“Fall Sanctuary” by Kory Wells

~ jama

“Within you there is a stillness and sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” ~ Herman Hesse

“Fireflies” by Michael Creese.
FALL SANCTUARY
by Kory Wells

                  ~ after Jeff Hardin

I slept in a room that glowed with fireflies,
though it was late autumn on a frosty bluff
high above Lost Cove. The room was a salve
of spun honey and light, and a hundred
little windowpanes gauzed with tranquility.

In a wide bed I slept alone, surrounded
by pillows and books, by poets I love.
In the night I lit a candle and a tiny string of lights
against the darkness. They were a comfort.
So was the darkness.

Outside I found an astonishment of stars,
a clear sky, spangled and deep.
How long had it been since I’d seen the stars?

This is how I fell asleep: my skin on soft cotton,
my body awaiting the gentle touch of fireflies,
their silent sparks. This is how I awoke:
unencumbered and enthralled, the early sun
casting over the mountain autumn into my room,
casting through the morning chill a stained-glass chapel,

                                    a splendor of stillness, stirring.
 
~ from Sugar Fix (Terrapin Books, 2019)
“Night in the Forest” by Eva Nev.

*

This lyrical gem provided me with a welcome moment of calm and beauty in these uneasy, turbulent times.

I especially love the “hundred little windowpanes gauzed with tranquility” and the “astonishment of stars,” feeling as though I was right there in the room, levitating in this sacred space, away from trouble and noise.

Wells’s use of light — glowing fireflies, starlight, candlelight, and finally, the rising sun — gives me hope, though even the darkness, she says, can be comforting.

I am reminded that in those instances when we aren’t able to physically retreat from the world, we can always find solace in the embrace of a luminous poem like this, or perhaps, within.

What does your fall sanctuary look like?

“Silver Pheasant in Autumn Forest” by Asia Spettel.

ETA: I wrote this post long before the election, and it’s safe to say the world has now shifted. We’re awash in a vast array of emotions: shock, anger, grief, frustration, disbelief, fear, despair. It’s impossible to fathom that millions of our fellow citizens chose hate over hope, derangement over sanity, self enrichment over selflessness.

Near the end of VP Harris’s concession speech, she quoted an adage true of every society across the ages:

. . . only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case. But here’s the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars. The light, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service.

When I reread Wells’s poem, with its beautiful phrase, “astonishment of stars, a clear sky spangled and deep,” I felt a sense of gratitude. What is good, beautiful and true will always be there for the taking, and we still have the power to propagate that. And then I thought of last week’s Richard Jones poem, “Blue Stars” with its “azure reverie” and blue stars checklist.

Kamala is a blue star, the biggest and the brightest. She reminds us never to give up or let anyone extinguish the flame of hope within. I love the synchronicity of her words with both poems. Lessons to be learned, how lucky we are to have such a strong woman to light our way.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

*

Lovely and talented Cathy Mere is hosting the Roundup at Merely Day by Day. Drift on over to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere this week. Have a nice Veteran’s Day weekend. I’ll be thinking of my mom and uncles who served during WWII.

*Copyright © 2024 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

30 thoughts on ““Fall Sanctuary” by Kory Wells”

  2. In my shock on Wednesday, I retreated to poetry, too. I would like to remain, fetal, safe, calm–though I know the time will come to bring light back out in to the world. Thank you for these calming pieces, Jama.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. My fall sanctuary always, Jama, remains my family. I talked with several on Wednesday morning, all of us giving virtual hugs and support for each other and for those we want to continue to help. This poem feels so satisfying to read. I can hear the voice, calm and reassuring that the light from many places, a candle, a small string of lights, will bolster us all! Thanks for it and for the lovely art, too!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I’m still in retreat, still seeking sanctuary, but your beautiful blog, and your beautiful heart, are always, like an astonishment of stars, a great comfort.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Jama, thank you for a calming five minutes as I mull over your thoughts. The poems and artwork you shared bring me to my sanctuary: places that are quiet, full of natural beauty, hope-filled places filled with family and friends. Kamala’s concession speech brought a new level of hope. May her light inside light the darkness perpetuated by many.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. I love these lines: “The room was a salve
    of spun honey and light, and a hundred
    little windowpanes gauzed with tranquility.”

    Autumn is my favorite season–the quality and slant of golden light; the leaves, cornflower blue skies…

    My sanctuary is the woods, a cathedral of pines… holding on to the tranquility I feel there after this devastating election. Disgusted and heartbroken.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, a cathedral of pines! Beautiful. Devastating is the right word. Any other GOP candidate elected, a disappointment, but the orange man — devastation!

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  11. Thank you, Jama. I went right from the election to a conference and am just now getting home and catching up. Your words are so incredibly helpful and supportive. The word that fuels me is, “service.” I’m tired but I want to be of service for the good. Trying to figure it out…I hope I can be that difference I want to see. xo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes to service! Too bad the new President-elect doesn’t subscribe to it — he’ll always be on the side of self service rather than public service.

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  12. I have found sanctuary in the nearby woods, raking leaves in the yard, baking banana bread and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies (both to share), in reading poetry, in writing through tears, in music. In our Poetry Friday community. In your words. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I’m sitting in our front room where three long windows open to my fall sanctuary. The trees are putting on their final show alongside a backdrop of blue sky. The poems and thoughts you shared fit right into the tranquil scene. Just the stop I needed this afternoon. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. My autumn sanctuary are my grandchildren. I love being with them. They are our hope of a bright future. Beautiful poem! Sorry I am late. I was with 2 of the 4 of them over the weekend! We ate, shopped and relaxed!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I liked best “a salveof spun honey and light”

    which felt both sticky and ethereal, almost like the armor of teflon I would like to be clad in as I go forth. An armor of spun honey underwear. Thank you for the moment of retreat, Jama.

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