Hi,
Visit my new blog: http://lusciouspoetry.typepad.com/

While there, you can listen to mp3s of poems with John's fabulous keyboard music from our CD Sweet Tongue. E-mail poetrysher@gmail.com for ordering information.

John makes fabulous copper sprinklers and misters that look like life-size trees. They are beautiful ways to water and stay cool this summer. Your friends will be awestruck. See them at http://raintreesprinklers.com.

John and I have been speaking in Haiku poems, making them up in the moment. Try doing it yourself. It's a lot of fun. Here's one from my book Star Kissed Shadows.

Breeze Whispers

Breezes whisper, kiss,
Bring messages from afar.
Soft secrets entrance.

©2004 Star Kissed Shadows, Sher Lianne Christian

Enjoy!

Is it difficult to let yourself play? Does it seem like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done as it is? Have you been wanting to take time for a walk on the beach, a class in watercolor painting, work in the garden, make home made Valentines, read a novel, have a hot date with your sweetie?

I encourage you to give yourself permission to play hooky this weekend. You can leave the house dirty for a half day or even a whole day. Or-better yet, have the housekeeper in while you’re gone for an extra treat!

You’ll feel better physically, emotionally, and mentally if you take time to play on a regular basis. Write it in your day planner. A half hour a day, or even one hour a week to do something fun can make a wonderful difference in your outlook.

To listen to three poems from our CD Sweet Tongue on mp3s go to http://.www.mp3poetry.org

When Trees Dance

I pause to write and my heart soars.
Wings of angels brush my awareness,
fill the fresh air with sweetness.
The sky pours rain with constant zeal.
The trees soak up the moisture,
wriggle their roots like toes
for beyond their stillness is a joy that runs deep
and feels as if they’re quivering
with barely contained delight at being alive.
Looking closely, I imagine the bark
is trying not to crack wide smiles.
Surging life force fills unmoving branches
in readiness to burst forth
as bright new leaves in spring.
If trees could dance without the wind,
they’d stand on tippy-toed roots,
twirl in graceful pirouettes,
their boughs sweeping the sky
in flowing waves.
Oaks would laugh at being tickled
under arm-like branches
when squirrels scamper up their trunks.
Firs would leap with glorious abandon
over hills and down dales,
some with chattering squirrels clinging to limbs,
then bend to peek through our windows.
Though today, the trees are content
to envision willowy jetes,
simply joyous to be filled with the inner dance of life.
So don’t be fooled by inactive stances.
Look beyond their tranquil repose
to sense a vibrant ballet.
You may find yourself toe-tapping to lively rhythms,
even whirling around to sensed,
but unheard melodies.
Then, when trees can no longer stand still,
they invite the wind to play.

©2004 Star Kissed Shadows, Divining Poetry, Sher Lianne Christian

To order our CD and my book, Star Kissed Shadows, e-mail me at poetrysher@gmail.com
Tips are welcome at http://.www.paypal.com in our account raindance@nccn.net

I’m excited to announce the first review of our CD. Here is a copy of it.

Sweet Tongue, Assorted Poems & Music
Reviewed by: Bill Gainer

Sweet Tongue, Assorted Poems & Music
A spoken-word CD by: Sher and John Christian
Released: 2007

"Sher and John Christian's new spoken-word CD, Sweet Tongue, Assorted Poems & Music, is an enchanting showcase of Sher's poetic talents and John's musical craftsmanship. I first ran across a sampling of these poems a couple of years ago in Sher's book Star Kissed Shadows and was teased at the possibility of a CD when seeing her perform live, at a local bookstore, to John's keyboard accompaniment.

Sweet Tongue, Assorted Poems & Music is a collection of twenty-three wonderfully crafted poems of place, each representing a location, time or moment in the lives of two people who find a deeper meaning of self, love and each other as they travel into the unknown. The poems chronicle the insights, awakenings and discoveries experienced as Sher and John hooked their camp trailer to the back of the car and journeyed from West Coast to East – simply in search of the next discovery.

