Pray for Peace by Ellen Bass

Pray for Peace
by Ellen Bass
from the book The Human Line (Copper Canyon press, 2007)

Pray to whomever you kneel down to:
Jesus nailed to his wooden or plastic cross,
his suffering face bent to kiss you,
Buddha still under the bo tree in scorching heat,
Adonai, Allah. Raise your arms to Mary
that she may lay her palm on our brows,
to Shekhina, Queen of Heaven and Earth,
to Inanna in her stripped descent.

Then pray to the bus driver who takes you to work.
On the bus, pray for everyone riding that bus,
for everyone riding buses all over the world.
Drop some silver and pray.

Waiting in line for the movies, for the ATM,
for your latte and croissant, offer your plea.
Make your eating and drinking a supplication.
Make your slicing of carrots a holy act,
each translucent layer of the onion, a deeper prayer.

To Hawk or Wolf, or the Great Whale, pray.
Bow down to terriers and shepherds and Siamese cats.
Fields of artichokes and elegant strawberries.

Make the brushing of your hair
a prayer, every strand its own voice,
singing in the choir on your head.
As you wash your face, the water slipping
through your fingers, a prayer: Water,
softest thing on earth, gentleness
that wears away rock.

Making love, of course, is already prayer.
Skin, and open mouths worshipping that skin,
the fragile cases we are poured into.

If you're hungry, pray. If you're tired.
Pray to Gandhi and Dorothy Day.
Shakespeare. Sappho. Sojourner Truth.

When you walk to your car, to the mailbox,
to the video store, let each step
be a prayer that we all keep our legs,
that we do not blow off anyone else's legs.
Or crush their skulls.
And if you are riding on a bicycle
or a skateboard, in a wheelchair, each revolution
of the wheels a prayer as the earth revolves:
less harm, less harm, less harm.

And as you work, typing with a new manicure,
a tiny palm tree painted on one pearlescent nail
or delivering soda or drawing good blood
into rubber-capped vials, writing on a blackboard
with yellow chalk, twirling pizzas--

With each breath in, take in the faith of those
who have believed when belief seemed foolish,
who persevered. With each breath out, cherish.

Pull weeds for peace, turn over in your sleep for peace,
feed the birds, each shiny seed
that spills onto the earth, another second of peace.
Wash your dishes, call your mother, drink wine.

Shovel leaves or snow or trash from your sidewalk.
Make a path. Fold a photo of a dead child
around your VISA card. Scoop your holy water
from the gutter. Gnaw your crust.
Mumble along like a crazy person, stumbling
your prayer through the streets.

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Curator's Note
I'm so thrilled to be able to share this poem with you here. It has been a long while since the poem format stole my heart. Many years ago, before my son died, Sharon Olds work in Satan Says tripped me out completely. And then it was Seven Love Songs Which Include the Collected History of the United States of America by Sherman Alexie. Then later, after his death, after the deaths of so many here, there and everywhere -- it was Wandering Around an Albuquerque Airport Terminal by Naomi Shihab Nye that gave me hope again. But since then, nothing has really taken me. I've tried resurrecting my own voice, but just jumbles of words came out.

And then Deborah shared the poem above with me. When I got to the line about wrapping a photo of a dead child around your Visa card, my heart boomed. I keep a copy of my son's footprints in my wallet. Every time I reach for my debit card, he is there. Ellen Bass had climbed inside my heart and uncovered a secret that only my husband and a trust friend or two know about me and my Visa habit. I'm honored and so thankful to Ellen who very kindly answered my email personally and granted permission for us to share this here. Indeed, as Nye discovered in that airport that day, "All is not lost."

Standing Still by Jacquelyn L. Berl

In the photographer's own words
Trish, over at Creative Path Studio, tells me that this is Happy Happy Man of Berkeley who stands on the corner of Bancroft and Telegraph yelling “Happy Happy Happy”. I had no idea of the story behind him and felt fortunate to have such a ‘in focus’ shot while driving past with my camera!About the Photographer
Check out Jacquelyn's blog at http://ascenderrisesabove.com

Jill Bolte Taylor - My Stroke of Insight

Okay, I'm reading about this video all over bloglandia and getting the link via email. But it's taken me a day or two to get around to watching it. Wow. Just plain old wow. Talk about a pilgrim for peace whose got a foot in science, too. Amazing. Check it out. Some times the video below seems to not be playing for folks, so if it never goes past "loading" here, you can always surf over to TED and watch it there: http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229

Peace Tea Meditation by Jane Valencia

Peace Tea Meditation
by Jane Valencia

Curator's Note
I first saw this painting and read Jane's writings about the "Peace Tea Meditation" in her blog. I'm sharing an excerpt here below, but please click thru here to read her full post.

