Living Earth       [ Paintings ]

Living Earth's self-taught work has been called intuitive, spirit driven, visionary, mysterious and inspiring. She credits her experience with Tourette's syndrome, autism, mental illness and nature - woven with spirituality, metaphysics and ancestral memory - with the deep, ancient rhythms feeding her creativity. Her work and touch are found to be healing by others. Her self-published book of images and poetic writing will honor those cast aside, misunderstood, hunted or homeless. Living Earth's work has been displayed, published and collected widely.

Dark Miracle
 
I watch the crow
announce what happens
on pavement       in the air
to the other birds clustered
in tribal splendor
beneath a blazing sun
 
I approach this dark miracle
slowly      the crow retreats
 
I want black wings
to absorb the sun
fly to light in the velvet night
 
I soar upward
with the large, black bird
 
© 1989 Living Earth

Firefly
 
I discard the papered words
She writes of death      the
exceptional child      abortion
women's rituals of washing
and tears      waiting for
moon and news for passing
on in story and womb
 
Her papered words dance in
my fiery brain      author
honored by other      by
association in quiet halls
filled with dark suits and soft
dresses      my words elusive
as firefly      hot as lava
 
spewn from fiery deep that
shakes, convulses so that
others run      clutching their
children, food, fear while
saying WEIRD      STRANGE
Her honored words lie quiet
on recycling pile      my words
 
hard to catch so that
some sense is made for
other      Inner voice recites
CAN'T KEEP UP
DON'T BLEND IN
the over and over of it
gathers fireflies into the
 
deep where they burn
and dance      burn and
dance      burn and dance
 
© 2002 Living Earth