While Sher uses a unique blend of sensual expression and spiritual insight to convey the confessions, observations and emotions of her poems, John brings a splash of musical styles (Cajun, Jazz, Blues, Rock and Country) to ground her words in the moments lived. He whispers when needed, boogies when called for and romances his keyboard as Sher untangles the mystery and magic of a night's firefly dreams. Though Sher and John's, Sweet Tongue, Assorted Poems & Music is a collaboration of two hearts, it sounds as if it is of one voice.

There is a soothing romantic tone to this collection that invites the listener to surrender to the moment and allow the words and music to carry the imagination to a safe place. Sher and John remind us that all things are possible, especially love.

For this reviewer, Sher and John Christian's new spoken-word CD, Sweet Tongue, Assorted Poems & Music, is an invitation to light the candles, pour the wine and pull the one I love close; an invitation well worth the listening."

To listen to three poems from our CD Sweet Tongue on mp3s go to www.mp3poetry.org E-mail me at poetrysher@gmail.com for information on ordering my book and our CD and having John and I perform for your event.

*I will read poetry at Women Spirit Thursday, February 14, 9:00 am to 11:00 am in Santa Rosa, CA. Check the web site for information
http://.www.WomenSpiritNetwork.com

My dreams and inner guidance have been telling me to stop trying to play too many roles, to focus on that which I really love. My health and well being is suffering from the stress of trying to do too much, doing that which is not mine to do.

Our CD release performance in Grass Valley on January 13 rang that message loud and clear for me. I had more fun than I ever have reading poetry to the accompaniment of John's keyboard and accordion music, Saul Rayo's guitar, and Elena Powell's electric violin. It sounded fabulous and received wonderful enthusiasm from the audience. I absolutely adore reading my poetry to music, so that is my focus. If you know of anyone who organizes events for wineries, conventions, weddings, retreats, and others, I'm thrilled to share.

Our CD Sweet Tongue, as well as my book Star Kissed Shadows are available through us. Email me at poetrysher@gmail.com for ordering information.

If you find my blog insightful and helpful, you can leave a tip at our account, raindance@nccn.net at paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_home-general&nav=0

Destiny or Distraction

Racing here, racing there,
hanging out the underwear.
Cleaning this, cleaning that,
picking out the perfect hat.
Working here, working there,
shopping everywhere.
Watering flowers, watering plants,
sewing the rip in my pants.
Making lots of plans,
washing pots and pans.
Watching movies, watching plays,
using up my days.
Doing yoga and Tai Chi,
looking for life’s key.
Spiffing up our place and having guests,
then I need time to rest.
This is how my time is spent.
Looking back, I see how it went.
All of this is fun,
but my heart aches from something undone.
My soul calls to nourish creativity.
I dream of my book baby.
He’s weak and wasting since I haven’t fed him
and my dream is growing dim.
The words are waiting for me to type.
My opportunity to express is ripe.
No matter what I do, time will fly.
I’ll not let destiny pass me by.

Star Kissed Shadows, ©2004, Sher Lianne Christian

I listened to an interview with Arjuna Ardagh on New Dimensions Radio about his new book, "Awakening Into Oneness: The Power of Blessing in the Evolution of Consciousness". He said to be touched by grace, we must relax frantic doing and acquiring, take our hands off the wheel. He believes and I do that we live in a field of grace.

Reading, writing, and speaking poetry often brings me into an awareness of grace.

You Can’t Have Everything

but you can have a tongued velvet kiss beneath tall cedars and oaks flushed with new leaves. You can have a graze of caress up your thigh, the soft brush of summer on honeyed skin. You can have muscles sleek with love and bliss in the buttery sun of morning. You can have birds singing in tree canopies, squirrels that leap, vibrant lobelia and petunias. You can have the smell of lavender and lemon thyme crushed between your fingers.

