Miriam Feder

When I fell from marriage, home,
bland feats of life-as-I’d-known-it,
coupled-into some twenty-plus years ago,
suddenly everything was a question again.
What is? What isn’t?

All my assumptions broke into pieces:
sharp; slithery; and none-too-shiny.
Portland spoke through my ticklish in-step.
She pressed into the soles of my feet with
rose-and-tumble acceptance,
as I skirted puddles known and unknown.
Restless possiblity swayed along my sides
while Portland steadied my stride—“It’s ok.”

Who knew that asphalt could be a tender touch,
that this patient, old-friend town of mine
would roll out padding and take me easy,
while the stuffing in my head blew ‘round
many cups of coffee: many thanks, Portland.

This piece from About Love has gone thorugh a lot of transformation–from problem piece to oneof the centerpieces of the show.  I’ll feature this piece at Scratch–Portland’s wonderful performance lab. In the meantime, what do we do with that detritus from love gone bad?

 

 Broken Hearts Seem Such a Waste: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (42)

I’ve always had an active Fantasy life.  In love you’ve gotta have it.  But, moderation in all things, I suppose.

 

 Fantasy: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (57)

Can you go back into a relationship? Can you process out of a relationship? Maybe–maybe not. Doing anything constructive with love seems to be a bit dicey, but worth the try…These are 2 short Haikus–Love Retroactive and Love Lost, but not Forgotten, from About Love:the bittersweet heart, debutting February 22 in Portland.

 

 Love that Was: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (47)

It’s rejuvenating to remember the common and uncommon blessings we enjoy each day. It’s expansive to offer recognition to those we embrace in our field of plenty. But we might find an even greater share of peace by offering some recognition to those who often stir our less attractive emotions. Sharing a moment of contemplation in a season ripe for it.

 

 Blessings: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (37)

Sometimes we’re our own worst enemy. That’s not just an old adage. It’s time to stop rejecting the stuff inside (and outside) us and to stop internalizing all that other “rejection” we may run across. Rejection is from Big Words. It’s featured in the book About Love; the bittersweet heart,
now available for Holiday Delivery.

 

 Rejection: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (32)

Some pieces needed re recording for the new site and this is one of them. This is part of my book–About Love: the bittersweet heart. This was my most downloaded piece from the old site. For me, the feel of this piece has changed quite a bit as I’ve gone further down the road with this project.

 

 Balancing on My Heart: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (32)

How a business encounter can turn into a deep revelation in one small comment.

 

 Dog Hair in My Coat: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (32)

Maybe this is how objects take on personalities. They accompany us through the maelstroms and meals of our lives. We are our favorite toys.

 

 What an Appliance: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (25)

A tale of obsession and self-destruction, deterioration and divorce, from the collection Ravelings.

 

 Mad Dog: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (29)