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Last year, I had the fantastic and moving chance to experience the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It's actually officially a two-day celebration (November 1st and 2nd) in the country, but often the weeks leading up to the dates, and some spillover time afterwards, are taken up with the practice of intentional remembering and in creating memories about which to reminisce in days to come.
In that context, this week, I offer a poem by U.S. poet laureate (2019–22) and Native American writer, musician, and lecturer, Joy Harjo:
Remember
Joy Harjo
Remember the sky that you were born under,
know each of the star’s stories.
Remember the moon, know who she is.
Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the
strongest point of time. Remember sundown
and the giving away to night.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of
her life, and her mother’s, and hers.
Remember your father. He is your life, also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
brown earth, we are earth.
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their
tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them,
listen to them. They are alive poems.
Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the
origin of this universe.
Remember you are all people and all people
are you.
Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you.
Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is, that life is.
Remember.
What feelings are inspired in you by Harjo's words? What do you think the poem's essential message is?
What imagery, in particular, resonated with you? Sky, stars, moon, sun, mother, father, earth, plants, trees, animals, wind, people, universe, language?
I like Harjo's concept of "alive poems" What "alive poems" do you commune with in your life?
This Sunday, at our annual All Souls service, we read the names of those who have died in the past year. But, since we will have all ages with us throughout, I will be invoking the lighthearted spirit of celebration of the Días where, in Mexico, millions of flowers erupt across town squares, around doorways, and festoon the graves of the ancestors. This is not a grim funereal observance, but a loud, boisterous, music-filled, fireworks-accentuated, parades-punctuated, food-festooned and, often, humorous commemoration of loved ones and our essential interconnectivity. The Días are very much keeping with our monthly theme of "heritage"—heritage-celebrating and heritage-creating.
It was wonderful having Rev. Virginia with us this past week. If you did not yet get the chance to watch the service, I highly recommend it as a prime example of the power of community at UUCMC, celebrating a proud heritage of ever widening the circles of our concern, and looking forward to writing, together, a new chapter of our lives as a congregation. Watch it here. I felt, again, the blessing of Rev. Virginia on my assuming the mantle of being your called minister, and I experienced the hope that is possible, even in very dark days in our country and around the world, if we gather in solidarity and love.
I hope to see you on Thursday, and then again on Sunday. I will be away for two weeks beginning Sunday evening, and then we enter into the holiday-filled time of year that brings with it the chance to create new memories together. So much to anticipate with joy!
A Trunk 'r Treat festival takes place after Sunday's worship service, beginning with cookie-decorating at Community Hour and then spilling over into the front parking lot with dancing, music, and trick 'r treating. So, come in costume or bring one along.
It is good to be UUCMC.
Rev. Craig
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