SIDEWAYS EIGHT PROJECTS

Become

Rising in the dark

brisk, autumnal high desert air

segues into warmest wonder,

set ablaze

by fire and imagination.

We patrol at dawn for best vantage

from which to point and see

the annual show,

glowing with anticipation,

favorite unique characters comprise 

a colorful parade,

dazzling display 

dancing in our minds from years past,

celebration of newcomers 

with old friends and chosen family,

sky endlessly vast

The drop line, fuel tanks, liftgate, and load rings are 

all checked and given the go ahead.

Green light at the intersection of flight and fancy.

Baskets become filled

Burners become hot

Balloons become bouyant

People become mesmerized 

Days become memories 

Stories become special

Lives become enriched

Snaps capture shine and excitement

written across faces and the horizon

Rising individually, each craft,

part of the greater mass ascension,

gives lift to all worry and spirit,

grateful for presence and pause,

felt in every heartbeat.

Kaleidoscope confetti tossed in the air,

hesitant in returning to earth,

defying gravity for enjoyment of view.

Each envelope signed, sealed

and specially delivered to the heavens,

celestial choreography at its finest.

Ready each and every chase crew for

hopeful happy landings elsewhere, 

until our Reno rendezvous next year,

a harvest of homecoming,

The Biggest Little gathering 

as we do it all over again.

——————————————————————KOLO TV NEWS SEGMENT ON THE CENTERS https://www.kolotv.com/2024/12/26/new-warming-center-now-open-help-provide-safe-place-those-need/?outputType=amp

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KTVN TV NEWS SEGMENT ON THE CENTERS

https://www.2news.com/news/local/good-neighbors-warming-centers-welcomes-people-to-stay-the-night/article_4b1f712c-bcf9-11ef-9b72-97c8ee6d129d.html

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R.I.S.E. WEBSITE

https://renoinitiative.org/urbanlotusproject/

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—————————————————————-Why can’t we try it my way?

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8FMATrh/

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AN EVENING WITH NIKKI GIOVANNI

https://youtu.be/Gh8KNsKziNI?si=KY9wM8mk_4sFsuvr

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God is the original spoken word artist

I’m just trying to recapitulate what that may mean in a modern way for some including myself to see

So a stanza of mine, set to rhyme, is followed by Isaiah 7:14 later repeated in Matthew 1:23

I’m a humble poet calling out to the awe inspiring Divine

Contemporary creativity that others may hear and further Believe

As you can IMAGINE I’m not the only One

I merely love the One who sat with the woman by the well.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

As the song asks in verse three

Come the Rod of Jesse to free

in this case me a poet with a mic

for we’re already free enough to see

Elijah A.K.A. J.T.B.

paved the way to save by JC

and JJZ to disperse verse you might like

The word Emmanuel with an “E” comes from the Greek yet you’re liable to find it in the Bible also spelled with an “I”

Taken from two Hebrew words 

“Immanu” with us to discuss 

and “El” meaning God on high. 

God is near us, with us, and within us coming to the ends of ourselves God is ever ready to begin us again

At the end of the slippery slope, our rope and our hope God is relentless to win us back to themselves. 

Regardless which wheel of fortune vowel you start Emmanuel with on the shelves.

A story to believe in a world of deception

A relationship to love forever anticipating

A faith to hold from the world’s inception

A place to belong in the patiently waiting

Building longer tables where the sparks appear more elusive

From the first bell until when the final trumpet has sounded

Pure love casts away fear in being Wildly inclusive 

While maintaining the discipline to be Firmly grounded

When we feel we are in lonely exile

when we feel scattered, battered, shattered and lost

You’ve already gone the extra mile

Showing us we matter enough 

to have paid the ultimate cost

For the peace that is beyond comprehension

which arrives with sweet knowing

that we may both hear and answer the call 

For the release we are fond of with intention survives when Collectively growing

Giving and receiving, living and breathing All means all

Across the silent night hope has spoken this

December reminds us to wait and regain care 

When it feels like we’re born into brokenness 

We remember it isn’t our fate to remain there

You gave a name to each star to guide us by night to find

until we see the darkness and the cold gone

By loving you with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind

You give weary bones the strength to hold on

Beloved God you are setting the stage for lighting the whole world

You light each candle flame flickering in the darkness refusing to be blown out

Hope for the broken since the first words were spoken your plan is unfurled 

With all our might calling you by name that we may be shown how

♾️♾️♾️♾️

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Inspired by Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 8:8-10, Matthew 1:23 and 22:37, 1 John 4:18, the Christmas Song “O Come, O Come Emmanuel, conversations with Pastors Connie Friend and Dr. Rebecca Brown and even John Lennon’s Imagine sprinkled in for some holiday spice.

Written for Christmas Eve service at the Rock Church Sparks on 12/24/24 by the current City of Reno Poet Laureate at the time. Thank you to my Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ for the opportunity. To him be the Glory forever and ever, but I’ll gladly accept the joy. 

In Love,

Jesse James Ziegler

(For my friend Ashlyn)

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Epigraph:

meraki

(v.) to do something with soul, creativity or love; to leave a part of yourself in your work.

