Saint Julian Press ~ The SugarHill Recording Studio Sessions
Ron Starbuck with Donna McKenzie & John Powell Hardesty
A recording of "Storm Shadow" and "Dancing Like Lightning" |
Storm Shadow
Every day of my life I want to be standing in the
shadow of a good clean storm, where the rain comes down so
hard and bright it washes the soul pure, to leave it gleaming
and polished in all its tenderness. Where the grace of the lighting
reflects off of every rain drop.
And then pours over the body like a holy baptism and sacrament
of faith that calls out in name to every saint that was ever born.
Where the thunder awakens us to life, and we breathe in
everything of this earth that is good and dear, absolutely perfect
in our many imperfections.
Where angels enter in without fear, to carry us into the
still wholesome heart of God, beating in union with our own hearts.
Do you think you could live in such a way, where
nothing else matters, except the flower of yourself opening
up again and again, and then wider still,
to receive the blessing of this shower, as dark and loamy soil,
where our firmly planted feet rest?
But, where everything is as transparent and translucent
as the first day of your life, without apprehension, seeing as a revelation
from one moment to another, washed in the rain.
shadow of a good clean storm, where the rain comes down so
hard and bright it washes the soul pure, to leave it gleaming
and polished in all its tenderness. Where the grace of the lighting
reflects off of every rain drop.
And then pours over the body like a holy baptism and sacrament
of faith that calls out in name to every saint that was ever born.
Where the thunder awakens us to life, and we breathe in
everything of this earth that is good and dear, absolutely perfect
in our many imperfections.
Where angels enter in without fear, to carry us into the
still wholesome heart of God, beating in union with our own hearts.
Do you think you could live in such a way, where
nothing else matters, except the flower of yourself opening
up again and again, and then wider still,
to receive the blessing of this shower, as dark and loamy soil,
where our firmly planted feet rest?
But, where everything is as transparent and translucent
as the first day of your life, without apprehension, seeing as a revelation
from one moment to another, washed in the rain.
Dancing Like Lightning
As a child, and even now
I loved lightning storms
rolling in across the prairie
or the high desert mesas,
or even in from the Gulf
of Mexico, rushing across the water
tell me please, have you
ever wanted to dance
like the lightning does
coming down from the heavens
to prevail in the middle of a great storm,
to be filled with such a strength
imagine if you will
what this dance would be like
you are the lightning
you are the starting point
the single white point, that turns
and in that turning
whirls about and pirouettes
to flash and burst
across the undulating sky
streaking from cloud
to cloud and then
between each rain drop
between the rain gods and the thunder gods,
between the hail gods and the ice gods,
who are actually
more like angels moving
between accelerating electrons
to seed the sky
you are the electrical discharge
the super heated air, expanding
rapidly, the shock wave heard as thunder
in the darkness of the storm
you are the only source of light
that touches both heaven and earth
you are the center of
the storm in all its majesty
and in all its might
that brings the rain
to both field and garden
feeding the whole world
think about this please
if you could live your life
with such a power and purpose
what would that look like to you
when would you begin, tomorrow, today,
in an hour, this very moment
now perhaps?
I loved lightning storms
rolling in across the prairie
or the high desert mesas,
or even in from the Gulf
of Mexico, rushing across the water
tell me please, have you
ever wanted to dance
like the lightning does
coming down from the heavens
to prevail in the middle of a great storm,
to be filled with such a strength
imagine if you will
what this dance would be like
you are the lightning
you are the starting point
the single white point, that turns
and in that turning
whirls about and pirouettes
to flash and burst
across the undulating sky
streaking from cloud
to cloud and then
between each rain drop
between the rain gods and the thunder gods,
between the hail gods and the ice gods,
who are actually
more like angels moving
between accelerating electrons
to seed the sky
you are the electrical discharge
the super heated air, expanding
rapidly, the shock wave heard as thunder
in the darkness of the storm
you are the only source of light
that touches both heaven and earth
you are the center of
the storm in all its majesty
and in all its might
that brings the rain
to both field and garden
feeding the whole world
think about this please
if you could live your life
with such a power and purpose
what would that look like to you
when would you begin, tomorrow, today,
in an hour, this very moment
now perhaps?
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From the When Angels Are Born, published in 2013.
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RON STARBUCK is the Publisher/CEO/Editor of Saint Julian Press, a poet and writer, an Episcopalian, and author of There Is Something About Being An Episcopalian, When Angels Are Born, and Wheels Turning Inward, three rich collections of poetry, following a poet’s mythic and spiritual journey that crosses easily onto the paths of many contemplative traditions.
He has been deeply engaged in an Interfaith-Buddhist-Christian dialogue for many years, and holds a lifelong interest in literature, poetry, Christian mysticism, comparative literature and religion, theology, and various forms of contemplative practice.
He has been deeply engaged in an Interfaith-Buddhist-Christian dialogue for many years, and holds a lifelong interest in literature, poetry, Christian mysticism, comparative literature and religion, theology, and various forms of contemplative practice.
Donna McKenzie is a Houston based voice talent, speaker, radio personality and creative alchemist with a passion for food, music and poetry. She is one of the key Saint Julian Press creative partners and producers.
John Hardesty: As a pianist/composer, John won the 2006 Inspirational Song of the Year New Thought Songwriters Award for his Everlasting Love. His gift of creating music in the moment has inspired audiences everywhere. “Music has always been the most important facet of my being. Living life has shaped my heart and created the love that I now express. That this music will speak to your heart is my fondest wish”. https://www.facebook.com/jphardesty/about
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As an Amazon Associate — Saint Julian Press, Inc. may earn funds from any qualifying purchases.
This arrangement does help to sustain the press and allow us to publish more books by more authors.