I love this. I wondered yesterday if the ocean really was a deva, and decided it was too vast to be something magical I could relate to. Then I went swimming and it spanked me on the behind and I knew it was telling me yes, I heard you, and silly...I am here enough to whack you on the rear. I like that and I like your poem.
Hmmm. Which do I like better? Jeff’s poetry or Jeff reading his poetry? Both are stellar. Thank you for calling out the wisdom in this way of being. I am energetically sensitive, and aware of the subtleties in energy and meaning around me. Although I find this deeply helpful, most of the rest of the world seems to overlook this or even think it’s a little weird. It’s not. Just not valued by most.
Aw. That's very kind. Thank you, friend. It's good to see you here. And I totally get the whole sensitivity thing. It's a hard knock life that not everyone gets. But if we could change it... we might! LOL. At least, I'd consider it. Not always easy to move through this world feeling, well, everything.
Lol! 😆 Yes, I don’t think most could fathom what it’s like to experience agony + pure soul expanding bliss, all in the same moment or day. Plus, the world needs sensitive, creative people who see and feel things in a different way. It’s what makes your writing, and all art, so rich and insightful. A multidimensional feast for the soul, mind, heart and senses.
ps. I didn’t know you related as a sensitive person. Good to know, from someone so highly sensitive it hurts. Now I know why I enjoy your writing so much more than many others.
I hope she continues to believe in fairies as she grows older. Our magic is not meant to be pushed aside as we age. I've had to reclaim many things that I had set aside once I started kindergarten. Also, if you want to show your daughter an image of a fairy that my friend captured while snapping a photo of me peering into a fairy ring, I will leave a link here. Incidentally, I was born on International Fairy Day. 🧚♀️🧚♂️🧚
This really touched me deep down where only the fairies can touch me. Ok, that sounded better in my head. But truly... beautiful. I wish everyone could still appreciate the magic in believing!
Do your poems go through a lot of edits before publishing? Or do they come to you sort-of ready to go without much additional tinkering? I love writing poems, they usually come to me as an already crystallized piece (kind of). Many times, I try to edit or add things but then nothing seems as good as the original. What does your process look like?
Heh. That's fascinating. I tend to get it mostly right on the first try and if I mess with it too much, it loses some magic. My wife often reminds me that the first take of almost everything I do is usually the best one. I rarely believe it, though. In the case of this piece, it was something shorter I wrote a week or two ago, then as I was dropping it into Substack, I made some additional edits that felt right. I'm not sure if one version is better or worse or just different. I'll add it here (which I've never done before but think might be a fun thing to do on occasion) so that you can take a look and tell me what you think.
Thanks for this wonderful discussion. As a fellow poet, it was fascinating to read about the process of another. The words always drop into my head for the original poem, without trying, and then I do go back and edit, adding in where I feel guided, more depth, a plumping up. I must say, I’m tempted by this original version of yours (swoon) to consider posting an original. I really, really love this. Thanks for letting us in on your process, Jeff. Delightful.
Aug 22, 2023·edited Aug 22, 2023Liked by Jeff Goins
I love this (too)! This flows in a way that I really like and feel - that rhythm.
Actually, after having just read/reread both, I say - this is a compliment! - that I prefer this one. It holds the same rhythm throughout the entire poem and I love the conclusion - so powerful, this really brings it all together and fits. Thank you for sharing this!!
Especially thank you because I am someone who writes and also edits, and sometimes I wonder about the line between when to edit and write, and it's so helpful to see how others approach it!
Heh. Funny, isn't it? Sometimes, the first instinct is the right one. Maybe often or always. Live and learn. I like them both for different reasons and appreciate this community as a place to practice, share, and learn.
Hmm yes!! This is so interesting, thank you for sharing! I LOVE this original one and agree with Marisa, it feels more raw & real-- probably because it is! They are both beautiful, though, just slightly different like you said! I wonder if other poets are similar in how they come up with their ideas? I haven’t studied many, but then again I know that there are many different kinds of poets and opinions about what constitutes a poem. Maggie Smith (@MaggieSmithPoet) publishes "behind the scenes" hand-written annotations of some of her poems, which is cool to see! But totally unrelatable compared to how I write & edit poems ... then again, I don't consider myself a poet (at least not seriously)
We have a kitten, and everything in the house entertains him. It’s all a grand adventure of magic and discovery. Our older cat watches him for a bit, and then curls up somewhere for a nap. I feel like our older cat, and envy our kitten.
