Powerful Waters Surging Wisely Forward, and Other Offerings from Readers to Writers

Lines overheard at the Five-Word Reading Party

In thanks to all those who participated in my one-year Stackiversary party over the last two weeks, today’s post is a poem with three dozen authors. Each co-author read at least one other person’s post and left a five-word reply to echo what they heard.

Each line of the poem below is one of those five-word responses.

The short italic subheads are my addition. They provide a loose — very loose — unity to every group of ten lines.

The name “Powerful Waters Surging Wisely Forward” comes from

Cherie Lee

’s response to a post by

Priscilla Stuckey

(line 33).

Brainteaser: Can you spot the lines with five phrases or other loose interpretations of five words?

Merced River photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash. This picture accompanies Priscilla Stuckey’s “Trusting the Waters of Life,” the personal essay that inspired the title of this post, thanks to the reading of Cherie Lee.

I. How to Use This Page

A. Click the title to read in a browser. Email may cut the post short.

B. Find five words in the poem below that spark your curiosity. Hover over a note or click it to learn who wrote the line and who wrote the inspiring post.

C. Discover new authors! Subscribe freely. Writers love readers. :-)

.

Part II. The Poem

.

Speaking of families, bodies, books:

1. Grandmother: imagination, humor, stories, comfort.¹

2. Countdown, dumplings, don't weaken, May!²

3. Memory keepers, songs, grief, wholeness.³

4. Body, consciousness, cosmic, collectives, relationship.⁴

5. The sidewalk pebble remembers you.⁵

6. Death, living, memory, song, sun, moon.⁶

7. Vulnerable narrative, asking to hope.⁷

8. Middlebrow family at the theater: Pericles production is no fiasco.⁸

9. Sharing yourself with the world.⁹

10. Plath, bubblegum pink, problematic favorite.¹⁰

    *

    Listening and moving. What’s next?

11. Five rhythms inviting to live.¹¹

12. Dancing, grief, renewal, spirit, dancing!¹²

13. Energy, movement, grief, love, breakup.¹³

14. Dancing heals mind and soul.¹⁴

15. Grief, inspiration, moving, free, music.¹⁵

16. Scapegoat and the Slaughterhouse guy.¹⁶

17. Ancient warmth, shkitagen, sacred crossroads.¹⁷

18. Sun, flame, imagination, wisdom, inspired!¹⁸

19. Deep listening, shaggy, community, hearing, subscribed.¹⁹

20. Pantoum, poem, writing, wonder, shed.²⁰

    *

    Stay alive while you’re alive:

21. Pilcrow (¶), space, cup, loss, reflective.²¹

22. Power of the soul howl.²²

23. Sonoran aquifer depletion of nourishment.²³

24. Dream-bird, time stops, freely.²⁴

25. Escapist poet surrealist lighthearted imaginative.²⁵

26. Get clear on your desire.²⁶

27. Stop watching the news, Sweetie!²⁷

28. Stuckiness, resistance, process, grace, UNSTUCK.²⁸

29. Life, death, embrace, allow, opening.²⁹

30. Culled, raw, gems, sparkled, gallery. ✨³⁰

    *

    A self-aware journey to gratitude:

31. Canvas face sobriety celebration creation.³¹

32. Wonder, social-pressure, grief, celebration, mindfulness.³²

33. Powerful waters surging wisely forward.³³

34. Sky belonging to whoever imagines.³⁴

35. Reflection leading to love, confidence.³⁵

36. Belonging, connection, identity, reflection, transformation.³⁶

37. Anniversary, romance, home, ephemeral, life.³⁷

38. Cloud-watching, journey, belonging, presence.³⁸

39. Warrior cloud belonging to joy.³⁹

40. Murals and stories are calling.⁴⁰

    *

    Get to know someone new:

