Anna

Reading from Tuesday, March 18, 2014 yoga class

I dedicated this class to Anna Lucas, a friend of mind.  I found out that she was in hospice in Louisville.  At this time during class, I did not know that she had passed away that very morning.  Anna came to my yoga classes for many, many years.  I worked with her at the public library and served on the City of Madison Tree Board with her.  Anna also was a wonderful poet.  When she was working on headstand, she gave me the following poem that she wrote, which is a favorite of mine.  I have already posted this poem on this blog, but I think it is worth repeating.  Rest in peace, Anna.

HEADSTAND

After months of bumping
my heels and other parts
against the wall,

after countless graceless
falls to the mat, after conquering
my aversion to inversions,

working through the seiche
that kept the room spinning
and my eyes closed,

after reminding myself
over and over to Breathe,
dammit, breathe...

And all the while my body argued,
These girly arms, this egg of a skull
weren't meant to sustain

the weight of a middle-aged
woman.  And the legs, the feet,
look how they flail, frantic to stay afloat

But one day I found it--a coupling
of lightness and strength,
hips balanced over shoulders,

spine straight but relaxed,
body suspended between floor
and ceiling, ceiling and floor.

Anna Bellamy Lucas
2011