Soul Flame

Let Us Speak the Language of Love - poetry by Zayra Yves

2012-01-29T23:21:00.001-08:00

Photo and poem by Zayra.

You can find the full length version of the poem here:

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ZayraYves

It is on the CD Crowned Compassion.

Sleep in the Sea Tonight with Me - poetry by Zayra Yves

2012-01-29T23:17:00.000-08:00

Photo was shot in Santa Cruz, California by Zayra

Poem is on the audio collection with the same name at CD Baby:

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ZayraYves

liquid love ~ poem and photography by zayra yves

2012-01-17T09:29:00.000-08:00

It's Almost Too Much Love to Believe

2012-01-04T12:40:00.000-08:00

by Zayra Yves
(featured on Lanterns via CD Baby)

Late in the evening you arrive
And permeate my field of strength

You'd have to sleep among bones to feel
How deeply this communion affects me

My beloved friend, my essential being
I've seen you before in my dreams

It's almost too much love to believe.
You loved me when I was burned at the stake

A real Joan of Arc in the street
Not just another cold soul covered in sleet

You love like someone who knows my secret
You love me between a deep blue fire

And an ocean of purity
It's almost too much love to believe.

Soaked in wine like some blood of Christ
Held inside the rose of Magdalena Divine

I can feel the end of my flesh
The threshold of the separate self delete

Into the transfiguration of a blessed two
Who surrender in the heat

It's almost too much love to believe.
I am not afraid of the bitter root

Or burning clove where you sometimes sleep
I won't turn away from the hidden pain

Or the way you close your eyes when it's too deep
It's the discovery of you that excites me

Your style of illumination is brave
It's almost too much love to believe.

Everything dirty and clean finds its place
Like me, loving between damage and beauty

Mine is a heart that cries continuously
Searching for God's grace or at least a sign

I'm nothing special but somehow I am unique
When you smile, a glance of sun bestows my face

It's almost too much love to believe.
You love me in my defeat

And when I turn away from real intimacy
I am still in our lovers embrace

Like a saxophone that accents the jazz note
I am just sinner with some crazy idea

Formless, un-manifest, true sucker for a miracle
It's almost too much love to believe.

I said a prayer before you appeared on the scene
With the sounds of poetry and electricity

And now you are the artist and the muse
And now you are the lover and beloved

It's transpersonal. It's magnetic.
This light web of falling into you.

It's almost too much love to believe.

(*copyright 2011 by Zayra Yves)

-

The CD Lanterns can be found at CD Baby:

Buy this CD at CD Baby

Pancakes & Booze Art Show in San Francisco

2011-12-07T13:42:00.000-08:00

Once again Zayra is participating in the Pancakes & Booze Art Show! Come on out for the party!

San Francisco's Famous Underground Art Show
Featuring Live Music, Body Painting and Over 75 emerging Artists
http://pancakesandbooze.com/

Now You Are In the House of Eternity by Zayra Yves

2011-12-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

This poem is dedicated to my cousin Lex and appears on my new CD Lanterns.

www.zayrayves.com

Lanterns ~ poetry by Zayra Yves

2011-11-30T15:59:00.000-08:00

I lit a candle for you

and said a prayer.

You lit a candle in me

and I became a prayer.

~

Lanterns is a new audio poetry collection by Zayra Yves with music by Kevin Barnard. It is currently in the manufacture stage of creativity and will be shipped from Discmakers on December 7, 2011. This collection is a soulful journey through the iconic love that Jesus and Mary Magdalene held for one another. Reserve a copy now at http://www.zayrayves.com/

Reflect on the Beauty of Love and Loss

2011-11-29T10:14:00.000-08:00

Two of my favorite book passages speak to the depth of love even in passing and loss. The truth we often do not like to face is that all things pass away. Everything is temporary in the material and physical world but our hearts and souls seem to live on eternal. It's the love we leave behind that makes us immortal.

~

The first passage stands out not only in literature but it is exceptionally well portrayed in the epic film by the same title:

"The English Patient" by Michael Ondaatje.

“We die containing a richness of lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have plunged into and swum up as if rivers of wisdom, characters we have climbed into as if trees, fears we have hidden in as if caves. I wish for all this to be marked on by body when I am dead. I believe in such cartography - to be marked by nature, not just to label ourselves on a map like the names of rich men and women on buildings. We are communal histories, communal books. We are not owned or monogamous in our taste or experience.”

~

The other paragraph that set my world on fire when I read it is from "My Traitor's Heart" by Rian Malan:

"I think you will know what I mean if I tell you that love is worth nothing until it has been tested by it's own defeat. I felt I was being asked to try to love enough to not be afraid of the consequences. I realized that love, even if it ends in defeat gives you a kind of honor, but without love you have no honor at all. Love is to enable you to transcend defeat."

