Beyond Words

I spend a lot of time using words, like writing, teaching, reading --every day. But this week I encountered two reminders of the power of non verbal activities. Is there something beyond words that connects all of us to life beyond human?

The first experience was a seminar at AgeSong Institute in Emeryville, led by Natalie Rogers (daughter of Carl Rogers), about her practice of Expressive Arts Therapy. Some things in our lives lie in our unconscious so they can't be put into words in conversation or in talk therapy. We can draw, sculpt, collage or paint images that reveal feelings, thoughts, dreams or ideas we didn't know we had. Rogers told us that engaging first in movement and dance helps us to access these images. I know that I respond emotionally and intellectually to paintings, photographs and film, but I rarely draw or do visual art and I rarely remember my dreams. I also know that we only use 10% of our brains, the rest lying in the unconscious. Ms. Rogers' presentation raised the question: what lies in that large un-used part of my brain that might surprise, delight, terrify and enlighten me?

Earlier in the week I'd heard an interesting conversation on National Public Radio about the brain. A scientist recounted the case of a patient whose brain was almost completely destroyed, with only a small part of the brain stem remaining. The person lay paralyzed in a coma, slowly dying and unresponsive. But someone accidentally played music in his room one day. Miraculously, the dying man moved his eyes and showed the doctors he "heard" the music!

Which leads me to my second non verbal experience, when I attended a Good Friday performance of Bach's St. John Passion at St. Paul's Episcopal Church,Oakland. My whole body trembled afterwards from the emotions of three hours in the presence of Beauty. Especially a cello/viola da gamba line, really an equal duet with the mezzo soprano soloist, in the aria "It is Finished." The cello melody wove and sang, umber, amber, tremulous, pure, soaring, cradling, dark, bright, flame, spirit, heart, consoling, dancing -- the words fail. I wanted to hug the musician, a Yo Yo Ma clone, to thank him for an experience that was somehow like being loved by a new parent, a better parent than any parent could be. My heart is full still.

SOS Stopping the Silence

Stopping the Silence, SOS, and Oakland group founded by Kehinde Seitu dedicated to fighting sexual abuse. This weekend I perform with the group a monologue and a poem that I wrote. This family -- they're like a family rather than a performance troupe -- inspires me. These women are strong beyond belief, supporting each other in recovering from trauma and loss. The show takes place at 8 pm tonight and tomorrow, Saturday at Wo’se Community Church, 8924 Holly St. Oakland, CA 94621. A free conference will be held Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm at East Oakland Youth Development Center.

Today She
is the kitchen sink
draining stuff
old stuff
out of mind body time past
oozing
slow fast
through pipes winding under sewers' sludge
up, down, out -- stuff - goodbye
Go away pain, leave her
sparkling fresh cleanser TV ad clean
nice, sweet and safe

Today she
is the kitchen sink
you'd like her to do these dishes
piled up over here wouldn't you
but she doesn't feel like it just now
she thinks she'll wait.....
Oh, look, here comes Hope
hopping through the kitchen door
sayshaying a tricky two-step across the floor
Hope is turning the faucet on
ooohh... bet that water feels smooth and warm
Today Hope is helping her
wash the pain
down the drain
Today she
is the kitchen sink

Substitute or Guest?

I've been working as a substitute teacher in the Oakland Public Schools for the past two weeks--high school. The substitute department told us to call ourselves "guest teachers."
Unfortunately, the students haven't grasped the beauty of having a Guest Teacher.Attitudes vary from "Hey-Let's Cut-Class" to "Hurray - a sub - it's Social-Hour." Classroom teachers leave great lesson plans and explicit instructions for the Guest Teacher in order to keep the curriculum moving in a consistent, forward direction. But students have a different lesson plan in mind.

When does this attitude start? Kindergarteners and first graders sseem to understand that the adult standing in the room is a teacher that should be listened to, even if she/he has a different face than their regular teacher. Perhaps by 4th grade the Myth of the Substitute has drifted into children's minds from whatever School Room Epic Poem it comes from.

Former students who are now in college gave me this advice about substituting in high schools:
1. Don't follow the regular teacher's lesson plan; students will refuse to do it.
2. Bring your own lesson plan, even if it's poetry writing in a Physics class.
3. Best option: bring a movie, sit back, and relax.

I refuse to give in to this cynicism. So far. But I'll let you know how I feel in another month or so.