Poetry Lounge
Springtime Never Sleeps
a poem by Sharonah (Sharon) Robinson
springtime
never sleeps
it lingers
dormant
in our imagination
until the next
rebirth of new
commands our view
giving us
a glimpse
of our own
ongoing possibilities
forever emerging
like a glimmer
of sweetness
and renewal
secretly lingering
all year
within the dark
midnight of sacred hibernation.
Notes on Dance, Music & Writing
I have occasionally worked with musicians, for my plays and poetry. Sometimes, there have been either spontaneous or rehearsed performances. I have enjoyed reading my poems with musical accompaniment, including jazz and classical music. There are ” song-poems” in some of my plays, and I would be intrigued to connect with musicians to develop and to co-create the music for my words. The possibility of having a CD of my poems, with music, also interests me.
I am gradually finding that I am very comfortable sharing my poetry and creative dance in liturgical settings. This artistic expression is a form of prayer. I also enjoy having my poetry accompanied by music for this purpose.
Meher Baba
March 9, 2012
I have written a collection of devotional poems, and nine of them are published in the February, 2012 Meher Baba journal from Portland, Oregon. The journal is called Meher News Northwest. To see the poems, which are on page 3 of the journal, please go to www.AvatarMeherBabaOregon.org and scroll down to Meher News Archives.
My spiritual and creative search has led me to follow the teachings of Avatar Meher Baba, who is also called The Awakener.
This spiritual link to Meher Baba helps me to feel a beautiful sense of oneness with all of the world’s major faiths.
I celebrated the birthday of Avatar Meher Baba (1894-1969) on Saturday, February 25, 2012.
I shared the film, “Eternal Beloved.” We also had refreshments. I shared some devotional poetry, written by myself and others
There are many youtube and written sites on Meher Baba online, for those who may be interested.
Children’s Literature
I have written several selections of stories and poetry for toddlers. Some of the stories are inspired by my work as a nanny. Other stories are inspired by my cat, Simone. I shall be sharing some of these poems and stories with you in the near future.
Here are a few for now…
Selections from Imagine That! (stories & poems for children)
As A Child
poem by Sharonah (Sharon) Robinson, written May, 2005
at first I did not know
the names of trees
I loved the wind
the garden breeze
watched and waved
to the trains passing by
while I watered
peach and plum tree
the small child pond
the West L.A. sun
our home
on Ashby Lane
The Owie
today I hurt my knee
when I was stung
by a bee
mommy kissed me
and she also
kissed my knee
later, she put on a band-aid
and she gave me a glass of fresh lemonade
I hope I never get stung
again by a bee
and so does my knee.
About My Short Stories
Reflections by Sharonah (Sharon) Robinson
(written February 27, 2011, August 23, 2011)
I have written a collection of fiction pieces, some of them relate to race, ethnicity, social acceptance and interpersonal relationships. Being in some ways outside the margins, my work as a poet and fiction writer sometimes focuses on people outside mainstream culture.
In the 1970’s, I was a young, full-figured Jewish woman, a poet finding my way in America. I was earnestly seeking connection, meaning and authenticity for my life, and a sense of belonging. As a full-figured woman, I did not find social acceptance (ie…dates, attractive, accessible clothing) or social approval in the realm of the mainstream milieu. Much of this lack of acceptance, I feel, was due to fatophobia and the tendency to devalue hsp’s (highly sensitive people).
My friends and companions were often other outsiders. I was searching within and meeting other outsiders; to find my sense of self. This search was also my way to creatively explore and to find a sense of wholeness.
In 1974, I became active in the fat women’s liberation movement for size acceptance. I soon began writing short stories and poems to bring to light the experience of living as a full-figured woman in America.
In 1986, my life began to change slowly, yet dramatically, when I became a spiritual devotee of Meher Baba. Since then, my work has focused more completely on the inner journey toward wholeness, from a more conscious spiritual perspective.
Now, I am looking through more of my notes, journals and larger collection of stories, to reclaim, to heal, to resurrect what is good, what is of value or even wisdom, so that I and others may continue to learn from that earlier time frame in my life.
Notes on The Manipulated Image, a jazz choreopoem by Sharonah Robinson
(1979-1981)
In 1959, in her novel, A Spy In The House of Love, Anais Nin explores the complexity of an interracial romantic encounter. My journey in writing The Manipulated Image is also that of a woman artist who wants to know more and to experience life more intensely.
I felt compelled to write The Manipulated Image, (about an interracial relationship between a Black-American male photographer and a Renoiresque Jewish-American woman), even though I was possibly breaking a literary or cultural taboo, or being politically incorrect, at the time. It was written during 1979-1981. I admit I was wondering how this play would be perceived in the Black theatre community in Boston, Massachusetts.