I love poems like this! The writing style, like poetic prose (I love writing poetic prose), and the beautiful family love, and the magic of believing. Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing!
Beautiful poem Jeff. Fairies makes us all thing metaphorically about the world. I don't believe in Fairies, but I believe that metaphors are a good way to reduce things to our senses, just like what was written in the poem.
By the way, I'm Rolando Andrade, a Portuguese Psychotherapist.
My QNRT trauma therapist always points out the animals who swoop in during our time together, often birds, like eagles or hawks and sees them as timely spirit guides adding their wisdom to our session. If she doesn’t know, she will google on the spot to find their meaning.
Thanks, man! Talk to you later today. I had a wild conversation once with a woman who was a fairy expert and told me where and when and how to see them. It's beautiful to see the world through the eyes of youth. I'm not so sure we are seeing everything when we look through inevitably jaded eyes.
I love this. I wondered yesterday if the ocean really was a deva, and decided it was too vast to be something magical I could relate to. Then I went swimming and it spanked me on the behind and I knew it was telling me yes, I heard you, and silly...I am here enough to whack you on the rear. I like that and I like your poem.
I love that conversation with the sea. Been there a few times myself.
Naughty, spanky sea, but how wise are the waves!
Ha ha. There was no doubt in my mind that it was on purpose, but also not to be unkind. There is a lot to learn from those waves.
Wow!
Hmmm. Which do I like better? Jeff’s poetry or Jeff reading his poetry? Both are stellar. Thank you for calling out the wisdom in this way of being. I am energetically sensitive, and aware of the subtleties in energy and meaning around me. Although I find this deeply helpful, most of the rest of the world seems to overlook this or even think it’s a little weird. It’s not. Just not valued by most.
Aw. That's very kind. Thank you, friend. It's good to see you here. And I totally get the whole sensitivity thing. It's a hard knock life that not everyone gets. But if we could change it... we might! LOL. At least, I'd consider it. Not always easy to move through this world feeling, well, everything.
Lol! 😆 Yes, I don’t think most could fathom what it’s like to experience agony + pure soul expanding bliss, all in the same moment or day. Plus, the world needs sensitive, creative people who see and feel things in a different way. It’s what makes your writing, and all art, so rich and insightful. A multidimensional feast for the soul, mind, heart and senses.
ps. I didn’t know you related as a sensitive person. Good to know, from someone so highly sensitive it hurts. Now I know why I enjoy your writing so much more than many others.
I hope she continues to believe in fairies as she grows older. Our magic is not meant to be pushed aside as we age. I've had to reclaim many things that I had set aside once I started kindergarten. Also, if you want to show your daughter an image of a fairy that my friend captured while snapping a photo of me peering into a fairy ring, I will leave a link here. Incidentally, I was born on International Fairy Day. 🧚♀️🧚♂️🧚
https://shorturl.at/gikHV
I hope so, too! Thank you for sharing that. You gave me hope and optimism. I was, of course, writing to myself—as I always am.
This really touched me deep down where only the fairies can touch me. Ok, that sounded better in my head. But truly... beautiful. I wish everyone could still appreciate the magic in believing!
Haha. Thank you.
Aw, this comment and the poem make me think of believing and that Christmas magic!
It’s nearly Christmas, yay!! (Too soon?)
I LOVE Christmas!
I'm also really enjoying this summer and the opportunities to go outside and enjoy nature and the trees with our family.
Christmas movies have been on my mind a couple of times recently!
There’s no shame in lining up a Christmas movie playlist in August (ahem, I usually start watching them by October!)
Do your poems go through a lot of edits before publishing? Or do they come to you sort-of ready to go without much additional tinkering? I love writing poems, they usually come to me as an already crystallized piece (kind of). Many times, I try to edit or add things but then nothing seems as good as the original. What does your process look like?
Heh. That's fascinating. I tend to get it mostly right on the first try and if I mess with it too much, it loses some magic. My wife often reminds me that the first take of almost everything I do is usually the best one. I rarely believe it, though. In the case of this piece, it was something shorter I wrote a week or two ago, then as I was dropping it into Substack, I made some additional edits that felt right. I'm not sure if one version is better or worse or just different. I'll add it here (which I've never done before but think might be a fun thing to do on occasion) so that you can take a look and tell me what you think.
