Neologism

Neologism**

(Evolution of words)

Words may grow out

Like limbs reaching, folding open

To the sun of changing times

Words may cleave,

Like dried leaves, dropping down

to the earth of buried memories

Words may invert,

Like sea-stones, rolling over

tossed by the tide of progress

Words may return,

Like dormant fish in dried river bed,

receptive—

Waiting for flash flood of resurgency

Words may invade,

Like foreign species, pushing in

Taking over on the edges of knowledge

Words may spring forth

Like wind traveled seeds, pushing up

Out of the Mystery of evolution

May the voices of the poets

Preserve the language of our now

bodies

As if they are collective hymns—

Formed by the unique soundings

off the tongues of today

May they sing into all the bellies

swollen with new life, new creativity,

new wonder

Growing into tomorrow’s questions

Welcoming all the Questions

of our shared Sacred diversity of

Aliveness🌀

Forever Unfolding…

**Inspired by Tamarah Rockwood’s reflection on the anniversary on bainbridge island press BIP—

“The poets we publish are not just contributors; they are unique voices, individuals whose words capture the essence of our shared human experience. Every poetry book we present is a testament to the voice of the poet, a voice that preserves the language we speak now. The language we used 20 years ago is not the language we use today. And 20 years from now, the language will change. In an ever-evolving linguistic landscape, it becomes crucial to capture the emotional nuances and dynamics of thelanguage we use to both find and define ourselves.”