelle Everett 2003

Florian Fischer 2003

Joelle Everett 2004

Lisa Heft 2006

Teresa Pokasony 2006

Karen Sella 2007

Jeff Aitken 2008

Anne Hiha 2008

Esther Ewing 2009

Chris Corrigan 2010

...and now... Agneta Setterwall 2012

IT IS I WHO MUST BEGIN

It Is I Who Must Begin

It is I who must begin.

Once I begin, once I try --

here and now,

right where I am,

not excusing myself

by saying things

would be easier elsewhere,

without grand speeches and

ostentatious gestures,

but all the more persistently

-- to live in harmony

with the "voice of Being," as I

understand it within myself

-- as soon as I begin that,

I suddenly discover,

to my surprise, that

I am neither the only one,

nor the first,

nor the most important one

to have set out

upon that road.

Whether all is really lost

or not depends entirely on

whether or not I am lost.

~ Vaclav Havel ~

Eleder BuM31    Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Sormen

www.burumapak.blogspot.com (eus)   @Eleder_BuM  (Twitter)
www.in-fluyendo.blogspot.com (esp) www.flowandshow.blogspot.com
http://bm31-liburuak.blogspot.com    http://www.bilbohiria.com/gaika/berbaz 

When the devil dances

Picture picked at: http://djembefola.com/dance.php

Harrison Owen sent yesterday this beautiful piece to the OSLIST.

I don’t know if this fits, but some many years ago I had the privilege of spending some time in the African Bush with some wonderful people. I think this was my first awareness of open space (Open Space?). Anyhow I wrote about it and it went like this (in my first book, “When the Devil Dances” and I should add that the Devil is not the familiar figure with long horns but rather the missionaries mistaken appellation for a central actor in village life.)

In the village

All things go in a circle,

And everything fits.

To speak of the drums

Is to speak of the dance,

Is to speak of the Devils…

Weaving and Forging

Fire and Steel – The Bush

Life, Death, and Life again.

When the Devil Dances Life goes on

Harrison Owen

www.openspaceworld.com  www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)

_______________________________________________

A good piece for a song, really! Keep dancing!

Eleder BuM31    Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Sormena

www.burumapak.blogspot.com (eus)   @Eleder_BuM  (Twitter)
www.in-fluyendo.blogspot.com (esp)   www.flowandshow.blogspot.com  (eng)

WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING (poem by Chris Corrigan)

Chris Corrigan wrote "A poem for you all", in response to this thread in the OSLIST!:

When you know what you are doing
When your gifts match the purpose
when the call is strong
and the questions are electric

when the people need it
when purpose swirls amongst us
the invisible leader,
the blurry shepherd,
nipping at our heels
and tilting the floor...

when the time is right
and the world is facing you full on

when the complexity is overwhelming
and the elusive answers die in the field of despair

when you stare at an empty circle
and every face begs for certainty
and your knees shake with the trembling
that comes with the deepest not knowing.

then,
and only then.

it will work.

Chris

GIVE WHAT´S LEFT OF ME AWAY

Somone wrote to the OSLIST about her father´s death... Peggy Holman answered with this piece.

"I come late to offering condolences on your father's passing. When my mother died, someone, I don't remember who, gave me a poem that moved me.  I hope you find solace in it.

Peggy"

GIVE WHAT'S LEFT OF ME AWAY

When I die
Remember me with a smile and laughter.
If thoughts of me provoke no love,
Only sadness and tears,
I ask that I be soon forgotten.

Give what's left of me away
To children and old men who wait to die.
And if you must cry, cry for your brother
Who walks in grief beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms around anyone,
And give them what you need to give me.

I want to leave you something.
Something better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I've known or loved,
Or helped in some special way.
And if you cannot give me away,
Let me live in your eyes for awhile,
As well as in your mind.

You can love me most
By letting love live
Within the circle of your arms
Embracing the frightened ones.

Love doesn't die, people do.
So when all that's left of me is love,
Give me away.

            -- Jack Link

TODAY IS MY DAY, I OPT TO FLY

Photo from: http://500hats.typepad.com/photos/

I came across this brilliant written piece by Nicola Karesh through a tweet by TheLoveOlution and I republish it now here.

Have you ever coloured outside the walls?

Have you ever ridden along the halls,

of places that are stamped forbidden,

off-limits, unauthorized to you?

Have you ever dared to see what’s there,

beyond the edges, rims and stairs?

Descended into unchartered territory,

pushed past lines that hold you here

in safe regions of known layers?

Do you feel that edge that seems unmovable?

Do you see the lid that appears unshiftable?

Expand your vision,

set free imagination.

Let soar wild nature,

surrender restriction.

Life is full of undiscovered areas,

Blocked passage-ways, roped off places.

If you ever venture outside the pages,

written and stamped by cautious sages,

you may be surprised to discover

there is more waiting just for you.

Venture deep.

Open wide.

Life exceeds the expectant eyes.

a willing spirit without agenda,

slips beyond perceived barriers.

Discovers more beyond the veil.

Discovers locks can fade away,

shifting into unknown vistas,

cascading realms, bordering heaven.

Today, I toss away my helmet

that says I can’t, I mustn’t,

I ought not.

I let loose of inhibition.

Today is my day.

I opt to fly.

Nicola G. Karesh, copyright © 2010 – All rights reserved.

Enjoy life!

Eleder
BM31_ BILBAO: Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Creativity

• http://www.burumapak.blogspot.com
• http://bm31-liburuak.blogspot.com
• http://www.in-fluyendo.blogspot.com (ESP.)

Twitter: @Eleder_BM