For The Sunday Whirl poetry prompt: Wordle #146
http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/
Finding The God Sequence
No longer a bucolic young miss,
sometimes still finds herself balancing
on edge of two alternate realities: tiptoeing
precariously between numbers and words.
Sensing that the former had potential
synergy that might expand that other,
far more familiar space, utterly
altering face where she felt most at home.
Opened an avenue by counting familiar syllables
only to discover God’s fingerprint woven
intimately throughout own story, creating
another, much larger home in a Fibonacci poem.
Elizabeth Crawford 2/2/14
Notes: Distinctly personal and biographical. Have had a mental issue dealing with numbers and math since second grade and trauma concerning a blackboard, math problems, and my head hitting said blackboard when the teacher found my response less than adequate. I don’t blame her. A nun, well passed the age to be riding roughshod over a classroom of about fifty 8 year olds. She should have been resting in a nursing home, taking naps as needed. Although it was never discussed with me, she did get some support after my parents called about what had transpired. However, in that moment of collision, I instantly identified with the class scapegoat whom I had seen, more than once, receive the same treatment. The lasting affect was that I steered clear of math and, numbers often ran to the darkest corners of the mental back forty when needed. Although I did well in math classes, that knowledge immediately escaped me when no longer needed for learning. Example: I had to do three semesters of remedial math as part of my College experience and Aced all three sessions. A month later, another student asked for help with an Advanced Algebra problem. I looked at it and it was Greek, mud. Didn’t have a clue.
Have known about the Fibonacci poem form for a long time. Even looked it up and immediately found an excuse not to use it, several times. That list of numbers was diving for the darkness in that back forty. During that same time period, have been watching back episodes of two TV series, both of which are based on number organization. First Touch, and more recently Numb3rs. Early on, in both series, the importance of the Fibonacci Sequence is explained so that a layperson might understand it. It is called the Golden Ratio of God, or sometimes referred to as the God Sequence because it’s pattern is frequently found in the natural world (God as Creator of that world), such as the number of petals on certain flowers like the Iris, patterns in sea shells, and numerous other examples.
Last week, I used the wordle list to create my very first Fibonacci poem. It’s completion brought good feelings as well as healing. As I have moved through the week, I have gained understanding of my own experience and a healing of wounds held in memories. I found the God Sequence unfolding in my own story, in the Mandalas I have colored and created digitally and in the pen and ink line weaving drawings I have done. The one used here was colored by me, then digitally enhanced for background surface affect. It was designed and drawn by Marc Bove and his site is located here: http://www.mandalarbre.com/New%20Index.htm
Last, but not least, there is music (music is a numerical system) in the form of an old Don McLean song that immediately surfaced at the completion of the poem. It is located here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ1OloeIc4o
Guess I should have told you this one was very involved. Notes, hunh?
The traumas children endure make me wonder how the world still revolves. Lovely poem, Elizabeth.
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I think a math experience like this would have turned me off to numbers as well! Amazing how the wordle words came at just the right time to form the perfect poem after some time of healing!
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I think we do have a tendency to describe ourselves (or be described as) number or words people..I loved the note at the end..when anyone mentions poetic form that might involve counting i switch off..but i think you demonstrate how much it is worth the effort..perhaps with practise and a little confidence we can feel comfortable with numbers and words..heavenly indeed!
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I am riveted by that..God’s fingerprint.
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Very interesting…have you seen the fractal video? …what your photo reminds me of…now words, though, just equations about the fingerprint of God
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Amazing, Elizabeth. I really appreciate the background info, too. Discovering God’s fingerprint in everything is life-changing…
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Yes, I first enjoyed the poem and then enjoyed your process notes. Of course it should have never happened, but those little incidents help us to be quick on our feet…duck! xoxoxoxo
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A revelation.. I have gone the other way.. from feeling comfy with numbers and scared of words… but still no trauma to blame, just the realization of being inferior and lacking encourogement …
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Interestingly I get jitters too with maths and numbers. I too avoid it whenever possible! NIcely Elizabeth!
Hank
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Thank you for sharing this piece of yourself with us, Elizabeth. Your poem is a beautiful expression of your experience. I prefer counting syllables, too. 🙂
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Nice work with what I found to be a really tough wordle.
Math. As a tool, no problem. Do not comprehend it as elegance, though. That must be some part of the spectrum I can’t see.
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That’s amazing, Elizabeth. Sometimes words and numbers don’t go together. . I appreciate the background info. Childhood trauma can affect us through our lives.
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Love both poem and explanatory notes, my friend. I suffered similar Trauma by Nuns at the blackboard. We were learning compound sentences, and I started off “The cat jumped”, and my mind went blank. The old nun who terrified us in grade eight said “more than the cat will jump if you dont hurry up”…..sadly, in grade nine we came into our power and drove her out of her mind when we didnt fear her any more. She was taken out of the classroom speaking gibberish. I feel a bit guilty about that now.
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I think I had a similar experience. When my mother passed when I was young (around 3 years old). I don’t recall very much, and then suddenly waking up in perhaps 1st or 2nd grade. I was once thought to be ‘unteachable’. While some subject still allude me – I think I have had successes too.
When I write I seldom plan all the details that others find. Thank you for your kind words of support. And thank you for your notes. They too are enlightening and wise. 🙂
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I too had spurts of understanding intermixed with a complete lack thereof. Luckily I didn’t choose rocket science as a career but enjoyed my working life down other creative avenues. School children have my greatest sympathy…still.
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that “God fingerprint” so often overlooked, yet unfailing
Thanks for stopping over at my blog
much love…
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Love the poem and the third stanza is great, Elizabeth. I liked your process notes, thanks for them.
Your friend,
Pamela ox
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