The Secrets of Dawn

The Breeze at Dawn Has Something to Tell You

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.

Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill,

where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.

Don’t go back to sleep.

~Rumi - Sufi, Mystic Poet (1207-73)


I heard this poem spoken to me in thought and images, but I only recognized it when doing a search for poems by my favorite mystic poet, Rumi, this evening. I woke up with my 2-year-old son at 6am, and the view from the bedroom window caused me to stop breathing – stop thinking, until I could take in the full beauty of the sunrise. A salmon pink, with hues of peach at the center, painted the sky in a wide ribbon. My mind wanted so much to label this, to intellectualize the experience. My spirit would not let this happen. I simply gazed at the emerging light at the horizon and allowed all other thoughts to evaporate into the quiet calmness of the room. Outside that window was the sound of stillness – the grace with which we are born and the dignity with which we cross over. It is the pure beauty of nature’s humble grandeur. No other sight can make us feel as complete as the majesty of this earth and the heavenly glimpses we are gifted with at dawn.

I hope that you create with this same sense of awe today, when you raise your pen to write or bring your strong fingers to the keyboard. I hope your heart sings with the spirit of truth with each word on the page, so that your readers may experience the joy of first light and the brightness of being we are all capable of shining.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008
www.FirkinFiction.com

A Gallery Display of Poetry & Art - The Griffin Gallery (Oconomowoc, Wisconsin)

Poetry & Art - On Display at The Griffin Gallery

In collaboration with two very talented, fine art painters, Holly Kallie and Anne Wall, ten of my recent ekphrastic poems are on display at The Griffin Gallery in Oconomwoc, WI. These poems appear alongside beautiful oils and pastels in the form of fine art giclées. Each fine art, poetry giclée inspires and engages the reader to live more fully in the present moment, by incorporating rich colors, evocative images and poetic narratives.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES:

HOLLY KALLIE is a self-taught artist who has been drawing and painting all of her life. She has always been fascinated by the human figure, mainly women and children. Having spent much time as a child on area lakes, Holly developed a close affinity to water, and as a result, most of her subjects are placed in this type of setting. Her intention is to show the emotional connection between feminine energy and the flowing, reflective surface and depths of the water surrounding them. She has shown and sold her work in exhibits and galleries for many years, is a founding member of Griffin Gallery Fine Art in Oconomowoc, WI where her work is on permanent display and has many fine art giclée reproductions of her paintings. Her work is held in private collections throughout the United States. To view her beautiful collection of oil paintings, "Captured Reflections", Please visit her website: http://www.hollykallie.com.

ANNE WALL resides in Wisconsin, where she trains as an athlete, maintains an art studio and runs a sports marketing business. Through fine art, Ms. Wall expresses her passion for outdoor sports and love of nature by capturing light and movement on form in a variety of mediums. Art and sport bring about intense concentration and a sense of calm in harmony with one’s surroundings. Through this experiential state of enlightenment and self-discovery, the conscious mind transcends the physical state, so one can live in the moment. By creating enduring works of art, which capture the spirit of outdoor sports, adventure, and the beauty of nature, Anne inspires others. Educated at Northwestern University, Wall received her Master of Science Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin. She is known internationally for her work as brand protection advisor to well known sports organizations and multinational businesses that sponsor sporting events. Anne’s articles about intellectual property protection have been published in academic journals and business manuals distributed domestically and abroad. Traveling overseas and meeting with delegates from nations around the world, Anne’s work puts her in touch with many different cultures.

To read samples from the collections I have written, inspired by each artist, please visit the "Firkin Works" page on my website: www.FirkinFiction.com.

To view and/or purchase these rare poetry/art giclées in person, please visit:

THE GRIFFIN GALLERY OF FINE ART

133 E Wisconsin Ave
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
(262) 567-1826

http://griffingalleryfineartllc.com/


Art and poetry - a beautiful collaboration of images and words.

Enjoy the beauty of ekphrastic poetry and visual art.

To view a sample fine art/poetry giclée, click HERE to see "All is in Balance" on Holly Kallie's site.


Keep Reading!
Blessings,
Cristina M. R. Norcross

AUTHOR OF:
Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art, paintings by Irene Ruddock (2007) available on Amazon.com, BN.com and RevolutionBooksellers.com

The Red Drum (2008) available at Lulu.com and Amazon.com