Dr. Eric Littleton, Pianist

Had the pleasure of listening to Dr. Eric Littleton at our Smoky Mountain Bed and Breakfast monthly meeting at Pennywalk Inn in Dandridge. Sure would love to have him playing one of our pianos here at Creekwalk Inn in Cosby! Here is a poem written for him while he played. Be sure to check him out on facebook. He thought he would be giving up music to become a medical doctor, but has found out how to squeeze in his passion for music in late evenings of inspiration and records in his home.

This poem for Dr. Eric Littleton:

And when my soul
wandered through the tall
meadow grass
I heard notes so sweet
like dewdrops
surrounding me in loving
sound
and felt the piano, harplike,
sing as the breeze of
heaven

by Janice Haynes, innkeeper,
http://www.whisperwoodretreat.com

before today

Don't think I really knew
before today
just how deep it is to
feel the love of mother
within me
releasing you
my ache catches my breath
I know this must be
a journey taken by all mothers
how my mother
let me go
Know the gentle strand
of this light beam between our hearts
can always be walked safely into time and beyond
beloved ones, my home

moving away

The intelligence that is love
arrives as a bright eyed child

my entire being is now mother
I who have hiked trails and
ridden the wind on horseback
and dreamed dreams
am now adoring nursemaid to new life

my closest companion status is replaced slowly
then pops like a bubble
and I see the bliss of youth moving
into the great adventure

I must start anew

I delight in every laugh, caress, shared story
I am amazed at the beauty of life moving through me
into the unknown
I bless my children, my brilliant ones, who light the sky wherever they go with their brightness,
I feel their light
Thank you for your 23 years of being my home
As you move away
Scold me if I follow too closely

unspoken

When the grieving starts
it is as subtle as the breeze that
settles into stillness
or the waves lapping on the shore that
move into gentle traceless rhythm
and then the empty rooms
that held my daughters
begin to cry out
and all that I have loved
feels gone

We've made chaos out of living
and the slow meandering steps of time
have compressed into hurried high-heeled
tight skirted jolts
missing the ease of distance covering strides
I slow down today and wonder how to
find the rhythm of my breath in this far flung galaxy
My heart beats its cadence of hope
Silence explodes into my darling's bright laughter
I explore simple ways

Desert Light

Bright desert
Not so much dry as it is bright
For the yellow grass grows from some source
It is not brittle, just frothy and wispy and wavy
And the longhorn cattle quench their thirst
In the cottonwood groves deep in the canyon
where ancient people cooled their mouths from earthenware
and matched the rugged tumbling rock etched against sky
with outlines
of their cheekbones
dancing by the fire
in the crisp bright night

Janice Haynes, returning from Double Circle Ranch, Eagle Creek, Arizona, photo by Ryan Dressler
November 19, 2010

Time travel

the usher
time
leaned far forward
beckoning me
she gestured
gleaming as my whole
realized complete
shining self
asking just a little bit more
knowing I could do it