how hard my loyal sentinel has been working
to shield that tender place
the Heart who palpitates
so . . . so . . . so . . . so
stuttering agitated scarred
by the slightest signs
of betrayal
the needle enters Pericardium 8 on my left palm
the earth of knowing
disappears
explodes in a rush of pain and tears
she keeps me company while I weep
I’m sorry to cause you pain, she says
she would have removed that needle
had I found it intolerable
but I ask for the second needle
in my right palm
these weapons of liberation
shock the palace guard
with a relief from duty
now I can be exhausted
enter a sleep of countless lifetimes
pinned down at the palms
Questions and Answers
How/where do you find inspiration today?
Inspiration comes from reading or simply moments in my day: whether I’m travelling through streets of Vancouver or elsewhere in the world. Sometimes inspiration comes from music.
As a published writer, what are your tips or words of motivation for the aspiring poet?
Allow yourself to dream, and to practice trusting your voice. This is easy to say but hard to do. However, it’s all about practice: doing it frequently enough, until you learn to suspend the ego critic, so that you could have the space for your own language and creative voice to come through.
What inspired or motivated you to write this poem?
This is an excerpt from a long poem I am still working on, called Notes on Grieving. It took me about 4 months after my mother’s passing before I could begin to start writing poetry related to my loss, and to testify to my process of grieving/mourning.
What did you find particularly challenging in writing this poem?
The emotional complexities and the psychological themes: how to translate these onto the page to reflect some of the nuances of grieving