Arts Alive San Antonio

Today’s moving poem is by San Antonio poet Kathleen Hudson. The photo of the tree included here comes from Bett Buttler, San Antonio’s best known jazz vocalist, who took this picture before the majestic tree was cut down by developers to make room for a small shopping center. She and her composer husband, Joel Dilley, loved the tree that stood just across the road from their recording studio. “Gazing at it, triggered an instant lowering of blood pressure, a deep inhalation of peace,” wrote Buttler. To listen to Dilley’s beautiful, soothing composition “Dear Old Oak Tree” click on the video below and enjoy!

After

By Kathleen Hudson

After reading Jane Hirshfield’s “Spell To Be Said Against Hatred”
And after finishing “Breath Becomes Air” and sobbing

When you look into a mirror and see another person
And research the effects of chemo on your body
When you awaken daily in pain,
Swim, exercise, drink water and meditate
As you constantly wonder what else you can do
When you read poetry, write poetry, listen to music
And finish the book “Breath Becomes Air”
When you read Facebook for hours, noticing the uplifting voices of friends
Spend a day watching your animals gather around you
Sitting on your deck watching the leaves blow in the wind
When you know that this moment is rich and full
Listen to Jerry Jeff sing about a moment on his porch in Belize
Singing with a voice ravaged by cancer treatment,
Make plans amidst rising numbers of Covid cases.
When you read through the titles on your bookshelves,
Play music that uplifts and soothes,
And notice every item in your house as a story in your life
When you wonder what your kids will do with all this collection
And you know it is time to downsize and minimize
And you don’t, but you think about it.
When you see the ripples from your voice in the world
As a former student invites you
To be on her live YouTube show, featuring women’s voices in music
And the title reverberates with the title of your book,
Women in Texas music, Stories and Songs
When you spend time in reflection and memories overtake you with joy
Feel the pain in the back and legs as you walk across your living room
And you are glad you rode that horse yesterday and went to the gym,
When you do these things, you are adding rich layers to the cake of your life
Weaving a bigger tapestry with these threads
When you realize this, you celebrate,
When you celebrate with joy, you want to share!

June 16, 2020