The making of Hanji paper ….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mulberry bark
Gather,
skin, boil, wash, pound
In winter
cover with the root mucus … of hibiscus manihot.
Blended together … artfully form.
In a warm room … dry slowly … covered with stones.
I am durable … unpreserved I outlast civilizations
Enter my door … I am cool in summer, warm in winter
Impenetrable … the rain that falls can not dim my light
~
Accompanied by cricket sound in a field of stars
I sit in the soft glow of papered lamp light
it’s ancient tradition a beckoning
all my loved ones resting deep in sleep,
and tonight a great nest of grandchildren
dreaming of mountain tadpoles
and the wild strawberries they picked
as their own sun kissed bodies ripened in the sun
In this moment
I wonder at the naturalness of this great love that binds us
I am dazed by this spiraling life my heart forever flies towards
while still maintaining my own self … full, nurturing, self providing
I sit here like an open field arms held wide for it all
Tonight looking out at the shadows cast in response to our light
the dreaming of this family and the vast silence of living surrounds me
I wrap myself round with the wonder of it all
At the strength and resilience this steady cadence our hearts beat
Seemingly fragile
But oh, so strong
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hanji paper is a traditional paper made in Korea from the inner bark of the paper mulberry. It is durable with archival properties and can be openly displayed in museums without protection. It is a good ventilator but can also keep a room warm so it is used to cover their wooden framed doors. It is also waterproof. It’s translucent qualities lend well to the artistry of shading lamps.
Hanji Paper Artist: Kitty Jun-Im
Absolutly beautiful! So many lines and images I love here. The “cricket sound in a field of stars,” “the soft glow of papered lamp light,” the images of the grandchildren’s sun-kissed bodies picking straberries. These lines especially: I am dazed by this spiraling life my heart forever flies towards / while still maintaining my own self … full, nurturing, self providing. / I sit here like an open field arms held wide for it all.
You capture so much that makes my heart sing. Also love the Hanji paper artwork.
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Thank you Deborah! This was written as a collaboration with an artist friend who makes beautiful Hanji lamps for an event combining art and poetry. It was a joy to write!
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I am the navigator
I found my way back home
Simply beautiful Jana
As Sheldon Always
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We are all so loved Sheldon…even when we feel we are treading in vacuums filled with clutter, the sound roaring in our ears. Welcome home Navigator xxxooo
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A wonderful piece Jana, loaded with metaphor and stunning imagery
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Thanks Mark…it was a collaboration with another artist who works with Hanji paper for an event combining poetry with art. It was curiously inspiring how it all came together. I’m entertaining more of this kind of collaboration with a photographer friend now. It’s challenging in the best way.
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What a glorious field. Jana. So much contained without ceiling, walls or boundaries. I’m so excited to see new poetry from you!
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Oh I love your response Chris…. ” So much contained without ceiling, walls or boundaries” seems to be the path I’m on lately.
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Lovely responses from your readers reflect my thoughts, Jana…you exquisitely expansive poet. Smiles…
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Thank you for saying so Bonnie…it means a lot dear friend.
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Absolutely beautiful Jana!! 🙂 Couldn’t help feeling as I read, this would make a wonderful spoken word poem… hard to say why… just something about the way it flows, or the way it would if read in the right way. And maybe crickets in the background?! 🙂
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Thank you Suzy. Yes exactly! I’m so glad you stopped by. It was written as a collaboration between a friend’s art and poetry. I read this at the benefit with 25 other poets representing the other artists in the show. It was great fun to read to a crowd in appreciation of the exquisite lamps my friend creates from Hanji paper. AND it was inspired both by my friend’s work but also from the poem you so graciously published in the Writing Garden.
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I see, you’re very brave! I’ve never read my own poetry in public only on SoundCloud recordings… that must be quite an experience, and to read with other writers… that sounds like a good place to be! It’s an unusual subject, and very lovely indeed! 🙂
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presence
~
this energy
is never
created
or destroyed
~
hmmm …
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synchopated rhythms!
Eros, Philia, Pragma, Agape, etc…
on the circuitous path in being
it heart beats all the same
hmmm …
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Your prayer, chant, hymn, spell, song moving and enchanting me, the voice and lute of the troubadour in the flickering crackle of our tribal fire reminding us we are family, in grace and beauty…
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Thank you dear friend….Your poetic response acknowledges the circle! … the voice of a crow turning songbird…
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