Abstract
The author presents poetry that expands understanding of the humanuniverse experience at a lake.
Humanuniverse is one of the core constructs of the humanbecoming paradigm. Nurse theorist, Rosemarie Rizzo Parse (2021) stated, “the humanuniverse is indivisible, unpredictable, everchanging” (p. 28). Combining the words humanuniverse denotes that the individual and the universe are inseparable. Parse posited, “It is the humanuniverse connecting-separating that coconstitutes the emergence of being human” (p. 22). Connecting-separating, from a humanbecoming perspective, “is attending-distancing: it is living being with and apart from others, ideas, objects, and situations all-at-once” (Parse, p. 50). Parse elaborated further, stating, “Connecting-separating incarnates various intimacies of attending-distancing arising with the becoming visible-invisible becoming of the emerging now in living quality” (p. 50). Humanuniverse emerges as one’s personal reality. “Human reality is a seamless symphony of personal becoming. This means that human beings are engaged with the universe cocreating a unique history” (Parse, 1996, p. 182). With humanuniverse, the individual chooses certain pattern preferences that construct their unique way of living with the now moment. For example, lake people, those living at the lake or people spending many vacation days and summers at the lake (I am one of those lake people), choose to appreciate the intimacies of the connecting-separating with humanuniverse occurring in the early morning hours at the lake. One particular day, in the early morning, with coffee cup in hand, I attended to the stillness, the rain-pattern, and the call of the loon. For me, the morning stillness, the rain, and the call of the loon cocreated with me the history of an exciting, beautiful humanuniverse emerging at the lake.
Stillness slices through the air- as sun meets water glistening. Sounds of silence are everywhere- even the rocks are listening. A gentle breeze stirs the quiet- with fluttering leaves speaking. A golden eagle lands on a naked limb- such beauty is far-reaching. Stillness. . ..
Pitter patter, pitter patter thunder clatters. It’s raining at the lake. Pitter, patter, pitter patter it doesn’t matter. That it is raining at the lake. Pitter patter, pitter patter ducklings scatter. When it’s raining at the lake. Pitter patter, pitter patter there’s coffee and chatter. While it’s raining at the lake. Pitter patter, pitter patter a nap I am after For it’s raining at the lake.
The call of the loon is like a Siren’s song. It summons me to come along. The water-bird poses no threat on shore. And, it’s story is important to local lore. The Common loon I have seen with many a glance. I have watched it swim, fly, and do the penguin water-dance. It’s black and white checkered back- there is no finer. The loon is a beauty, and is a strong and nimble diver.
