It is so so wonderful to see all you strong lionhearts discoursing today <3 There are still some great days up ahead, but I think this was the one I was most excited for. I'm also a Leo (very VERY much Leo haha), but Lion and Lionheart are really essential to the way I live my life these days in so many unexpected ways. In you all, I see this fierce, loving Lion spirit live on, and it is SUCH a joy. I just want to particularly thank you all for that <3 It's a special gift for me today.
It has been said before, and it needs to be said again...thank you for creating this space for all of us to write, create, explore, try something new, witness ourselves and each other. A safe space to share from our joys as well as our traumas. It really is a gift and so are you!
I don't think I realized that until I performed in plays in college. Getting into the essence of a character really changes us.
Then I took a class in seminary where I met Theodore Bikel and he demonstrated, through a monologue, how we add to characters. It was amazing to watch him do the same piece drastically differently. Words, written and then spoken, are powerful and unlimited.
Very nice, Steven. How wonderful to connect your acting in the marvelous role of Richard the Lionheart--I am sure you did Anthony Hopkins proud! So nice to weave that into the forming of your own's Lionheart, sweet and powerful. Roar on!
Oh man, this is power. I just think if the power of a female lion, of the feminine heart (that lives in all of us in some way!), and the power to fight and heal, reclaim and restore, protect and nurture.
This is a masterpiece, Julie. It is powerful and empowering. I love your noting of the forced dichotomies constructed by societies, by partiarchy, by systems, and your fierce call for integration and to be seen for the whole of who, you, and we are. This is lovely and exceptional. Your poem clearly roars!
Appreciate this Larry. I have done a tremendous amount of work in this area. A reclaiming and integration of the sacred feminine. Necessary for our world right now, for us to not only heal but to survive!
Thank you for this prompt, Jillian. Despite my best efforts, the words just kept coming in haiku form. Here's a quartet of haiku, for Pride month, for the Montana 16, visionary youth and young adults whose claims against the State of Montana asking for climate action and earth healing goes to trial today.
Wow, Larry, this ripples through my body and field with so much grace and healing. The energy you transmit through these is so strong. I agree with A.; I love the way you've set up each haiku such that each line parallels the others of the quartet. It's a really masterful cohesion between them all, that presents your wisdom tremendously <3 Thank you. Much love <3
Love this! It does take a lionheart to face the challenges of this world. To rise fierce upon the tides of such hypocrisy. And to keep rising. Speaking and being truth. Beautiful depth in your work here. Like A. I read it several times, really letting it sink in. More meaning revealed with each read.
These are beautiful, Larry. I read them multiple times and found it especially powerful to focus on the first, second, and third lines of each. There's a gorgeous parallel of a hopeful beginning, the naming of conflict, and a circling back to that triumphant hope in each one.
As a Leo, I was really excited by this prompt. And then as I was writing, I started to worry that it might seem narcissistic to be naming only my strengths, and I considered inserting the more "negative" traits to add balance - but I decided against it, because we're allowed to celebrate ourselves without qualifying it.
Thanks for sharing this part of your process today, A. I think this is precisely the medicine of the lion and lionheart - to feel and identify our strengths with grace, and to also know that doing so doesn't have an implication of scarcity or guilt, but is simply... living :)
Also, your poem is written with SO much respect and integrity. It is so very pure and clear, every word. It is *chef's kiss* <3 I love every line. Thank you :)
I too am glad you went with the strengths! I truly love and relate to allowing desire and passions have a say. More than that to lead. To see what comes from such bold and fierce creativity.
I love this A. and so happy you decided against the "balancing" of your affirmation with noting negatives. Heaven knows, we all have them, and like most of us, I often think of those first. It is empowering to see you claim your strengths and affirming gifts. Douing so is a wonderful retraining of our congnitive awareness, to go to the affirming rather than the negatively critical, by default. I celebrate your many wonderful gifts and postive quaities. Keep on shining!