You can have a window seat with pillows and books of poetry. There are always your dreams of the writer’s studio that overlooks the ocean and delicious words to fill cracks chiseled by disappointment. You can’t clean the house with a twitch of your nose and will it to stay pristine, but you can have pineapple chunks of sunshine through your windows, bowls of rosy peaches, nectarines, ripe tomatoes. You can have a doe and two spotted fawns, a fox and her mate, blue jays, hummingbirds and coveys of quail.

You can’t make parents live forever, though for now, you can have the touch of love in your mother’s voice, the stories of your father’s triumphs that improve each year. You can’t force your sister to stop using meth, but you can send her love through her sieved holes of darkness. You can’t rescue loved ones from their unhappiness, but you can wipe away their tears and remind them to drink in the fragrant beauty of earth and sky.

You can’t stop the effects of aging, but you can view heart-soaring mauves and blues of Eastern Sierras that sweep from desert expanse, camp beneath Mammoth pines. You can thrill with an intake of breath at the sight of a massive bear. The mind’s song may wind notes of want, yet you can sing gratitude for moments full of grace.

©2004 Star Kissed Shadows, Divining Poetry, (book)
and Sweet Tongue, Assorted Poetry and Music (CD), 2007 by Sher Lianne Christian

Hello and Happy New Year!

My husband and I are having a challenge with someone's behavior. My intuition has revealed the lesson, and I'm working out what I will say using nonviolent communication. In the meanwhile, angry thoughts keep coming up and I don't want to feed them. I've been using them as reminders to connect with my God self and sometimes ask Spirit to turn my feelings into love and light or say a prayer for the highest outworking for all concerned. I even bring myself into the moment with a thought of gratitude for what I have.

I realize the person has some needs that I’m expected to fulfill, and that those needs don’t seem to fit with mine. Obviously, I have a greater soul necessity to learn something through this exchange, as uncomfortable as it feels. I’ve chosen this poem, because I feel my inner wild woman is angry and wants to lash out. My intuition says she (I) needs her feelings acknowledged and expressed in a way that is constructive, rather than destructive. Maybe I’ll do some drumming or play our gong, even dance out my emotions. How do you deal with anger constructively?

Wild Woman’s Beat

Wild woman beats upon inner rib cage,
until my body‘s a book of her tapping Morse code,
an inside tattoo that’s been hidden
from the world
and even me.
Wild woman, across each nerve synapse,
your insistent drumming sends messages,
softly at first,
that become louder with my ignoring,
“Sensual love. Love sensual.
Life dance! Dance life!”
Addictions have muffled your sounds,
Stuffing your mouth has muted
but not silenced you.
I’ve walled you up in muscle and joint,
held you prisoner
within the confines of my skin
until you breathe fire on those who are dear,
and those who come near.
Hot flashes are your heat that’s been denied.
My judgmental ways feed a wildfire
that burns out of control.
Wild woman, your drumming
sends signals of passion
with every heartbeat.
You dance within me on every full moon,
course through me as smoldering desire
which must be fulfilled through soul moves
or hardened into igneous rock
by resistance to your flow
I die before my time,
inch by rigid inch.
When I respond to your hammering,
you soften the mold of my becoming,
the true self rivers of experience surge me toward.
Your supple moves keep me young
with sensual delight.
Your arousal summons youthful succulence.
If I allow your wildness,
my life leaps and twirls like a flame desiring flight.
I harness your force to drive my dreams!
No longer a kitten with unsure stance,
I become a lynx.
I pleasure my man with wild woman ways.
Aphrodesia ignites fire that melds
our bodies into one fluid form.
Wild woman, I breathe in your power
and rhythmic beat
to dance with your life, my life,
in ardent, moist heat,
sexy and mine,
juicy and divine.

Sher Christian
copyright 2004, Star Kissed Shadows, Divining Poetry
and CD: Sweet Tongue, Assorted Poetry and Music

If you would like information on ordering a my book or CD, email me at poetrysher@gmail.com.

Warmly,
Sher Christian
"Luscious Poetry for Following Your Heart,
Releasing Fear "
Book; Star Kissed Shadows, Divining Poetry
CD: Sweet Tongue, Assorted Poetry and Music

Poetry with Music for Groups