The spirit of sport, now available on demand, courtesy of the Foundation's poet laureate
PEACE-ABILITY | for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
a body of written, spoken & visual poems honoring the spirit
of trucefulness; our deeper, shared humanity, and our ability
and possibility as individuals, cultures and countries of people
to be ever more peaceful within and between ourselves.
as poet laureate of the Truce Foundation of the United States,
creating, curating and contributing this unique poetorial around
the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. dedicated
to the spirit of the Olympic truce, its participants on and off
the fields of play, the people of Korea and soon to-be-honored
"truce bearers." the bellwether poem of this cultural offering
in progress is "Peace-ability." all the specially-commissioned art
will be featured here as it comes forth, including the Foundation's
Trucefulness Award poems to be presented at the inaugural
PyeongChang Forum, a Davos-like gathering of global influencers
in Seoul on the eve of these Winter Games...
For the full experience - including visuals and sound - go here.
Below are a small selection of the poems without visuals or music scoring; beginning with the lead-theme “Peace~ability"…”
Peace-ability
How the reverence
for Ékécheiria
for this ancient Greek spirit
from the days of Olympia
and Elis, and the easeful
holding of hands,
unbearing of arms,
transcends millennia,
to this moment
of trucefulness.
Where Olympians
and modern pilgrims
travel and gather
with ease of way,
into a higher place.
One infused
with peaceability;
greater possibility.
Put aside differences
and didactics.
Enter the experience
with an unspoken unity;
a shared humanity.
Colin Goedecke
for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Winter 2018
Peace-ability, a poem for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Poetry & Voice : Colin Goedecke
still point © colin goedecke
The Times of Truce
When the blowing
winds cease.
When the swelling
seas settle down.
When the earth
enters a still point
near dawn,
near dusk.
Or the night skies
grow silent
with stars.
Whenever the world
of Nature
makes peace
with itself.
And Man
mirrors that
peace in himself;
gives free leave
to his fellow man.
These are the times
when rare and
graceful plumes of truce,
deep spirits of unity,
community
can be found and
greatly felt --
by everything living.
Be remembered and
honored --
by everyone,
young to old,
hearkening.
Colin Goedecke
for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Winter 2018
The Times of Truce, an anthem-poem for the Truce Foundation of the United States
Poetry & Voice: Colin Goedecke
The Times of Truce, the musically-scored poem, for the 2018 Winter Olympics
Poetry & Voice: Colin Goedecke, Music & Scoring: Jacob Friedman
classically formed © colin Goedecke
Pindar
He tuned us, B.C.,
to the poetry
of Olympic feats;
his victory odes
to its athletes,
and Panhellenics --
of Corinth, Nemea,
Pythia. Made a
flower-petaled way
for much Olympian
musing; openings,
closings -- even
engravings, on medals
of burnished gold
and silver.
Pindar, passionate,
lyrical spirit; quasar.
Colin Goedecke
for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Winter 2018
Pindar, a poem for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Poetry & Voice: Colin Goedecke
centuries later © colin Goedecke
Centuries of Winters
Centuries of winters,
centuries of wars,
centuries of civilizations
and conquistadors
have not stopped the tides
from falling, or the moon
from rising; the beating
of birds’ wings
or women’s hearts,
the heat of the day;
the absolute silence
of the stars.
Colin Goedecke
for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
from the collection The Speed of Sight
Centuries of Winters, a poem for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Poetry & Voice: Colin Goedecke
how you bring yourself to the table © colin Goedecke
The Other DMZ
A Deeper Meeting Zone.
De-calcified.
De-toxified.
De-pressurized.
Between any two parties,
any two bodies, of countries,
cultures, or beings.
Where so much more
is seeable. Is desirable.
Is possible.
Colin Goedecke
for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Winter 2018
The Other DMZ, a poem for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Poetry & Voice: Colin Goedecke
beholding the beauty of the body © colin Goedecke
In Praise of Bodies
That can fly
through winter skies.
That can take off and land
without wings. Hurtle
at remarkable speeds
down rural mountainsides.
Become works of art
in white space.
Bodies that can dance
miraculously on water;
race and match fluidly
over scapes of
crystallized water.
Can glide with all grace,
tracing agile ways
through forests, and
fields of moving targets.
Bodies that can shine
with burning spirit,
purpose, passion;
beyond color, culture,
nation.
Colin Goedecke
for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Winter 2018
In Praise of Bodies, for the Olympic Athletes of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games
Poetry & Voice: Colin Goedecke
heaven-to-earth © colin goedecke
Beauty Continues
While countries, armies
and ideologies battle, bees
make honey. Butterflies
float, and drink the nectar
from gently open flowers.
While spouses, neighbors,
bosses and workers quarrel,
the sun still sets, and rises.
Brings color, splendor.
To snow-hatted mountains,
old growth forests,
bird-filled meadows.
The moon still shines.
Upon the faces of oceans
and lakes, fjords and
flowing rivers. On fish-filled
bays; clear streams and tarns,
tide pools of mussels,
anenomes, sea stars.
While attentions,
actions turn
to ungraced choices
and places of being,
unlovely behaving,
in the world's towns
and villages, houses
and metropolises,
beauty everywhere,
ever here, ever pure,
continues.
Colin Goedecke
for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Winter 2018
Beauty Continues, a poem for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
Poetry & Voice: Colin Goedecke
more written, spoken & visual poetry to come;
added here as the Winter Olympic Games progress...