This is wonderful, Jillian! Thank you for sharing this amazing song--I am listening to more of Steph Sings music as I type. It means so much that this prompt speaks to you so personally, and what a gift for you to share this with us. You help me put on my lionheart in this pride month and throughout the year, finding my own particular fierceness laced with compassion and love. Yur poem is empowering, fierce and prophetic. The music you create helps all of us roar!
I LOVE this song too, Larry :) It literally had me leaping and roaring for quite some time when I first discovered it :) Glad you appreciate it as well!
And thank you so much for your overall appreciation today! As I said, this is a very special topic for me - perhaps my favorite of them all in its way - so to be received so warmly within it is such a blessing.
Andddd such a MIGHTY roar right back to you, Larry :) It's just such a joy to hear your self-reflections and witness your growth over these weeks. Not knowing you previously, I wouldn't have said that you were ever anything but the fierce, compassionate, and loving soul you always show up to be <3
What a glorious and special prompt and BEAUTIFUL poem from the most wonderful lion I know <3 I just finished writing a section in my dissertation about Richard the Lionheart so in the end I just had to go for knights-and-ladies-themed poetry, but I'm also feeling so much lion energy every day while participating in this challenge <3
I like this Astrid! Thank you for the context regarding your dissetation. I wish you well with that. I like the noble nature of your poem, the swing and flow, and the period flavor of your words. Here is to the soft places in the heart!
It is so so wonderful to see all you strong lionhearts discoursing today <3 There are still some great days up ahead, but I think this was the one I was most excited for. I'm also a Leo (very VERY much Leo haha), but Lion and Lionheart are really essential to the way I live my life these days in so many unexpected ways. In you all, I see this fierce, loving Lion spirit live on, and it is SUCH a joy. I just want to particularly thank you all for that <3 It's a special gift for me today.
It has been said before, and it needs to be said again...thank you for creating this space for all of us to write, create, explore, try something new, witness ourselves and each other. A safe space to share from our joys as well as our traumas. It really is a gift and so are you!
A roar of complete agreement from here!
Lionheart
I recall the
most famous Lionheart
of the ages
Richard the Lionheart
a man of history
legend and myth
in my theatre days
I portrayed
the Lionheart on stage
something that
Sir Anthony Hopkins
and I share (he did it in the film)
There is something about
bringing a character to life
even one that is real
the actors both
give and take something
of that part
Lionheart
I hope I did justice
to the character
giving some of my own
Lionheart to you
I also hole that role
changed me for the better
strengthening my
Lionheart
so that I
embody the best parts
of who you were
and what you represent
For when the fall
is all that remains
It matters a great deal
how you do it.
Wow, I already loved this poem, Steven, but the last lines just really blew me away.
"For when the fall
is all that remains
It matters a great deal
how you do it." ABSOLUTELY.
I really loved the rhythm of this one today too, so much power and respect. Thank you so much for sharing :)
I was in theater in middle and high school, and I love how you talk about taking pieces of characters with you!
I don't think I realized that until I performed in plays in college. Getting into the essence of a character really changes us.
Then I took a class in seminary where I met Theodore Bikel and he demonstrated, through a monologue, how we add to characters. It was amazing to watch him do the same piece drastically differently. Words, written and then spoken, are powerful and unlimited.
Powerful and unlimited, yes!
I thought of him too with this topic! Beautiful. I also loved taking the part of the part with you. We can't help be changed by the parts we play!
Very nice, Steven. How wonderful to connect your acting in the marvelous role of Richard the Lionheart--I am sure you did Anthony Hopkins proud! So nice to weave that into the forming of your own's Lionheart, sweet and powerful. Roar on!
Thank you. I really enjoyed that role.
I think the prompt of Lionheart and the Tony Awards last night, I couldn't help but reflect on "The Lion in Winter".
Ha, the Tonys were last night? Didn't even know. Excellent timing.
Love this Jillian, "I am a lion baby." Your poem is powerful! What a great topic. For me, this brought up a lot, and I am a Leo, so here we go...