~

Often times our culture shows us love in the romantic or erotic forms but rarely in the spirit of friendship or transcendent love that appears in soul bonds between people. We have many ways to love others, so we have many ways to lose them and suffer too. The beauty of it is when we realize that love in the most true expression of itself is an eternal feeling and it continues long after we have left the planet. The way we love and how we love stays with us forever.

Love is who and what you are.

(link to image: http://www.crystalinks.com/petroglyphs.html)

~ a love story inside the structure of color ~

2011-10-24T22:03:00.000-07:00

by zayra yves ~

you said that indigo is for soul love

blue is for the upper room

yellow is saved for those bent shoulders

who need to cry

but red, red is only for the same person

over time who carries the mouth of flowers

without the promise of sobriety

easily lost, somehow, in the ivory of creation

like a work of art or a secret bargain

formed with our eyes half closed

so no one dares to ask for the color of truth

but hopes for the soft green of the willows

- by zayra yves

www.zayrayves.com

Poem is published in Lulu book:

"Leaving You Unpainted"

Angel Heart Resurrected

2011-10-17T12:27:00.001-07:00

Angel Heart Resurrected
poem by Zayra Yves

Thousands of years ago, I was buried with lions.

I was sacrificed to serve a king in the after life.

They anointed my body with holy oils -

cedar, cinnamon and myrrh

and wrapped me in the finest Egyptian linen.

My body was embalmed and entombed.

My musical instruments, memories,

and songs were immersed with me

as an eternal slave.

Thousands of years ago I was buried

with lions and kings...

until the cry of humanity in distress

seeking to forgive itself,

seeking to love and understand,

seeking to know the mystery,

to know their sacred beginnings...

caused the scorpion sting in my soul to heal

and pulled me from the clay

of a reframed earth.

Thousands of years ago

I was buried with lions and kings,

until I heard the plea

from your heart,

painted in blue and lover's gold,

ready to fly on the wings of compassion.

It was you who resurrected my song

from an ancient grave.

And, here I am today

to sing of how beautiful

you truly are.

by Zayra Yves
www.zayrayves.com

-

image: white lioness
© Brett Critchley | Dreamstime.com

Be Yourself

2011-09-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

(dreamstime free image)

It is not necessary to be beautiful, famous, well-liked, educated, rich, perfect, or any type of status whoop-de-doop from the mass marketing mill, to be a loving, compassionate, gracious, giving, peaceful, true and whole human being. Don't be fooled into thinking you got to be "out there" giving into the demands in order to experience love. Love is happening right now. You are love. Embrace it.

(This was originally a Facebook note in 2010 that I decided to post in my blog.)

*

Love is a Journey

2011-09-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

Human beings are capable of tremendous love. They demonstrate this love all the time. It rarely makes it into the news. Try to remember that just because someone doesn't show you the style, brand or kind of love you want, doesn't mean it isn't in their heart or that they aren't capable of it. Love is a journey and it takes some of us a lifetime to figure out how to express it.

(This was originally a Facebook note in 2010 that I decide to post in my blog).

*

(dreamstime free image)

~ Angel in the Blue ~

2011-08-11T22:08:00.001-07:00

Angel in the Blue
by Zayra Yves

Lost in the secret zodiac of the sea
a beauty swims.

In a swish of starry firmament
a sweet voice
emerges from deep within you
and moves through the waves of sorrow
to cup your soul
with a loving embrace...

as you sway to the sound of a heart beat
in the dance of discovering
your sacred song

is not forgotten,
just too long buried in the mystery.

© 2011 Zayra Yves, All rights reserved.

http://www.zayrayves.com/

*

"All will not be as it was, but it will be true...." Derek Walcott

2011-07-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

It is not August yet but I wanted to post this poem by Derek Walcott because in stanza four there is a line that stands out timelessly (besides rain in summer is an excellent metaphor for the dampness we feel when a bright moment has been spontaneously spoiled in our lives): "Don't you know I love you but am hopeless at fixing the rain?" I have been thinking lately about how and why we hold grudges against each other, as well as how sore we are at times about the unfixable things which happen between us or around us; how frustrated we are when things are not perfect or as we what them to be.

"Dark August" by Derek Walcott

So much rain, so much life like the swollen sky
of this black August. My sister, the sun,
broods in her yellow room and won't come out.

Everything goes to hell; the mountains fume
like a kettle, rivers overrun; still,
she will not rise and turn off the rain.