41. Honest; unflinching, brave, insightful, provocative.⁴¹

42. Introvert, animal lover, funny, escape artist, keep moving.⁴²

43. Jealousy, dark rooms, sanguine drinks.⁴³

44. Hot sauce, jealousy, jest, wandering eye.⁴⁴

45. Mothers counsel famous sons - hilarious!⁴⁵

46. Feliz Navidad, holiday with heart.⁴⁶

47. Learn how to decide right.⁴⁷

48. Chance-led oracles intuit steady universe,

    & Happy nachos to heart-mending hawthorn.⁴⁸

49. Seeing, writing like an artist.⁴⁹

50. Walter conducts Mahler, and more!

    & (Halbrooks announces 2024 readalong titles.)⁵⁰

    *

    Bodily encounters, told with spirit:

51. Gifted girl assigned short bus.⁵¹

52. A music-and-memory community.⁵²

53. Heartache, empathy, I have guffawed.⁵³

54. Finding silence amidst the noise.⁵⁴

55. Quiet, history, locations, intention, subscribed.⁵⁵

56. Small tasks now. Thoughtful remembering.⁵⁶

57. Repeat visualization throughout the day.⁵⁷

58. Mind. Ruminate. Lost. Running. Free.⁵⁸

59. Kim and Ava, new friends; or

    EMDR therapy releases old burdens.⁵⁹

    *

    A conversation in 5x5 stanzas:

60. Andrew Beaton
    : Cranky Old Man Loves Wetlands

    This is Me; Andrew Beaton

    pecking away at American Lit

    I enjoy this writing community

    Quiet Reading: Fine by me.⁶⁰

    .

    Tara Penry
    : Andrew! Superlative -- five by five!

    You've raised the bar in

    a way I rather like.

    Shall I respond in kind?

    Considering it. Meanwhile, warm welcome.

    .

    Andrew Beaton
    : Too cold to be fishing

    Too cold to be crabbing

    So nice to be welcome!

    So nice to be warm

    So nice to be writing.

.

Three words: Until next time!

---

To learn more about

Quiet Reading with Tara Penry

, see the About page or a sample post such as “She Persisted” or “The Valentine Tree.”

If you’re wondering, the invitation that led to all this abundance of talent was my anniversary post two weeks ago: https://tarapenry.substack.com/p/one-year-five-word-party.

1.

Julie Gabrielli

read https://justablink.substack.com/p/grandma-helen by

Cherie Lee

of

Just a Blink

.

2.

Tara Penry

read https://justablink.substack.com/p/grandma-helen by

Cherie Lee

of

Just a Blink

.

3.

Jackie Daly

read https://witchcraftandmetaphysics.substack.com/p/the-way-of-the-stones by

Jenna Newell Hiott

of

Witchcraft and Metaphysics with Jenna Newell Hiott

.

4.

Jackie Daly

read https://witchcraftandmetaphysics.substack.com/p/what-is-this-thing-called-self-container by

Jenna Newell Hiott

of

Witchcraft and Metaphysics with Jenna Newell Hiott

.

5.

Rebecca Barry

read https://witchcraftandmetaphysics.substack.com/p/the-way-of-the-stones by

Jenna Newell Hiott

of

Witchcraft and Metaphysics with Jenna Newell Hiott

.

6.

Priya Iyer

read https://witchcraftandmetaphysics.substack.com/p/what-is-this-thing-called-self-container by

Jenna Newell Hiott

of

Witchcraft and Metaphysics with Jenna Newell Hiott

.

7.

Derek Pharr

read https://open.substack.com/pub/serenacamacho/p/change-one-person-and-you-change?r=3epq0p&utm_medium=ios by

Serena Camacho

of

WordDance

.

8.

Tara Penry

read https://middlebrowmusings.substack.com/p/a-jacobin-romance-at-classic-stage by

Michael Maiello

of

Middlebrow Musings

.

9.

Emily Conway

read https://matthewmlong.substack.com/p/beyond-the-bookshelf by

Matthew Long

of

Beyond the Bookshelf

.

10.

Sal Randolph

read https://thebooktender.substack.com/p/my-muse-is-mad-for-it. by

Abra McAndrew

of

The Booktender

.

11.

Jenna Newell Hiott

read https://jackiedaly.substack.com/p/finding-grace-by-dancing-with-grief by

Jackie Daly

of

Creative Seasoning

.