In the Artist's Words

Create Your Own Peace Tea
Pluck a loosely packed cupful of some of any or one of these herbs (see below) -- they are all edible, but make sure that the plants are pesticide and chemical-free, not alongside a road, and are healthy and have plenty of leaves and blossoms to spare. Newer leaves are best, releasing their flavor more readily. If you have allergies, I suggest that you do some research before making tea with flowers.

Before you pick, you might want make your intention known to the plant and "ask" if its all right to take some of its leaves or petals. Then listen with your heart. If you feel some sort of discord or tension, then leave the plant alone. If you feel an openness, then go ahead and gently pick. Be sure to thank the plant for the gift of itself! You might want to offer a gift to it in return, such as a song, or water for its roots, or corn meal (an ancient offering). My 6-year-old daughter Gwynne suggests: "If you really want to share things with yourself and your plant friends, give a few drips of your tea to the plant."

fir or pine needles
cedar needles
apple, rose, lavender, mint, blackberry strawberry, or raspberry blossoms and/or young leaves
a simple good wish for yourself and the world, like "harmony", "kindness", "beauty, or "peace"

Place the leaves & petals in a quart of water. Bring just below boiling, then turn it down and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. Placing your hands around your teapot or cup, take a moment (short or long) to infuse the tea with your wish. Now, taste your tea! Add honey if you wish. Remember those plants who shared themselves as you enjoy their essence! Offer your tea back to the plants from which it came, or to other plants you know and love!

Peace and Love, Recycle. by Becky Redman

Curator's Note
I was so excited to see Becky Redman's work getting coverage all over the Net because she makes so much sense. Just good common sense. And then when I stumbled upon her "Peace and Love, Recycle." it just made sense that we share her work here -- showing off her piece of Peace! And you have no idea how much I'm dying to get my hands on one of her "Fucking Recycle" bags! Check out all her work at:

www.beckyredman.com

In The Artist's Own Words
Fucking Recycle. Do it. It is very important.
This poster collection has been designed to increase awareness and promote action. Statistics and simple commands about recycling and waste provides the foundation of this typographic exploration.

50 different posters have been screenprinted on 100% recycled paper. The process has been documented throughout. Using the do it yourself mode of production, a messaging system has been created and implemented.

Each poster has been researched, designed, screenprinted, and posted in public. Posters provide the tool to convey information practically and repeatedly. The art of screenprinting gives the posters a tangible feeling, while the combination of rich colors and crisp detail instill a vibrant handmade quality.

The brief bold message on each poster increases the retention of information and provokes a sense of urgency. By expanding the visibility and hype of important issues, action can be widespread.

Recycle. It's simple.

News Coverage About Becky's Work
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/01/fucking_recycle.php
http://www.artevist.com/index.php/forum/post/a_tote_bag_tale/
http://www.grist.org/etc/gristlist/2008/01/25/index.html

orphanage by Peter Schwartz

orphanage
by Peter Schwartz

The Artist's Own Words

I have always related more closely to the downtrodden in society than the well-to-do. I'm idealistic to the point where I don't even care about my own welfare. Making art is the only thing I ever wanted to do. But it's much deeper than that. Basically, I want to be the one with the least, because if I can then make myself happy, I'll know that everyone has a chance.

I describe this philosophy in the title poem from my upcoming chapbook, 'the nowhere glow' (Trainwreck Press):

an elaborate servant
playing chameleon by the garbage cans
till the lowest man on the totem pole
can truthfully be called king.

Curator's Note

Peter's work just strikes a chord with me. He made a wonderful contribution to our Kota Loss Journal recently, so it made sense to then ask him if he'd consider showing here in our Peace exhibit. When I saw this painting and read his accompanying poem, I knew we had to share it here. This work is addressing the very basics of peace, don't you think? Love and equality. Until we are truly equally honored, free from segregation of every kind, how can we have peace? Many thanks to Peter for giving us all this chance to really take in his painting and writing, to really pause and consider how peace can be achieved, and where it is most absent now.

See more of Peter's work at: www.sitrahahra.com

Zora Howard Performs Dear Son...

Curator's Note: Our son Peter introduced me to Zora Howard when he discovered her performance of Bi-Racial Hair. Now we just discovered this video below of her performance of Dear Son. She is a powerhouse, an amazing voice of truth. To me, this is a call for peace.