Poems Inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke

September 3, 2018
 
Chimney Rock  
North Carolina    
   
My Dearest J,  
 
     Despite being beautiful here, I must admit holidays completely dominate the peaceful serenity of mountain life.  The shop owners are preparing for winter,  when only locals will be able to access privately.  Words and stories will flow freely in truth without worry about upsetting misplaced sensibilities of a majority of tourists.  It's not that we're antisocial or unwelcoming to the stranger; we're furthest from that.  Visitors to these parts don't seem to understand...

September 2, 2018

Ahavati
Lake Lure, North Carolina
 
Dearest Elena,  
 
     I wish you could experience the energy of the blue ridge mountains in their summer finale. Everything is lush, yet thinning its grip on the humidity so prevalent in the south.  A myriad of green is altering shades according to their impending autumn wardrobe, now in the final stages of production.  Soon the curtain will rise, and thousands will migrate here from all over the world to witness the spectacular carnival of color that cannot be described with words, only...

August 31, 2018  
      
Ahavati        
Cherokee, North Carolina        
       
Dearest Duende,      
       
      I am writing amidst a beautiful view of the blue ridge mountains; I'll enclose a post card so you may enjoy the same while reading.  Currently a hint of change permeates the trees, as though whispering vibrations of color they will cyclically attract: golden ocher, burnt sienna, cadmium lemon, raw umber, alizerin crimson.  Soon they will don Joseph's coat of many colors quilted as far as the eye can see - before releasing slowly,...

August 30, 2018  
   
Ahavati    
Cherokee, North Carolina    
   
Dear Younger Poetess,    
   
     These mountains are beginning to herald autumn.  Soon they will sing in a cacophony of color that resembles the pure essence of poetry.  I am enjoying a view  of distant storms from my veranda while sipping evening tea.  I just finished reading your poetry.      
   
     I read between the lines of your verses, where resides meaning within the space of breath.  Where there is joy, there is also pain; where there is longing, there is...

August 29, 2018
    
Ahavati      
Cherokee, North Carolina    
     
Dearest Poppy,    
     
     I received your letter just yesterday.  I must admit my heart sank when I became aware of your feelings. Especially in light of such a deep accompaniment of expression, obviously demonstrating great depth of emotion.      
     
     Perhaps such emotion is reaching up from the quagmire of doubt toward the rung of growth.   While you may feel you're in a rut, the enclosed poem contradicts that thought with hard evidence to the contrary....