Singing Belletini
(a hastily written ode)
It is the volume I reach for first
looking for that particular presence
that metaphor
that cadence
that neither Sarton nor Oliver can match
nor even Whyte in his rich considerations
It is the rhythm of Belletini
who knows us deeply
who has served us and continues to
who understands the need
for Unitarian Universalists
to linger
and consider
what our voices cry out for
there is always a turn in his words
a something that gives us pause
whether it be a unique word like “starwheel”
or a repetition like “is upon us”
words that turn our heads
and make us wish
we weren’t singing at all
because we need the precious time
to revel in the glorious and sweet
to lean into the glow and the greening
would Rumi make us barrel on?
would Julian or Hildegard?
would Hafiz?
why then should our own poetic prophet
demand that we chant away
barreling onward
losing the moment?
we wish we weren’t singing at all
but rather
reading aloud
to one
another
and letting our NPR voices
fade
into silence.
(Autumn)
Summertime has turned the starwheel, autumn is upon us.
Sweet the angling sun, sweet upon the air the smell of blue mist rising.
Summertime has turned the starwheel, autumn is upon us.
Glorious the trees, glorious the sight of rust leaves falling, falling.
Summertime has turned the starwheel, autumn is upon us.(Winter)
Autumn cold has turned the starwheel, winter is upon us.
Grey the windy storms, cold upon our cheeks the wet rain glistens, glistens.
Autumn cold has turned the starwheel, winter is upon us.
Leaping is the fire, golden in the glass the cider glows like amber.
Autumn cold has turned the starwheel, winter is upon upon us.(Spring)
Winter rains have turned the starwheel, springtime is upon us.
Sharp the smell of loam, bursting in our eyes the turrets of the tulip.
Winter rains have turned the starwheel, springtime is upon us.
Greening is the grass; soft upon our brows the sunlight warm caresses.
Winter rains have turned the starwheel, springtime is upon us.(Summer)
Vernal clouds have turned the starwheel, summer is upon us.
Gliding are the hawks, hovering above the hot and yellow hillside.
Vernal clouds have turned the starwheel, summer is upon us.
Crickets in the night, chirping in our ears the sound of moonlit music.
Vernal clouds have turned the starwheel, summer is upon us.
I’ve not much more to say. I love Belletini’s words – although I’m not a huge fan of the tune sung alone. Perhaps with others, with accompaniment, I would find the connection that would move me.
But for now, clearly what has moved me is Mark Belletini. The truth is, his meditation book, Sonata for Voice and Silence, is indeed my go-to when I need a reading, or even when I just need to read some poetry. Don’t get me wrong – I love other poets and mystics. But Mark is something special.
I had the pleasure of working with Mark for one of the Soulful Sunday services co-led by the Church of the Larger Fellowship and First Unitarian-Portland last winter, and after I fangirled a little (yes, it’s true, I did fangirl on the Zoom video conference), I discovered in Mark a minister as loving and gentle and surprising as his poetry. It was a delight and an honor to help him bring a visual element to his words, to be, just for a moment, a part of that creation.
On a day of blustery cold, it’s nice to have a warm memory to hold me.
