For The Sunday Whirl: Wordle #128
http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/
Chasing Figments
Patches of memory swarm at sharp
edge of awareness where unbidden past spills
into present moments.
She pictures green hillsides, her ancestors
gathered to worship their gods with exact
rituals passed down through generations.
Calls them her “ghosts”, these nameless
strangers who share intimacy of blood,
but not belief.
Elizabeth Crawford 9/29/13
Notes: Watching an old series this past week and heard a concept about how we create our own ghosts through memories revisited again and again. Thought there was a poem in that idea. When I saw the list for this week’s wordle, I had a strong idea where this one was going. Although drawn by Native American spirituality, I was not aware of that part of my ancestry until adulthood.
Soul's Music 
I often visit similar hillsides…
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Those words fell beautifully into what you had been thinking at the time. A superb Wordle.
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We seem to have taken the same track you following ancestors me love. Ghosts are good they give us connection.
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“who share intimacy of blood, but not belief.” I like that.
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Patches of memories describes my memory of my birth family. Intimacy of blood, but not belief, does also. Enjoyed your poem.
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I agree… those ghosts are mental obsession and can be quite destructive.
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Once again, we are on a similar wavelength, Elizabeth. I love the last stanza, and memories as ghosts. This piece resonates with me.
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“intimacy of blood, but not belief” … wow you’ve articulated a central point of emotional and artistic conflict…. BEAUTIFUL POEM
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Very cool look back at ancestors……..I like the same lines Pearl noted.
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Wow! And I too love the line “intimacy of blood, but not belief!
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Very nicely written Elizabeth. I think back to my Austrian/Swiss/Czech/British ancestry since 1218 and really don’t know where or how to start relating. I think mostly everybody can find meaning in this poem. 🙂
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Elizabeth, your opening stanza is wonderful. I love where you took the words, my friend.
Pamela
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Indeed, Elizabeth, I do think we DO create our own ghosts.
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Definite feeling of the cycle of life..how it never really ends but changes energy..a continual chase..
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Beautifully written!
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Nicely done!
Anna :o]
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really nice, you were inspired; and you used it well
much love…
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great to get to know the ancestors, to learn about one’s roots…well written
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