“The only reason we don’t open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don’t feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else’s eyes.” ~ Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart

“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” ~ Brené Brown, Daring Greatly

“We are a community of possibilities, not a community of problems. Community exists for the sake of belonging and takes its identity from the gifts, generosity, and accountability of its citizens. It is not defined by its fears, its isolation, or its penchant for retribution. We currently have all the capacity … to create an alternative future.” ~ Peter Block, Community: The Structure of Belonging

We belong to one another. We live in a continual interweaving that goes both noticed and unnoticed. We impact one another in ways we can’t always see or control. We surprise ourselves with these connections all time. It’s when you sit back and say, Wow, small world. And when this happens, we either embrace it or feel challenged by it but, either way, it’s there.

In our group this week, we discussed the nature of connection. We did it through talking writing about it. We also interweave form and content by writing in the poetic form the pantoum. Pantoum is originally a Malayan form but is imitated in French and English. We didn’t hold with the traditional rhyme scheme (as you will see below) but we did work with the traditions of repetition in the form.

In weaving and reweaving the same lines over and over to follow the structure of the poem, we are reminded about the way interconnection works: we follow old patterns, repeat ourselves, and view the same people in new ways to clarify and strengthen our knowledge of them and, in that way, our connection to them. I like to think that our group experienced this too – that by hearing each other in new ways, we continued to strengthen our bond as a writing circle and group of artists.

Below you will read our groups efforts at the pantoum and weaving our experience with poetry.

Solitude
Pantoum

Isolation you would think would be the driving force to instability.
There was so opening for the toxic fumes and burning flames but
with a little help from pharmaceuticals and a syringe,
this is your sure-fire best way.

There was no opening for the toxic fumes and burning flames
in the locked up, sealed tight fortress.
This, I assure you, is the sure-fire best way
for them to vandalize it’s precious cargo.

This locked-up, sealed-tight fortress,
let me make clear that solitude does not equal self-love.
Vandalize it’s precious cargo?
I find nothing to support this theory as of yet.

Let me make clear that solitude does not equal self-love.
What I have found is solitude come with much less discontent. However…
I find nothing to support this theory as of yet.
Is this how I will always live?

What I have found is solitude comes with much less discontent, especially
with a little help from pharmaceuticals and a syringe.
Is this how I will always live?
Isolation, you would think, would be the driving force to instability.

AG

***

Connections
Pantoum

Expect you to understand,
where my roots come from,
confused by my personality,
where it leads to sometimes.

Where my roots come from,
I am intertwined and complex.
Where it leads to sometimes,
oftentimes I am scared.

I am intertwined and complex,
have a tendency to shut down.
Oftentimes I am scared.
I am trying and that’s what matters.

I have a tendency to shut down,
feel I am falling apart.
I am trying and that’s what matter.
I was rescued from despair.

I feel I am falling apart.
I am confused by my personality.
I was rescued from despair
and expect you to understand.

MS

***

Energy Exists
Pantoum

A connection can be instant
and your eyes meet and hold.
It triggers a passion.
A connection can be slow to come alive.

Your eyes meet hold,
a feeling of belonging, starts quiet.
A connection can be slow to come alive
then grows into a roar.

A feeling of belonging, starts quiet.
You begin to live, loving yourself
then growls into a roar.
loving life, loving everything.

You begin to live, loving yourself,
one and one connect, become two,
loving life, loving everything.
Life interconnections like a woven gift basket.

One and one connects, becomes two.
It triggers a passion.
Life interconnections like a woven gift basket.
A connection can be instant.

CMP