Jingles Poetry Potluck–“The First Time”


A newborn baby with umbilical cord ready to be...

Image via Wikipedia

Submitted to Jingles Poetry Potluck:http://jinglepoetry.blogspot.com/

This is written in response to this weeks theme  which includes miracles and wonders.

The First Time

The first time that I witnessed birth,
saw the crowning of the head,
that shock of thick black hair,
heard the melded cries of mother
and her son, the pain and ecstasy
in resounding dissonance,
the joy and fear and victory
of shattered boundaries—
that first time I beheld the
mystery of newborn life
I shuddered in the face of Awe.

The first time that I prayed in silence
without words or thoughts and stood
like Moses by the burning bush
that would not be destroyed and
offered (to the One who is and was
and will be) all that I have been and
am and shall become without limit
that first time I embraced
the mystery of the divine
I shuddered in the face of God.

The first time that I tasted love,
sought urgently to touch and hold,
looked into eyes that knew
my secret sacred spaces,
longed to please before receiving
pleasure, lost track of time, luxuriated
in the scent of passion,
that first time I received the mystery
of you, of all we could become,
I shuddered in the face of Bliss.

The first time I attended death
and held an old man’s icy hand and
looked into his eyes that saw beyond
me, wiped a brow expressing
nuances of sorrow and of joy,
the scope of everything we can imagine,
that first time I received a dying breath
and closed those eyes
I shuddered in the face of the Unknown.

The last time that I said hello, goodbye
I shuddered in the face of Wonder.

33 thoughts on “Jingles Poetry Potluck–“The First Time”

  1. trisha says:

    fabulous. you are so right, now that you have told it, i too feel that we see God in all these incidents very vividly.

    lovely poem victoria, too beautiful.

    Like

  2. Panda Wolf says:

    Lovely, lovely poem.

    Like

  3. I could relate to all of this poem…beautifully laid out and executed. Gorgeous! 🙂

    Like

  4. A.B. Thomas says:

    A great piece of prose to the phases of emotional ups and downs of life.

    Like

  5. Luke Prater says:

    oh I’ve been here before. Well, worth another read, for sure. Great piece

    Like

  6. PinkLady says:

    you captured deep emotions in this piece… a touching look at life, faith and death. very well written!

    Like

  7. deepika says:

    WONDERFUL!
    loved the way u summarized the life’s experiences in a poetry…
    the most unforgettable is the FIRST TIME, be it anything. first love, first success….
    the journey from birth to death holds many FIRST TIME(s)…

    cheers

    Like

  8. Amity says:

    Life is a miracle…and the end is even a miracle as we are ushered into a new world we don’t know what could it be…but God in His omniscient knowledge knows it all, beyond human comprehension!

    Thanks for sharing this beautiful reality Victoria!

    Like

  9. Reflections says:

    Amazing, powerful write! Very well done.

    Like

  10. danroberson says:

    Birth, love, prayer, death. Birth and death, the gates of passage into and out of this world, love which makes life bearable, and prayer which gives hope and direction, all are miracles and worthy of remembrance and giving thanks for. A great poem.

    Like

  11. Shashi says:

    A beautiful expression.. I liked your lines.. you insecurity in them…
    ‘that first time I received the mystery
    of you, of all we could become,
    I shuddered in the face of Bliss.’
    Its beautiful …

    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
    Blog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com

    Like

  12. FireandIce says:

    Miracles are witnessed everyday,
    but only some can truly
    Touch our Heart.

    Your post did (touch mine).
    Great job.
    ~FIREANDICE~

    Like

  13. Morganna says:

    Amazing. Good job.

    Like

  14. suzicate says:

    I am speechles/wordless with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes…bravo!

    Like

  15. pollutedpoet says:

    Miracle – “an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.” Dictionary.com

    Like

  16. mairmusic says:

    This s a beautiful ode to the mysteries of life– wonderful!

    Like

  17. hedgewitch says:

    Many miracles make life itself miraculous. A true sense of that here in your well written piece.

    Like

  18. Talon says:

    Just beautiful. I think we tend to overlook the magic in the everyday. You express it brilliantly.

    Like

  19. Eric says:

    You shuddered in the face of Wonder?

    Like

  20. kaykuala says:

    A good play of life’s cycle told brilliantly.

    Like

  21. Jingle says:

    Those first time experiences haunt you, entertain you, and inspire you, aren’t they?

    Happy Monday Potluck!

    Like

  22. ljm (Amias) says:

    Life and death, love and wonder — all are miraculous and magical wonder, and this is what make us cling to life and all it entails, no matter the hardships, the bliss of living is such a joy. I truly enjoyed this —

    Like

  23. Mary Bach says:

    Oh wow, you got the real miracles here. Well done.

    Like

  24. Jessicas Japes says:

    Very moving words here, each verse sums up the feelings clearly One to reread many times.

    http://jessicasjapes.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/magic/

    Like

  25. First time! Insightful! Liked the way you inserted a theme in each stanza. Happy Potluck.

    Like

  26. Teresa says:

    This is such a beautiful poem. There is so much in our lives that are miraculous. We just have to be open to them.

    Mine are here. http://razzamadazzle.wordpress.com/2010/11/20/apprentice/ and http://razzamadazzle.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/poetry-potluck/

    Like

  27. Scent of my heart says:

    Birth, pray, love magical … death reaches sorrow! Nice entry! Happy potluck! Here is mine http://scentofmyheart.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/magic-world/ Thanks for your time!

    Like

  28. A great tribute to the various faces of life!Just Amazing!

    The first time is always an unforgettable experience!
    A wonderful write!

    Like

  29. Jingle says:

    miracle, wow,
    thoughtful….

    Glad to see your post ready to run…
    cheers.
    xx

    Like

Your comment and feedback are important to me. Thank you.