The Ways of Self-Salvation (How to Be Born)
by Kerfe Roig
Demanding patience, spirit grows deep—
nourished and carried near to the heart.
Waiting, waiting, my soul for to keep—
shadows breathing and falling apart.
Nourished and carried near to the heart—
the third eye opens, window and mirror.
Shadows breathing and falling apart—
beginning is singing, ending is near.
The third eye opens, window and mirror—
the ripeness growing, large and complete.
Beginning is singing, ending is near—
emptying follows, head and then feet
The ripeness growing, large and complete—
rocking inside a musical voice.
Emptying follows, head and then feet—
atoms laughing in naked warm noise.
Rocking inside a musical voice—
no thoughts to speak, no dreams to word.
Atoms laughing in naked warm noise—
diving like oceans, skying like birds.
No thoughts to speak, no dreams to word—
demanding patience, spirit grows deep.
Diving like oceans, skying like birds—
waiting, waiting, my soul for to keep.
PAINTING: Expectation by Gustav Klimt (1909).
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I first wrote this pantoum when I was pregnant with my older daughter, 36 years ago. I revisited and revised it a few years ago when my life was undergoing major changes, and I realized we are always being born.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A resident of New York City, Kerfe Roig enjoys transforming words and images into something new. Follow her explorations on her blogs, methodtwomadness.wordpress.com (which she does with her friend Nina), and kblog.blog, and see more of her work on her website kerferoig.com.
Self-portrait by the author.
Silver Birch Press 
Reblogged this on method two madness and commented:
My pantoum “The Ways of Self-Salvation” has been published as part of the Silver Birch Press “How To” series.
This is a very thought provoking poem and beautifully written.
Thanks Robbie.
Wonderful and wise instruction. To know it was inspired near the time your daughter was born makes it even more precious. Congratulations for being published as part of the Silver Birch Press series.
Thanks Jade. I’m pleased to be part of another wonderful series from Silver Birch Press–I enjoy the varied responses and reading about what inspired them as well.
You’re very welcome.
We are always being born and reborn. I can identify with everything you wrote here.
Thanks Ingrid. We are indeed.
A pantoum is just right for the thought (and process) of birth, especially with your last stanza.
Thanks Ken. I agree about the form. Good for the merging of beginnings and endings.
Such a beautiful and profound poem – I love the line ‘diving like oceans, skying like birds.’
Thanks Suzanne. My favorite line too.
You really are the queen of the pantoum. That last stanza is so perfect.
Thanks Jane. I’ve had plenty of practice!
🙂
The pantoum form is perfect–circles and repetitions of life. Ocean deep and bird-sky high.
Thanks Merril. You know how I feel about both circles and repetition.
Yes, I do. And I feel the same way. 😀