.
I am a fierce gentle lioness!
Both courageous in strength,
nurturing in heart.
Neither Madonna nor Whore,
good girl nor bad girl.
More Lilith than Eve.
I am the lionheart!
Claiming what has been taken,
pilfered, defiled, thrown asunder.
Letting this unstoppable roaring rise,
NO more splitting of the woman.
Pulling her apart, wrenching at her roots,
yanking them out from the mother.
NO
I am an edge walker.
Lover of margins.
One who tends sacred fires burning in the belly.
Rider of rivers devoted to tender resilience.
Follower of love poems written on my heart.
Like the lion pride,
I am a lioness who is both hunter for food,
and raiser of cubs
I am both tame and wild.
The rose and the flame.
Wow, Julie! Yes! Celebrating your lionheart, you wondrous edge walker, you magical rose-flame :) Love this poem!
And thank you for your own kind words <3 It was really special for me today as well. I'm also a Leo :)
Oh man, this is power. I just think if the power of a female lion, of the feminine heart (that lives in all of us in some way!), and the power to fight and heal, reclaim and restore, protect and nurture.
Agree. Reclaiming the sacred, feminine and the wilds. OR the wild sacred feminine!
Julie, I love this bold declaration of your power. Fierce, indeed.
Thanks A! I could not stop this from coming through. Fierce, yes. Vulnerable too.
This is a masterpiece, Julie. It is powerful and empowering. I love your noting of the forced dichotomies constructed by societies, by partiarchy, by systems, and your fierce call for integration and to be seen for the whole of who, you, and we are. This is lovely and exceptional. Your poem clearly roars!
Appreciate this Larry. I have done a tremendous amount of work in this area. A reclaiming and integration of the sacred feminine. Necessary for our world right now, for us to not only heal but to survive!
I hear you there and agree 100%!
Lionhearts roar loud.
.
But hearts without lion hands
.
Are paper tigers.
Wow, I LOVE this, Chuck. I need not say any more words. You capture it perfectly <3 Thank you.
This is splendid, Chuck. And so prophetically true.
Beautiful, powerful, graceful, alive, and healing.
Thank you for being you, being here, being loud. It’s makes us all better to be a part of this.
Thank you so much, Aleesha <3 I feel truly seen in this aspect of myself, which I value dearly. It is medicine for all.
I echo with a roar, this wonderful note!
Thank you for this prompt, Jillian. Despite my best efforts, the words just kept coming in haiku form. Here's a quartet of haiku, for Pride month, for the Montana 16, visionary youth and young adults whose claims against the State of Montana asking for climate action and earth healing goes to trial today.
Lionheart spirits
witnesses against toxic tide
rainbow flags waving
*****************
Lionhearted child
fearful dreams before midnight
lion roars healing love
******************
Lionhearted love
caught between thin dimensions
present moment joy
*****************
Lionhearted youth
brave souls facing power
healing earth prayer
Wow, Larry, this ripples through my body and field with so much grace and healing. The energy you transmit through these is so strong. I agree with A.; I love the way you've set up each haiku such that each line parallels the others of the quartet. It's a really masterful cohesion between them all, that presents your wisdom tremendously <3 Thank you. Much love <3
Love this! It does take a lionheart to face the challenges of this world. To rise fierce upon the tides of such hypocrisy. And to keep rising. Speaking and being truth. Beautiful depth in your work here. Like A. I read it several times, really letting it sink in. More meaning revealed with each read.
Thank you Julie. I appreciate the kind woirds and response. I often do not take enough time and care with my poetry, but sometimes it clips in!
That may be true, but also, to me, you always seem to do what you need to :)
Haiku on, my wayward son.
I hear you Chuck! Carry on!
These are beautiful, Larry. I read them multiple times and found it especially powerful to focus on the first, second, and third lines of each. There's a gorgeous parallel of a hopeful beginning, the naming of conflict, and a circling back to that triumphant hope in each one.
