My Shiatsu poems and some written thought

One of the reasons of starting this log was to practice my writing skills. I have done some writing before starting this blog. I always really enjoyed writing research papers as long as it was on a cool topic. The research paper that I remember the most was for my Participation in Government class (aka P.I.G.). We had to pick a controversial topic. My topic was on legalizing prostitution. Great topic to stir up the pot. Also in English class when we started poetry I really enjoyed that. I wrote a few poems here and there. Unfortunately I lost them.

I went for years without writing any kind of poetry until just recently. Shiatsu class started and it was exciting. Explaining shiatsu is beyond the scope of this blog. Here is a quick and over simplified explanation of what shiatsu is http://spas.about.com/od/shiatsu/a/shiatsu.htm.

I like Shiatsu for a few reasons. The first reason is that the teachings of shiatsu and the way Chinese medicine looks at the body is totally different than the typical western method. Now at the same time shiatsu isnt all that different from other massage. In shiatsu one works on the meridians of the body. These are energy pathways that flow through the body and when something causes this flow to become inefficient then disease takes place. Awesomely enough these meridians match almost perfectly which the trigger point and fascia system charts in the western model. Thirdly I enjoy shiatsu because one doesn't have to deal with using a table. The massage is done on the floor and the client can keep his/her clothes on.

I wrote poems on shiatsu because we had to learn all these correspondences. They are correlations to imbalances in the meridians of the body. That is beyond the scope of this blog to explain more. My poems use these correspondences to help me learn them for class. It was effective. It also shocked me how writing these poems made me feel. After finishing them I wanted to keep writing. Its one of the few happenings in my life that sparked my interest in writing. So in order to stop rambling here are the poems I wrote. There are 5 of them based on the elements in Chinese medicine.

 

Water

Winter

Energy at rest

 Nail beds turn blue and black as the frost bite sets

The last of the meat is especially salty

The crushing cold makes thinking faulty

Ears hear the beasts in their fits

Fear sets in as the realization hits

A groaning churns from deep down

Grateful for the full flowing locks on my crown

Trembling to the bone warm only at the core

Winter’s job is essential

Everything must come to a halt

Bring everything back to its default

As we all must rest

So next time around we can do our best

Wood

Spring is in swing

Saplings showing their color green

Fruit still sour not quite ripe

Wind causes trees to snap, pop, and creak

Sky clear for miles, as far as the eyes can see

Ligaments lengthen with every reach

Anger smashes out from the depths

Shouting seeds and buzzing busy bees

Life clawing to reawaken from the sleep

Reasserting control the flora sprouts its feet    

A level of frustration is needed for drive

Playing safe doesn’t ensure you survive

Ambition can drain the mind

But it’s required for the find

Acquire what others may miss

Then enjoy the recreation of the summer bliss

A warning for those who sit around and complain

Doing nothing often results in self maim

Before you know it time has run about

Better get to work before life throws a knock out

Fire

Summer is the time to be free

Growth swarms and pushes up all the trees

Red feathered friends freshen up at the swimming hole

Bitter beer flows fast out of the party bowl

Hot chicken wings finished to the bone

Children lick the melting ice cream off the cone

Pulse quickens as boys battle with a ball

Joy erupts as girls go shopping at the mall

Men and women laugh as they flirt on the beach

Tanned and fit complexions are seemingly in reach

Melancholy is impossible as happy as a peach

Everyone should get out and play

Soon hard at work baling hay

Fruit of labor taste so sweet

Laying out in summer’s heat

Just be responsible with fire’s run

 Days like these won’t always be so much fun

Earth

The time of year is Indian summer

Maturation at times is such a bummer

Yellow lights give warning

Savor some sweets to kill the mourning

Humid air makes breathing daunting

The amount of mouths to feed is haunting

Muscles getting stronger tending the crops

Worry crowds the mind, can we connect the dots?

Children still sing unaware of severe spells

Lips may crack and bleed due to dry wells

Coming to an end, days of belching and loud dinner bells

The last outside celebrations are here

Only hold onto what is held truly dear

The sinking energy of earth may strip it away

At least sun will rise another day

Metal

Autumn colors are pleasant to the eye

Reaping time is what gets us by

White hot fire is need for light

For cooking spicy food that is delight

Dry dead leaves crumble to dust

Nose flares enjoying the dry acrid musk

Skin losing its summer spark

Grief overtakes; everything is losing its magnificent mark

Some cry sadden by the coming slumber

Ladies stop shaving body hair, we all feel bummer

Here comes the first snow fall, a collective sigh signals out

The days are becoming rapidly small

The cold is setting in making us curl into balls

Reaping will be the last of the ceremonies

How the sun will be missed and all of its harmonies