I was a student of Lynda and Jim Spruill, around that time, in the Goddard/Cambridge School for Social Change Graduate Theatre Program. They were also developing a Black Theatre Program at Northeastern University. I was learning a great deal from their perspectives and experience as African-Americans and theatre artists.
In the mid-1980’s I directed actors and musicians and we did a few performances of some of the scenes from The Manipulated Image, in The Living Room Coffee House in Cambridge and in the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. I also arranged for a full play reading at The Red Book Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At the time, several of my theatre friends enjoyed the play, which I call a jazz-play, since it was written for words, songs and jazz improvisation.
Additional notes on the play and how it was received by more theatre colleagues and an interracial audience during discussions following the performance are part of my Master’s Degree Final Report along with a version of the play (1984). My Final Report also includes a section of notes on Theatre As A Way To Portray Alternative Histories. So that was my focus in writing, performing and acting….to create roles that impacted life in a non-mainstream way.
Notes on The Tainted City (a short story by Sharonah Robinson)
(written from 1978-1983)
The Tainted City, my novella, focuses on Luis, a Mexican-American male filmmaker and Felicia, a Renoiresque Jewish woman. The story takes place in Hollywood/Los Angeles, California. I was interested in writing about Luis because he was so dynamic and alluring to women, and also the tragedy of his lost film career. He believed he was blacklisted for being too outspoken in the Hollywood film community.
Felicia wants to feel glamorous and desired. Both Luis and Felicia want social acceptance in mainstream America. Yet both are outsiders. Luis feels the more prominent (Anglo) Hollywood filmmakers have prejudice toward his more exuberant personality. He sees his outspokenness as an ethnic trait they don’t understand.
Luis’ housemate, Hidalgo, makes anti-semitic remarks about Felicia, as a way to communicate his dislike for her. There is an undercurrent of anti-semitism in Hidalgo’s interaction with Felicia, and in his remarks to her and to Luis, although this is not the main focus of the story. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be an understanding, on the part of Hidalgo, regarding the kinship of marginalization between Felicia, (a Renoiresque Jewess outsider), and the two Hispanic men. On the surface, Felicia is more culturally able to blend into American society, yet, due to her personality and other factors, she is far from being accepted by middle class white society.
Hidalgo’s father had been a pachuco. The pachucos were early Mexican-American immigrants in the 1940’s. They were searching for roots and seeking ways to deal with their rootlessness. Like Felicia, Luis, and Hidalgo, the Pachucos had a need to create their own identity. This mention (of the pachucos) is also a valuable although brief aspect of the story. In his famous book of essays, The Labyrinth of Solitude, Octavio Paz wrote about the Pachucos and social marginalization.
Notes on Janine, the Samba Queen, a short story by Sharonah Robinson
(1985-a work in progress)
I was inspired by Janine’s (not her real name) ability to transform her appearance and become elegant and beautiful as a woman and as a dancer. Janine is a dark-skinned African-American and full-figured woman. In my short story, she attended samba and Middle Eastern dance classes. The other dance students looked in disbelief as the white Brasilian dance teacher fell for Janine.
Then, she began professionally performing samba and other dances with Beto, the teacher. There was, for example, a special dance celebration for the United Nations Day Parade, in New York City. When Janine was hired for bellydance parties, she was only chosen to work mainly in the Black community, due to racism and prejudice. The teacher/co-ordinator who booked the parties did not want to see Janine get hurt and face rejection.
Another, fairer-skinned, slender Black dancer was hired to dance more widely for white and mixed audiences at private parties and restaurants.
Janine’s day job was in a day care center, where she inspired children to dance and have fun. As a dancer, Janine wore elaborate wigs and sewed her own dance costumes. Although outside the mainstream, she never felt self-pity. I was inspired by her, in finding my own path as artist and dancer, to continue to dance and to create.
Her parents were supportive of her and that also gave her strength and courage to survive, despite racism and fatophobia.
Notes on Daniel, a short story by Sharonah Robinson
(1985)
Daniel is a short story I wrote about a middle class Black man and a white woman, Miriam. Yet, she is also Jewish and Renoiresque. Miriam shows spiritual maturity and strength, I feel, in her refusal to become entangled in an affair that is non-committal, as Daniel has other priorities. Therefore, the woman in this story is different than the Caucasian women in the two other stories. Malka in The Manipulated Image and Felicia in The Tainted City, enter into relationships that are hurtful to them, in their search for love and acceptance. Miriam’s spiritual core protects her and teaches her about the reality of love and life and relationships.