Beastmomma

These poems sum of how I have been feeling lately.  I noticed today that there are spots on my glasses. I realized that they were dried tears.  There was something poetic about trying to focus through tear stained frames.  On the plus side, today, I went to a wonderful conference called CHOICES.  It was a series of panels about different types of careers in law.  I met a woman I had been hearing a lot about who is also interested in health law.  She said that she would love to get lunch with me sometime; I was glad to meet a potential new friend. 

Poems: "Essential" and "Employed" by Beverly Rollwagen, from She Just Wants. © Nodin Press.

Essential

She just wants to keep her essential
sorrow. Everyone wants her to
be happy all the time, but she doesn't
want that for them. There is value in
the thread of sadness in each person.
The sobbing child on an airplane, the
unhappy woman waiting by the phone,
a man staring out the window past his
wife. A violin plays through all of them,
one long note held at the beginning and
the end.

Employed

She just wants to be employed
for eight hours a day. She is not
interested in a career; she wants a job
with a paycheck and free parking. She
does not want to carry a briefcase filled
with important papers to read after
dinner; she does not want to return
phone calls. When she gets home, she
wants to kick off her shoes and waltz
around her kitchen singing, "I am a piece
of work."

I had tickets to see India Arie  tonight.  Since I have a research assignment due tonight, that I still need to finish, I almost canceled.  Fortunately, I decided that my spirit needed a lift.   There is a game I play when I attend shows.  I try to see what sticks with me and think of that phrase, song, lyric as a message from the Universe.   The second song she sang made me cry.  Right before she sang, she said that this was her testimony and she was going to start at the end.  The song described crying and feeling miserable. This is certainly something to which I can relate.  Then this lovely line came, "I heard a whisper, 'this too shall pass.' Every day after tomorrow becomes a yesterday."   Later on in the song came the refrain, "Oh child, things are going get better. Things are going get brighter." << What a lovely message from the Universe. 

She has such wonderful stage presence.  She talked more in this show than she had in others and took us through her newest album.  Also, when she walked out, the first song she sang was "I am not my hair."  I liked that she made an impact and impression with very few props.  Also, I loved that she was having so much fun.  The audience was so responsive.  I wanted to stay there all night instead of returning to law school.  However, I kept thinking, "This too shall pass." My first year is almost finished and there are other things on the horizon.

Time to finish my research exercise.

Yesterday, I went to the Purple Dot for Dim Sum with a professor who works on social justice and four classmates.   We had won this lunch at an auction that raises funds for summer grants to do social justice work.  I was not sure how I would enjoy Dim Sum; however, after about five minutes I was hooked.  It is SO much fun!! People come around with carts of food.  You point and ask about the dishes; if it looks good, you get it put on your table.  It is a very visual experience.  Plus, the restaurant is located in the International District which has a unique flair.  I love hearing many languages spoken around me.

Plus, the conversation and the company at the table inspired and excited me.  I certainly needed and appreciated the lift.