Mar 27 2017
Ivan M. Granger – in love with the new sun
in love with the new sun
by Ivan M. Granger
in love with the new sun
the cherry blossom forgets
the night’s frost
— from Real Thirst: Poetry of the Spiritual Journeyby Ivan M. Granger
/ Image by A-Daly /
I wrote this poem several years ago in my Maui days, on a spring morning after emerging from a meditation. It was a time of opening for me, a time of surprising bliss, a time of settling into myself. I had gone through such terrible internal struggles up to that point, but what had kept be balanced and focused through it all had been my fierce determination to seek meaning and insight, a sense of a greater love and truth. And then one day, whoosh!, it was like I had come through the storm and found myself at rest in a wide open peaceful sea.
That struggle I went through to get there, it wasn’t even that I thought it had been “worth it;” it was is if even the struggle itself had been subsumed by that expansive bliss until it no longer existed, except as a story I had told myself.
I had the image of spring after a hard winter. Bright, blossoming with new life. And I wrote this haiku.
in love with the new sun
the cherry blossom forgets
the night’s frost
A few years back I was contacted by a young woman in San Francisco who asked my permission to use this haiku in a tattoo. I was flattered and surprised. I mean, to have these words, which popped into my mind in a moment of inspiration, tattooed onto your body, to carry them with you for the rest of your days, that is humbling indeed. More than that, it was a responsibility after the fact. I really had to sit with the haiku for a bit and decide if I thought it was worthy of such an honor.
In her email, she said that the poem spoke to her, that the cherry blossoms suggested to her that, because life is short, you need to live to the fullest and seize opportunities, and that any difficulties or sorrows are temporary. She mentioned that she had been through many hardships in her life but that she recognized the importance of not holding grudges or dwelling in the past “because every day is special… like cherry blossoms that bloom for a short time.” Clearly a wise woman, wisdom that has been hard-earned.
I gladly gave her my permission to use the poem in her tattoo. But I still had a bit of a dilemma: With this haiku being utilized in such a special way, I wanted to ask for a photograph, but, you know, I wasn’t sure exactly where the tattoo would be placed on her body. I tried to find the most diplomatic language possible to ask for a photo “if appropriate.” A few weeks later she sent back a snapshot of the lines of the haiku tattooed in an elegant script running along her lower ribs on one side.
(Whew.)
Have a beautiful day! Don’t forget to feel the new sun on your face.
Recommended Books: Ivan M. Granger
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Ivan M. Granger
US (1969 – ) |
Ivan M. Granger is the founder and editor of the Poetry Chaikhana, a publishing house and online resource for sacred poetry from around the world. He is the author of Real Thirst: Poetry of the Spiritual Journey and editor of The Longing in Between: A Poetry Chaikhana Anthology. His poetry and translations have been included in several magazines and anthologies.
Ivan grew up in Oregon and Southern California. He has also lived on the island of Maui. He now lives in Colorado with his wife, Michele.
“Poetry has an immediate effect on the mind. The simple act of reading poetry alters thought patterns and the shuttle of the breath. Poetry induces trance. Its words are chant. Its rhythms are drumbeats. Its images become the icons of the inner eye. Poetry is more than a description of the sacred experience; it carries the experience itself.”
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Poetry Chaikhana readers often ask me about myself. Who is the guy behind all those poetry emails? What drew you to sacred poetry? And just what does “Poetry Chaikhana” mean?
As a way to answer some of those questions, I thought I’d post an audio interview I did a few years ago. I talk a little about myself, and a lot about poetry — the transformational power of poetry, the ways poetry naturally expresses the sacred experience, the non-dogmatic nature of poetry. And I read a few poems.
Click to listen: Interview with Ivan M. Granger
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A wet rainy, maybe snowy day here in the north country.
Your haiku and story bring s chuckle and ray of ‘come on spring’ –
on many layers. Thanks. I think I’ll tatoo a cherry blossom on my
hmmmm….nose!
Seriously, I appreciate how you share the shifts you experienced
in consciousness, how you give voice and honour the subtle
graces ( and dark nights) that mark your journey. It’s an
honour to share.
found a looong lifeline
Beautiful haiku.
Dear Ivan.
These lines, the thought behind, seems to have got tattooed on my mind!
Hi Ivan
Sweet…..It’s becoming harder to stick to the night’s frost – your poem caught it so nicely. It’s a child’s thought.
What you share here captures so much of my feelings at this time. The fact that everything evolves in increments and layers which are traceable is fascinating. These seem to automatically reveal broadening awareness, of hints of true clarity until they finally blossom into profoundly new awakenings that are utterly intriguing. You have peeled the layers beautifully.
Finally, now, I am feeling the layer where multitudes of changes flow, continually, without fears. Or if slight concerns are there, they hardly last more than Nana seconds before vanishing completely!
But, I find, I remain confused and not letting go the controls, of surrender. I still feel scattered and inattentive, despite feeling incredible, stages of progress.
I’ve loved this haiku for a longtime. Thank you for bringing it forward. Perfect timing
for me. . . Carol
Very, very nice, Ivan. So little…so much. Beautiful! Love.