Thank you A. I often feel adrift and not quite sure where I'm heading, and I appreciate you noticing something I was was not even quite conscious of!
Your observations often reveal things in my own writing I hadn't been aware of!
Thank goodness for our teammates!
As a Leo, I was really excited by this prompt. And then as I was writing, I started to worry that it might seem narcissistic to be naming only my strengths, and I considered inserting the more "negative" traits to add balance - but I decided against it, because we're allowed to celebrate ourselves without qualifying it.
Forged in fire
amongst August's
hazy heat, a heart
loyal and loving,
with desire in
the driver's seat.
.
Poised for progress,
engaging growth's
bold birthing, a beat
pursuing passion,
with willing warmth,
most worthy.
Thanks for sharing this part of your process today, A. I think this is precisely the medicine of the lion and lionheart - to feel and identify our strengths with grace, and to also know that doing so doesn't have an implication of scarcity or guilt, but is simply... living :)
Also, your poem is written with SO much respect and integrity. It is so very pure and clear, every word. It is *chef's kiss* <3 I love every line. Thank you :)
I too am glad you went with the strengths! I truly love and relate to allowing desire and passions have a say. More than that to lead. To see what comes from such bold and fierce creativity.
Yes! I saw a lot of the same energy in your poem today!
❤️
I love this A. and so happy you decided against the "balancing" of your affirmation with noting negatives. Heaven knows, we all have them, and like most of us, I often think of those first. It is empowering to see you claim your strengths and affirming gifts. Douing so is a wonderful retraining of our congnitive awareness, to go to the affirming rather than the negatively critical, by default. I celebrate your many wonderful gifts and postive quaities. Keep on shining!
This is wonderful, Jillian! Thank you for sharing this amazing song--I am listening to more of Steph Sings music as I type. It means so much that this prompt speaks to you so personally, and what a gift for you to share this with us. You help me put on my lionheart in this pride month and throughout the year, finding my own particular fierceness laced with compassion and love. Yur poem is empowering, fierce and prophetic. The music you create helps all of us roar!
I LOVE this song too, Larry :) It literally had me leaping and roaring for quite some time when I first discovered it :) Glad you appreciate it as well!
And thank you so much for your overall appreciation today! As I said, this is a very special topic for me - perhaps my favorite of them all in its way - so to be received so warmly within it is such a blessing.
Andddd such a MIGHTY roar right back to you, Larry :) It's just such a joy to hear your self-reflections and witness your growth over these weeks. Not knowing you previously, I wouldn't have said that you were ever anything but the fierce, compassionate, and loving soul you always show up to be <3
Much love to you!
Thank you Jillian. You are lion of lions!
I like the playlist Jillian, and have listened to it throughout the day. I am an ardent new fan of Steph Sings!
Oh that makes me so happy, Larry :) Then we're in quite a similar position! haha
What a glorious and special prompt and BEAUTIFUL poem from the most wonderful lion I know <3 I just finished writing a section in my dissertation about Richard the Lionheart so in the end I just had to go for knights-and-ladies-themed poetry, but I'm also feeling so much lion energy every day while participating in this challenge <3
.
Raise your sword and rally up the cry,
The people, they dream of a man like you!
You have the skill to turn their blood to fire
And drive them towards what God wills them do!
Yet merciful, ever a gentle king,
Protector of those mild and weak of will,
Their valiant champion, ready to spring
‘Twixt innocent and those who mean them ill.
I’d always be too soft for such a man,
Awed though I am by what I see in you.
No taste for ambition or cosmic plans;
I keep my small horizons well in view.
So I would always have to say farewell,
The time would come when you would ride away,
And though I loved you more than passing well,
It weren’t for me to try to make you stay.
Yet, though I know your nature bids us part,
Save me a soft place in your lion’s heart.
I like this Astrid! Thank you for the context regarding your dissetation. I wish you well with that. I like the noble nature of your poem, the swing and flow, and the period flavor of your words. Here is to the soft places in the heart!