12.

Sal Randolph

read https://jackiedaly.substack.com/p/finding-grace-by-dancing-with-grief by

Jackie Daly

of

Creative Seasoning

.

13.

Good Humor by CK Steefel

read https://jackiedaly.substack.com/p/finding-grace-by-dancing-with-grief by

Jackie Daly

of

Creative Seasoning

.

14.

Serena Camacho

read https://jackiedaly.substack.com/p/finding-grace-by-dancing-with-grief by

Jackie Daly

of

Creative Seasoning

.

15.

OddnessWeirdness

read https://jackiedaly.substack.com/p/finding-grace-by-dancing-with-grief by

Jackie Daly

of

Creative Seasoning

.

16.

Jenna Newell Hiott

read https://jeffstreeter.substack.com/p/introducing-kurt-vonnegut-gabe-hudson by

Jeffrey Streeter

of

English Republic of Letters

.

17.

Cherie Lee

read https://open.substack.com/pub/buildinghope/p/talking-back-to-walden-cbb?r=4cg2x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web by

Julie Gabrielli

of

Building Hope

.

18.

Sal Randolph

read https://open.substack.com/pub/buildinghope/p/talking-back-to-walden-cbb?r=4cg2x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web by

Julie Gabrielli

of

Building Hope

.

19.

Priscilla Stuckey

read https://econway.substack.com/p/a-pantoum-and-a-phone-booth by

Emily Conway

of

A Thin Space

.

20.

Priya Iyer

read https://econway.substack.com/p/a-pantoum-and-a-phone-booth by

Emily Conway

of

A Thin Space

.

21.

Victoria

read https://uses.substack.com/p/three-recent-paragraphs from

Sal Randolph

’s

The Uses of Art

.

22.

Chris Stanton

read https://open.substack.com/pub/rebeccabarry/p/dog?r=1e46c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true from

Rebecca Barry

’s

Out of My Mind

.

23.

Cherie Lee

read https://johnlovie.substack.com/p/the-desert-is-all-about-water by

John Lovie

, who is (like you, me, and Earth’s surface)

Mostly Water

.

24.

Sal Randolph

read https://thefurcup.substack.com/p/i-am-dreaming-and-i-am-in-the-dream by

Kathy Hopewell

of

The Fur Cup

.

25. Catherine of

Willow and the Witch

read https://thefurcup.substack.com/p/i-am-dreaming-and-i-am-in-the-dream by

Kathy Hopewell

of

The Fur Cup

.

26.

Michelle Neeling

read https://open.substack.com/pub/donnamcarthur/p/tips-to-elevate-your-energy?r=1z0b1o&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web by

Donna McArthur

of

The Bright Life

.

27.

Cherie Lee

read https://open.substack.com/pub/donnamcarthur/p/tips-to-elevate-your-energy?r=1z0b1o&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web by

Donna McArthur

of

The Bright Life

.

28.

Joyce Wycoff

read

The Bright Life

by

Donna McArthur

.

29.

Donna McArthur

read https://michelleneeling.substack.com/p/dying-of-thirst by

Michelle Neeling

of

Oblivious Witness

.

30.

Crystal Beshara

read https://michelleneeling.substack.com/p/know-thyself by

Michelle Neeling

of

Oblivious Witness

.

31.

Julie Gabrielli

read https://michelleneeling.substack.com/p/some-weekend-things by

Michelle Neeling

of

Oblivious Witness

.

32.

Victoria

read https://michelleneeling.substack.com/p/some-weekend-things by

Michelle Neeling

of

Oblivious Witness

.

33.

Cherie Lee

read https://priscillastuckey.substack.com/p/47-trusting-the-waters-of-life

Priscilla Stuckey

of

Nature :: Spirit — Kinship in a living world

.

34.

david roberts

read https://www.tenthousandjourneys.com/p/on-the-way by

Priya Iyer

of

Ten Thousand Journeys

.

35.

