W A T E R F A L L S

My dear poet friend, Eileen, hosts a monthly open mic event called the Sunflower Club. Its held at an adorable shop in Stuart, Florida, called Hani Honey. The shop itself is a community beacon featuring flexible seating space within the walls of an art gallery for local artists. There is also a gift shop and a cafe lending to the ecclectic palette of a honey lover. It reminds me of the Underground Coffee Shop in Downtown West Palm Beach in the 90s— edgy, nurturing, a collage of the best parts of community.

The event, too, is inspiring in that beautiful way that only sharing so vulnerably could be. I love watching everyone get up and dish out their own hearts, to soak in the vibe of purposeful vulnerability. I love challenging myself to find something — anything — to share, knowing how important and necessary it is to participate so fully.

At the beginning of September, I shared the birthday song on a finger harp, alongside the following poems about waterfalls. I had just written Hemlock Falls after a recent trip to Clayton, Georgia and I dug PLUNGE out of the vault, having remembered written about the sensations of swimming in the Appalachian Waterfall, Looking Glass Falls, the previous year.

Please enjoy & feel free to share your favorite waterfall story in the comments. —J

PLUNGE (looking glass falls)

From the moment we made plans to come, I dreamt about plunging into this pool of water.

It wasn't any particular waterfall pool,

it was A N Y waterfall pool,

And this one was freaking magical.

I knew it would be cold,

and I knew the pain of the frigid water would light me up like nothing ever could.

And I dreamt about that sensation.

Then, the moment came.

The pressure of the falling water

Buffeted at my body

Leaving sparkling droplets on my skin

As I crawled over rocks and boulders

Scrambling to get to that perfect pool.

And then I finally slipped my body in

And my breath caught

and my brain exploded

In absolute joy.

l am in a WATERFALL!

My body felt more real,

More alive,

More

Me.

The suspended mica in the water made every ripple sparkle

Like a fairy pool.

It was beautiful,

Magical, Perfect.

That song says:

Don't go Chasin' waterfalls...

But it's wrong.

Do.

Do chase waterfalls

Please, for me.

Or take me with you.

Because I need more waterfalls in my life.

——-

Hemlock Falls

I love waterfalls.

I especially love waterfalls in southern Appalachia because the rivers are

SATURATED

in mica

& the water sparkles & glistens in the sun.

It's like liquid sunshine

buried in a lush, deciduous forest.

EEEEEEEEEEeeeee!