NaPoWriMo: a poem a day through April, National Poetry Month
Deborah Koff-Chapin
The Fool Begins
Our traveler is neither young
nor old, foolish or particularly
ignorant. Simply one bold
enough to begin.
Head in clouds, eyes alight
with dreams and possibilities.
Unaware, unable to foretell
stones, boulders, cliff’s edge,
or wild creatures that might
cross her path, she advances
in hopes of learning what will
heal her home, her world.
Understands it must all begin
within her, and the journey
will bring whatever is needed.
Perhaps a certain wholeness,
only hoped for soulfulness,
felt as lack at center of being.
Something missed or missing
which has no name, but drives
her onward just the same,
afraid, yet eager to begin.
Elizabeth Crawford 4/1/11
Today is April 1, 2011. Most often referred to as April Fool’s. Deborah Koff-Chapin has generously consented to allowing me to use her Soul Card images as inspiration for the poem a day challenge at NaPoWriMo. Deborah created the Center for Touch Drawing:
http://www.touchdrawing.com/ and facilitates workshops in which she shares her expertise and knowledge of how creative endeavors may facilitate healing of the mind, body, and the soul. Each card will, when clicked on, take you to the Soul Card images. At her site, the viewer may use those images to create and send unique and individual e-cards.
It is my intent to use the images to create a mythic Soul Journey.
Soul's Music 
Glad to see I’m not alone on this journey… and the standard has already been set…
Stan, really good to see you, here. Standard? I didn’t know there was one, oh my. This is just something I wanted to try for a long time and NaPoWriMo sort of gave me the opportunity. Thanks for stopping by,
Elizabeth
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reflective message, well done..
Bless your Friday.
Hi Jingle, bless you and yours as well. Thank you,
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth, your poems have taken a leap of late – they are even more amazing than ever! This one is wonderful, and deep. I will enjoy making this mythic journey with you, though my trek may not be as erudite as yours, soulmate of Mr MaGoo and prone as I am to cackling, still, we make our way as best we can. Hee hee. I clicked on the card – but is there somewhere that describes what the card means? I couldnt find it.
Sherry, the cards are not defined in any way. It is up to the viewer to interrupt as he/she wishes. I wanted to go with beginnings and the traditional idea of the Fool beginning the Journey. The cards are meant to speak to and of the soul. The traveler here, is me, but could be you, or anyone else. By committing to NaPoWriMo, each of us is stepping out and beginning this particular journey of thirty days. What will we add to our store of knowledge and wisdom by partaking in the adventure? And, I believe, that each of us will bring our own distinct and unique piece of nurture to the table, no one better than another, just different. After all, we are told that variety is the spice, right? I, for one, look forward to committing a bit of gluttony, lol.
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth, I love how you have written to this card. Life is an adventure and we must always move forward. I know I am going to enjoy each piece written to the cards. Excellent prompt choice.
Pamela
And thank you for reminding me, got so wrapped up in the other project, I almost forgot. Will be looking forward to your offerings as well.
Elizabeth
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Wow! What a great adventure!!!
I do hope that it is, Andy. I will be needing a bit of the Magician, shortly. Thanks for stopping and reading,
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth, I can recognize “The Fool” from the Rider-Waite tarot deck, both in the image and in your words. I also recognize myself (at a younger age) in the last stanza. Beautiful piece! I’m looking forward to the rest of the month’s readings.
~Brenda
Thank you Brenda, I think I might have fun with this one. We really never get too old to begin. My mother taught me that,
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth- This is a lovely, thought-provoking piece. I love the ending…
Laurie, thanks. The ending is real and honest. We always begin with at least a bit of trepidition,
Elizabeth
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All journeys begin with one step. This is a powerful step.
I’m not so sure, I didn’t take on the devil on his home turf. But, I thank you for your generous words,
Elizabeth
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I had to read the first stanza 7 times before I could move on. It was breathtaking.
Hope that means you enjoyed it Lindsey, lol. Thank you for the breathtaking, it will go in the kudo box,
Elizabeth
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As Brenda said, the tarot Fool sprang to mind with this one… a nice exploration of how explorations themselves begin. Like that the fool is a she, who is “bold enough”.
Thanks Joseph. I am old enough that I sometimes have to fight with the use of pronouns in my writing. Not here, though. The fool begins with me, she might reach out toward or to others, but here I know her far better than most,
Elizabeth
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Bold is good. I love your poem and know your journey will be a delight…I’m on my way to check the link as the image, too, shows a lot!
Tumblewords, I used these cards in my classes and always enjoyed the diversity of responses to them. I believe, because they come from deep within, they call to like deep within the viewer. Some of my students would frown and say, “I really don’t like this image, can I choose another?” And I would tell them to write about that dislike, it was important to know the why of that response.” Once they got into the writing, they would most often agree.
Elizabeth
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Very apropos for April and writing a poem a month and as a response to the visual. Well done. The first two lines of the second stanza are my favorites. And I like how you included the inner journey as well.
Hello Mr. Walker. Thank you for your comments. The Soul Cards are designed to suggest the inner journey, that’s why I like them and use them often. I look forward to where this journey might take me,
Elizabeth
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Lovely, Elizabeth. I’ve always been fond of the Fool. Likely nothing would change without her.
Thanks B_y, I rather like her myself. And agree, she is the one who is bold enough to begin, and change always means a new starting point, even when it happens slowly over time, it must begin somewhere,
Elizabeth
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We are all fools. We have all begun. LOL. My best to you on your month-long journey.
Thank you Mary, you nailed it. Lol.
Elizabeth
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You set a high standard. Beautiful post.
That’s a bit scary, I don’t see myself as a standard bearer, that’s my sister’s job. But, thank you for your generous words.
Elizabeth
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i like “footsteps her only companion” especially. This resonates with me. Visiting you again tonight!
Mary, I dream sometimes of stepping out. When I do I suddenly become aware of air and all those other things around me, especially the beat of my own heart and how it seems to echo those steps. Glad you enjoyed,
Elizabeth
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Dear Elizabeth, you are a perceptive poet. The way you delve into
the character’s heart, soul and thoughts she becomes so real for me.
The woman is brave and has mastered the skill of enjoying the journey.
Thank you Cynthia, it’s good to see you here. And glad you enjoyed the poem. I have been her, many times.
Elizabeth
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I remember leaping aboard this journey and what an amazing trip it was. Sigh. Lovely to read this again, in another April, when so much has changed……the journey has surprises in store for the traveler.
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