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A schematic of sorts

or a basic blueprint 

for how we live fiercely in, by, for

and with each other

In spite of anxiety’s alarm ringing

and a stressed schedule singing,

bringing an answer to the question

What is love?

                In…

Truth, authenticity, tenacity, valor, justice, integrity, depth of character, honor, discipline and levity.

                By…

trusting gifts we’ve been given are best shared with others

noticing people equally in their frailty and vulnerability as we do in their acclaim and success. Perhaps even more so.

helping as best we can how we can when we can without drawing attention to it.

having faith it will receive the attention 

it’s meant to.

realizing there isn’t going to be 

another one of these 

to come around 

so we need

to do our own thing

as we’re called to be

for we 

are the only one of us 

the world will ever see

               For…

the ones who can’t speak

we speak 

the ones who can’t stand

we stand

the ones who can’t dance 

we dance

the ones who can’t share

we share

the ones who can’t believe 

we believe

the sake of love

the purpose of faith

each other

ourselves

the earth we leave to our children 

the lives we leave behind until we meet again

              With…

everything we have

everything we are

the best of intentions

compassion

our friends in mind

the spirit of Christmas every day of the year

love for chosen family

love for extended family

love for our neighbors 

the realization everyone is our neighbor

faith that light casts out darkness

assurances that we matter to each other

a sense of belonging in the vastness

the certainty that you are irreplaceable 

the hope that you always take the time to        notice this 

the power to inhabit space in others lives

the promise you hold space in my heart

In, By, For and With each other…

ever and always 

how we love first 

how we live fiercely

how we leave forever to those with the power to decide such things

and trust that now is enough

to do and be all we are meant to

now is sufficient 

now is kind

now is beautiful 

I now hereby pronounce you worthy

I now hereby declare you hold fast to eternal value

I now hereby proclaim you are an integral part of all existence 

the essence of existence itself

in, by, for and with each other

What is love?

You are.

Go now, and be true to yourself.

The Other Side

We are each a matched set

with a stranger across the world

who looks just like us

but different somehow

we may speak different languages

attend different gatherings

and play in different parks

Yet our work will bear a striking resemblance if we were even given the chance

to compare the two 

Our expressions are similar enough

even our mothers would be given pause

and our mannerisms would be eerily familiar

When we lose a sock in the dryer 

it arrives in their laundry basket

when we hold our right hand up to the sun

their left feels slightly warmer

when we close our eyes at night

they open theirs in the morning

Dancing partners

across the universe

who’ve learned the steps 

to each other’s routine

without ever knowing

the words to each other’s favorite songs

who have memorized the number of steps

from the bed to the front door

and the number of minutes

from the driveway to the favorite restaurant 

Without ever knowing the whole truth

yet knowing something is missing

feeling like they’ve forgotten something 

along the way

Waiting Room

I arrive for the interview early

The receptionist asks me to sit

as there is another applicant

in the chair across the room

The receptionist hints it will be a while

as the person ahead 

of the person ahead of me

just went in

To pass the time they begin to ask

about my hopes and dreams

my fears and shortcomings

my strengths and weaknesses

my favorite movies and music

my least favorite color

the last time I felt sad 

A bit uneasy internally 

I maintain my poise on the surface

while replying to the receptionist 

who keeps looking at the other applicant

and smiling

They are clutching their resume

staring at the ceiling

silent as a response to a lame excuse

The receptionist asks the other applicant 

if they are ready

they violently shake their head NO

“Well then,

I guess you’re up” gesturing to the only other door with a tilted smile in my direction

I take the opportunity to get the other applicant’s attention and ask

“Are you sure?”

They look down from they ceiling at me

and nod YES. 

“I’m sure.”

They and the receptionist are now both

gesturing to the office door.

I close my eyes as I grab the handle.

I gently turn the knob and close the door behind me.

I feel a slight breeze across my lids

and in bewilderment I open my eyes

to realize I’m outside.

I hear the knob turn behind me.

It is the receptionist and the other applicant

standing shoulder to shoulder.

The one who was silent the entire time 

says “You’re hired.”

The one who asked all of the questions 

asks one more

“When can you start?”

The waiting room was the interview.

Apparently I was exactly who they were hoping to find.

I start tomorrow.

True Colors Poetry

December 4th, 2024

Warm Up Writing Exercise

Poet’s Choice:

Option #1: Write a poem in response to the line “I never thought I’d end up here.” 

Option #2: Write a poem that both starts and ends with the word “goodbye”

Option #3: Write a poem that either starts or ends with someone (or something) saying “Please, don’t do it.”

December 2nd, 2024

https://poets.org/text/thirteen-ways-looking-poems-about-birds

Poems About Birds

Bird Poems

https://poemanalysis.com/poems-about/birds/

BIRD RELATED QUOTES

https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/bird-quotes

PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY

To a Skylark

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45146/to-a-skylark

EMILY DICKINSON

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42889/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers-314

WALLACE STEVENS

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45236/thirteen-ways-of-looking-at-a-blackbird

MAYA ANGELOU

Caged Bird

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48989/caged-bird

PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

Sympathy

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46459/sympathy-56d22658afbc0

JOHN KEATS

Ode to a Nightingale

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44479/ode-to-a-nightingale