Category Archives: Poetry

Everything

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Poem, Day 4

Give it a real go.

Give it everything you got.

And give it some time.

ava wood

♦

This month, on April 27, I’ll mark nine years since the idea for the Giving Back Project seized upon me while attending a philanthropy conference in Seattle.

If nothing else, this journey of nearly 3285 days has taught me the three points composing the haiku above, which was posted in observance of National Poetry Month. So when you choose to pursue something meaningful, dream big, prepare well, go hard…and hang on tight for the dizzying roller coaster ride! — VF

Stack of Giving Back books

Passage

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Poem, Day 3

Nearly ran out of time today, so I’m re-blogging this poem titled “Passage” from 2014. Enjoy!

valaida's avatarvalaida

Never feels quite right
Too long bundled and uptight,
like a Nubian entombed or plainest Mennonite.
Tension risen, watch the bite
Mind churning, so burst it might.
Eternal tunnel absent a whisper of light
Sun conceded to perpetual night.
Well-plumbed valleys, nary a heavenly height
Nearly convinced no mercy in sight
Then, I write.

— Ava Wood

There she goes again. And why not, it’s National Poetry Month!

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‘Full Circle’ by Quentin Talley

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Poem, Day 2

In 2008, I commissioned longtime friend and poet Quentin “Q” Talley to create a group performance piece for a community philanthropy conference. Later, he refined it and then came and delivered it at one of my giving circle‘s planning retreats. It was 2009 or 2010 when I asked Q to edit the poem for inclusion in the book I was writing. Now Full Circle is featured using kinetic typography in Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited. Delighted to share it here again for National Poetry Month!

To hear Q recite his poem, listen here.Full Circle screenshot

Re:versed, Again

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dazed by days of prose
april comes showering poems
state reversed by verse

Poem, Day 1

Originally posted on 4 April 2013

Today is the first day of National Poetry Month! In fact, this April marks the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month, which was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. It has grown to become the “largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.”

To join in the celebration, new and favorite ‪poems will post here throughout April—possibly every day! I call my poetical alter ego Ava Wood and plan to tap into that voice to produce new poems this month. Each year, I relish the challenge of creating poetry, like the haiku above and like this and this and this. — VF

National-Poetry-Month-Logo-2

equinox

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Today marks the vernal equinox and first day of spring—a beloved time of year. Perhaps because my birthday comes along with the season, the arrival of springtime happenings (greenness, jonquils, morning bird songs, warmer weather, budding trees, brighter days) is a source of supreme delight. Conversely, fall is my least favorite season. This is evidenced in the poem below, written exactly six months ago on the autumnal equinox.

fading daylight hints its approaching

the rustling cues my lament and loathing

hustled, leaves surrender verdant hues

a pall befalls every branch in view.

its cooled breath, a cause to brood

déjà vu dreading of a bluest mood.

never ushered, seemingly flung in

the season liked least of them

alas, here again: autumn.

ava wood

autumn leaves

The Fall

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tumbling into fall

since summery slip, head then heels

rose to see love go

— ava wood

VF photos in the gardens of Duke Mansion, during its centennial.

Deeply Green Day

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deeply green day, kept

before summer yields her reign, 

pressed, bottled, to sip.

— ava wood

Awash With Wisdom

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O, I say take care.

When longed for boats land harbor,

hardships, too, sail in.

— ava wood

Turns Around The Sun

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moment sublime, smile 

compose dog day sunlit gaze

tick! time is tender

— ava wood

These Times

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My mind, spinning,

the heart, quickening,

both fixed on the kin,

the Christian 

brethren,

the American

countrymen

and women

of the Charleston

killing’s

victims.

Amen.

— ava wood

soul of philanthropy quotes_times that try mens souls