Gather The Stories

You have to know
your how and why
before roots whither
into forgetting.

A head lain
on wisdom’s breast
will hear the drumbeat
of ancestry teaching
bones to dance.

Each of us has a purpose
in this rainbow life
where discord
tries to separate us
into colors without connection.

Gather the stories
of those who speak
through the ages
and store them
deep in the spirit
where they can
nurture who you are
when the world wants
to mold you into ordinary.


©Susie Clevenger 2013

My poem was inspired by the following quote:
“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die,
we can't remember who we are or why we're here.”
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd







Comments

Susan said…
Listen to the drums
Drum your own story
Remember who taught you to drum ....
Thank you for this poem.
Gemma Wiseman said…
Great sense of inspiration in this poem. Loved the lines:
"Each of us has a purpose
in this rainbow life..."
Kerry O'Connor said…
This quote also struck a deep chord with me, Susie. Perhaps because I've been a collector and teller of stories all my life.

Thank you for a wonderful challenge. Each quote really strikes the heart.
Sumana Roy said…

i love life's spectrum and don't want to be a single color without connection........amazing images and thoughts........
Grace said…
I was also moved by this quote ~ These lines particularly moved me:

nurture who you are
when the world wants
to mold you into ordinary.

Thanks for the wonderful challenge Susie ~
Gail said…
We should all remember these words. Beautiful.
Tammy said…
Thank you for reminding me of that drumbeat....
Marian said…
yeah, screw the ordinary! we gotta all embrace the rainbow life.
this is lovely, Susie, as is your prompt. thank you, xoxo
LaTonya Baldwin said…
Especially like your closing strophe. Love the prompt. Thank you.
hedgewitch said…
'teaching bones to dance.." Just beautiful, Susie, and so true. So sorry I haven't been able to write to this excellent prompt, but you decidedly took it over the top here.
Unknown said…
this is beautiful.
Blessed are the storytellers who keep the secret history alive.
Liz Rice-Sosne said…
This gave me much pleasure as did the prompt. Sometimes it is so hard for me to find the stories. I don't know where they went to.
Debi Swim said…
where they can
nurture who you are
when the world wants
to mold you into ordinary.

Ahhh, I love this - it is a challenge sometimes.
Maude Lynn said…
I love this, Susie! If I started quoting lines, I wouldn't stop. Just a fabulous write.
L. Edgar Otto said…
If I had posted on this I would have singled out that quote too...

But what Mama Zen said... only there would be too much to comment on from inspiring poetry...

I can hardly imagine falling asleep even with a few pages of this book

I suppose if I were a bee I would not say we bees buzz... but drum.
Kay L. Davies said…
Love those last two lines, Susie. I can't see that happening to you!
Enjoyed this prompt very much, although I was so slow at it.
K
Margaret said…
Oh, that last stanza... no ordinary molding, please! Nicely done.
Liz Rice-Sosne said…
Each word that you have written is a beautiful poetic reminder that we must not forget.
Anonymous said…
hums from first to last, Susie ~ M
Love this! I have always been drawn to those old stories, that kinship to my ancestors who are part of who I am. Beautifully written!
Hannah said…
Yes, so true...that is when we must call on those roots. Beautiful Susie.
Teaching bones to dance--what a wonderful line--I loved this