Heidi Darby

read https://www.tenthousandjourneys.com/p/on-the-way by

Priya Iyer

of

Ten Thousand Journeys

.

36.

Mary Tase, MSW

read https://www.tenthousandjourneys.com/p/on-the-way by

Priya Iyer

of

Ten Thousand Journeys

.

37.

Keanu Hayter

read https://www.tenthousandjourneys.com/p/on-the-way by

Priya Iyer

of

Ten Thousand Journeys

.

38.

Sal Randolph

read https://www.tenthousandjourneys.com/p/on-the-way by

Priya Iyer

of

Ten Thousand Journeys

.

39.

Kathy Hopewell

read https://www.tenthousandjourneys.com/p/on-the-way by

Priya Iyer

of

Ten Thousand Journeys

.

40.

Tara Penry

read https://gratitudemojo.substack.com/p/vagabonding-or-projecting by

Joyce Wycoff

of

gratitude mojo community

.

41.

Michael Maiello

read https://robertsdavidn.substack.com/p/my-experience-raising-children-of by

david roberts

of

Sparks from Culture by David Roberts

.

42.

Teri Adams

read https://chrisstanton.substack.com/p/embracing-introversion by

Chris Stanton

of

Stantonland

.

43.

John Halbrooks

read https://substack.com/home/post/p-140678081 by

Heidi Darby

of

The Weekly Sip

.

44.

Abra McAndrew

read https://substack.com/home/post/p-140678081 by

Heidi Darby

of

The Weekly Sip

.

45.

Tara Penry

read https://open.substack.com/pub/csteefel/p/writing-isnt-a-real-job?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web by

Good Humor by CK Steefel

.

46.

Tara Penry

read https://mexicosoul.substack.com/p/from-strangers-to-friends-in-mexico by

Jeanine Kitchel

of

Mexico Soul

.

47.

Jeanine Kitchel

read https://patomuindi.substack.com/p/things-not-seen?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2 by

Patrick Muindi

of

Everyday Living

.

48.

Kathy Hopewell

read

Willow and the Witch

by Catherine.

49.

Tara Penry

read https://open.substack.com/pub/crystalbeshara/p/start-here-a-letter-from-my-heart by

Crystal Beshara

of

The Artist's Eye

.

50.

Tara Penry

read https://johnhalbrooks.substack.com/p/jrr-tolkien-jane-austen-and-bruno by

John Halbrooks

of

Personal Canon Formation

.

51.

Tara Penry

read https://open.substack.com/pub/teriadams/p/reality-check-woman-origin-story?r=1trc68&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web by

Teri Adams

of

Reality Check - Crip Edition

.

52.

Tara Penry

read https://www.carermentor.com/p/music-memory-is-more-powerful-than) by

Victoria

of

Carer Mentor: Empathy & Inspiration

.

53.

Victoria

read https://open.substack.com/pub/bessstillman/p/from-strangers-to-lovers-in-the-emergency?r=16l8ek&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web by

Bess Stillman

of

Everything Is An Emergency

.

54.

Jeffrey Streeter

read https://thespiritualalmanac.substack.com/p/quiet-day by

Mary Tase, MSW

of

The Spiritual Almanac

.

55.

Emily Conway

read https://thespiritualalmanac.substack.com/p/quiet-day by

Mary Tase, MSW

of

The Spiritual Almanac

.

56.

Tara Penry

read https://www.chiefrabbit.com/p/dan-is-great-be-like-dan by

Derek Pharr

of

Chief Rabbit

.

57.

Tara Penry

read https://youbutbetter.substack.com/p/how-to-actually-do-the-thing-you by

Keanu Hayter

of

You But Better

.

58.

Kim Van Bruggen

read https://rocguiducci.substack.com/p/mind-is-the-enemy-part-1-a-bug-in by

Roc Guiducci

of

Create in Curiosity with Roc

.

59.

Tara Penry

read https://kimvanbruggen.substack.com/p/i-lost-my-identity-what-i-found-was by

Kim Van Bruggen

of

Life (un)Learned

.

60.

Andrew Beaton

writes

American Lit

.