White Fleshed Peaches
There are a few on the table
next to a note telling me not to eat them
They're destined for a cobbler we'll take to your mother's this weekend.
Gazing at them, round and beautiful in a puddle of yellow sunlight
I think this is how Eve must have felt, seeing the Tree of Knowledge.
Its heavy, plump fruit swinging in the morning sun.
How she must have picked one without intending to eat it at first.
Marveling at its weight, turning it over between her hands. And then--
bringing it up to her nose and smelling its heady fragrance.
Brushing it lightly with her tongue and tasting the barest hint of its nectar.
She too, finally raised the fruit to her lips and bit into it.
Felt the juices run over her lips and tongue. She, too,
ate until it was gone and then sucked the stone for the last of its sweetness,
finally running to find her beloved and kiss him with sticky lips.
Reveling in the sweetness of this small sin.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Put Some Words Around That
It occurred to me last night that not everyone will be hip to what the Women & Power Conference at the Omega Institute is and why it’s such a big flippin’ deal that I received full funding.
The Omega Institute is a holistic center in upstate New York. Their mission statement: Through innovative educational experiences that awaken the best in the human spirit, Omega provides hope and healing for individuals and society.
Once a year, partnering with a number of feminist organizations, the host a conference with the broad theme “Women & Power.” Under that auspice, this year’s theme is “Connecting Across the Generations” and the workshops will cover topics on intergenerational feminism. Additionally, because of Omega’s dedication to working with the whole person, there will be a variety of workshops on how to juggle your personal and professional lives and creating a meditative space in your work. While I’m certainly interested in all of these, the real catalyst for applying for funding was the realization that Jessica Valenti (author of The Purity Myth and co-founder of feministing.com) will be presenting along with the other editors of feministing. I doubt it will come as a surprise to anyone that I would give my left arm to write for feministing, so this will be as much an opportunity to network as anything else. Oh. And have I mentioned that Gloria Steinam and Isabelle Allende regularly lecture there?
My application stressed heavily the fact that I’m one of two women in the systematics Master’s program and my work with domestic violence in an organization where I’m one of the youngest women and communicate differently than my coworkers. Apparently all of that worked, because Omega agreed to fund my travel from NYC to Rhinebeck, pay my conference fees, meals, and accommodations for the weekend. I’m so incredibly pleased I can barely stand it. This is a huge opportunity to network with astoundingly well-connected women, reconnect with other idealists, and take a good long breath before the semester really starts to get crazy.
The Omega Institute is a holistic center in upstate New York. Their mission statement: Through innovative educational experiences that awaken the best in the human spirit, Omega provides hope and healing for individuals and society.
Once a year, partnering with a number of feminist organizations, the host a conference with the broad theme “Women & Power.” Under that auspice, this year’s theme is “Connecting Across the Generations” and the workshops will cover topics on intergenerational feminism. Additionally, because of Omega’s dedication to working with the whole person, there will be a variety of workshops on how to juggle your personal and professional lives and creating a meditative space in your work. While I’m certainly interested in all of these, the real catalyst for applying for funding was the realization that Jessica Valenti (author of The Purity Myth and co-founder of feministing.com) will be presenting along with the other editors of feministing. I doubt it will come as a surprise to anyone that I would give my left arm to write for feministing, so this will be as much an opportunity to network as anything else. Oh. And have I mentioned that Gloria Steinam and Isabelle Allende regularly lecture there?
My application stressed heavily the fact that I’m one of two women in the systematics Master’s program and my work with domestic violence in an organization where I’m one of the youngest women and communicate differently than my coworkers. Apparently all of that worked, because Omega agreed to fund my travel from NYC to Rhinebeck, pay my conference fees, meals, and accommodations for the weekend. I’m so incredibly pleased I can barely stand it. This is a huge opportunity to network with astoundingly well-connected women, reconnect with other idealists, and take a good long breath before the semester really starts to get crazy.
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