My daughter believes in fairies
And there is nothing so beautiful
As watching a little girl look
For tiny blue nymphs hiding
In between the corners
Of things.
She sees another world,
One I am beginning to appreciate
In my later years.
I want to tell her
with tears in my aging eyes:
“One day, you will lose this innocence and forget
Your wisdom.”
But for now
She believes.
Her brother does not,
His consciousness clouded by reason.
And I want to say to my son:
“One day,
You will understand that observation is not
the only way to know
something.
And maybe then,
You will remember
What it is
to be wise.”
Thanks for this wonderful discussion. As a fellow poet, it was fascinating to read about the process of another. The words always drop into my head for the original poem, without trying, and then I do go back and edit, adding in where I feel guided, more depth, a plumping up. I must say, I’m tempted by this original version of yours (swoon) to consider posting an original. I really, really love this. Thanks for letting us in on your process, Jeff. Delightful.
I love this (too)! This flows in a way that I really like and feel - that rhythm.
Actually, after having just read/reread both, I say - this is a compliment! - that I prefer this one. It holds the same rhythm throughout the entire poem and I love the conclusion - so powerful, this really brings it all together and fits. Thank you for sharing this!!
Especially thank you because I am someone who writes and also edits, and sometimes I wonder about the line between when to edit and write, and it's so helpful to see how others approach it!
Beautiful poems. Thank you for sharing!
Heh. Funny, isn't it? Sometimes, the first instinct is the right one. Maybe often or always. Live and learn. I like them both for different reasons and appreciate this community as a place to practice, share, and learn.
Hmm yes!! This is so interesting, thank you for sharing! I LOVE this original one and agree with Marisa, it feels more raw & real-- probably because it is! They are both beautiful, though, just slightly different like you said! I wonder if other poets are similar in how they come up with their ideas? I haven’t studied many, but then again I know that there are many different kinds of poets and opinions about what constitutes a poem. Maggie Smith (@MaggieSmithPoet) publishes "behind the scenes" hand-written annotations of some of her poems, which is cool to see! But totally unrelatable compared to how I write & edit poems ... then again, I don't consider myself a poet (at least not seriously)
We have a kitten, and everything in the house entertains him. It’s all a grand adventure of magic and discovery. Our older cat watches him for a bit, and then curls up somewhere for a nap. I feel like our older cat, and envy our kitten.
Haha. Yep. Same.
This reminds me of Silverstein’s “Forgotten Language,” another beautiful piece.
I love Silverstein, but I don't know this one. Looking it up now...
I’d love to hear what you think!
I'll check it out!
May we never stop believing in fairies Jeff 🧚♀️
Really loved this poem and your reading of it. ✨🧚♀️🧚🧚♂️✨
Thank you, Veronica! It felt fun to right and share. I'm glad it's resonating with people.
I love poems like this! The writing style, like poetic prose (I love writing poetic prose), and the beautiful family love, and the magic of believing. Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing!
Me too, Marisa. I'm glad it resonates. Thank you for the encouragement!
Beautiful poem Jeff. Fairies makes us all thing metaphorically about the world. I don't believe in Fairies, but I believe that metaphors are a good way to reduce things to our senses, just like what was written in the poem.
By the way, I'm Rolando Andrade, a Portuguese Psychotherapist.
Hi Rolando! Glad to have you here, and thanks for sharing. I believe in metaphors. ;)
Hi Jeff. Yeah, they have a the power to make us think in a freely way
In 25 years you will be looking for them again and maybe, you will see them...dad
Thanks, Dad.
I believe in faeries, unicorns, dragons and all totem animal spirit guides that support us🌹 I wrote a book about them A Key to The Unseen World 🧚🏻♂️
Fascinating!
My QNRT trauma therapist always points out the animals who swoop in during our time together, often birds, like eagles or hawks and sees them as timely spirit guides adding their wisdom to our session. If she doesn’t know, she will google on the spot to find their meaning.
Love this, my friend.
Thanks, man! Talk to you later today. I had a wild conversation once with a woman who was a fairy expert and told me where and when and how to see them. It's beautiful to see the world through the eyes of youth. I'm not so sure we are seeing everything when we look through inevitably jaded eyes.
Very nice 😊
Thanks, Ben!
Beautiful Jeff. ❤️
Dude! Good to see you here. Hope all is well.