She is in her room, fondling old things,
my poems, turning her album. Even if thunder falls
like a crash of plates from the sky,

she does not come out.
Don't you know I love you but am hopeless
at fixing the rain? But I am learning slowly

to love the dark days, the steaming hills,
the air with gossiping mosquitoes,
and to sip the medicine of bitterness,

so that when you emerge, my sister,
parting the beads of the rain,
with your forehead of flowers and eyes of forgiveness,

all will not be as it was, but it will be true
(you see they will not let me love
as I want), because, my sister, then

I would have learnt to love black days like bright ones,
The black rain, the white hills, when once
I loved only my happiness and you

© Derek Walcott

-

It might be easier to be compassionate toward one another if we recognize that everyone has rain in lives. Sometimes we cannot see what is leading to the ruin or the pain but it is there in every person's path. Perhaps we hold grudges because as Rumi pointed out "even if you hate me, at least your attention is still on me." We hold a wound because we don't want to let go of our emotional attachment to a person or memory. Maybe we don't have to. Or it could be that the grudge is teaching us where we might try to be more forgiving and compassionate toward ourselves as well. Maybe the point of entry into our soul, which is bitter and hard, is the right one. When we come to the gateway of understanding, it's like the last two stanzas of "Dark August":

*

all will not be as it was, but it will be true

(you see they will not let me love
as I want), because, my sister, then

I would have learnt to love black days like bright ones,

The black rain, the white hills, when once
I loved only my happiness and you

*

"All will not be as it was, but it will be true..." When I read that line, many things stir in me, and I find it leaves me speechless to think there is as much love in the ruin and rain, as there is in the temple and sun. I discover I am overwhelmed by such love and knowing that it turns out I have been loved beyond that which I once imagined. Dare I say with a smile, that even when you hate me, you are still loving me as deeply, maybe more so, than you did when we were laughing?

It is possible.

*

dreamstime image: hibiscus flower after the rain - by irabel8

Misunderstood: Love

2011-07-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

This week I searched for the word "LOVE" in the on-line thesaurus and it came up as: "love - 10 of 111 thesaurus results" on the first page. There are a lot of different ways to use this misunderstood four letter word, while we use the other four letter word for everything else, and create confusion.

It is easy to misunderstand the word love because we attach our expectations to others and our relationships with them. We tend to approach relationships expecting, wanting and desiring. Naturally we are upset when the object of our possession doesn't seem to reciprocate our fantasy. We want people to read our mind, communicate in ways we find acceptable, and behave as we have decided is appropriate to our liking. The reality is often a shocking difference from our dream, then the blame game begins and the war to prove who is right or wrong. And, well, Lord forbid that someone has a boundary, it must mean they don't love us. In reality our fantasy is not an act of love per se, it's an attachment and an expectation that leads to trouble.

Even the Greeks understood that love required some definition, so they negoiated it into four slim categories: Eros, Agape, Philia, and Storge or passionate love, unconditional love, friendship love, affectionate love.

There is more than one way to love, more than one way to communicate or express that love and several authors have commented on love. Osho said, "Love is a verb." Love is timeless. In her book, A Return to Love, Marianne Williams said, "We are not held back by the love we didn't receive in the past, but by the love we're not extending in the present.” I should write more to support this paragraph, and maybe I will later, or maybe I will leave it to the reader to discover their own quotes on love.

As for myself, I often try to cultivate love in its myraid of expressions throughout my life experience. I too have been deeply wounded and misunderstood. I recall then that in The Course in Miracles it reads "Everything is a call for Love." When I ponder that, I realize it is a love that is about acceptance and belonging. We all want to belong and be accepted for who we are. I am fortunate to say that I feel loved, as much as I have also loved deeply, but that doesn't mean I always feel I am understood or received by those I love. It is perhaps part of our journey toward the ultimate love to discover that we have to begin within ourselves to accpet who we are and trust in the Divine plan of our lives to guide us toward being the expression of love in its highest form. Keep in mind, it might not lead to marriage (wink).

*

free dreamstime image: love heart by alejandro duran

More of Zayra's Art to be Displayed at SF's Artists Alley

2011-03-07T23:24:00.000-08:00

Zayra's art will be on display at the Artist's Alley
from March 26th to April 1st.

The details are on the poster, which was
masterfully created and designed by

Kevin Barnard (www.barnardgraphics.com).

The Artist's Alley Gallery
863 Mission Street, San Francisco
Between 4th and 5th Street, across from Bloomingdales

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
www.galiara.com
www.theartistsalley.com

Celebrate the beauty of your life! Forgive yourself and others! Love!

Voice of a Star

2011-02-14T16:00:00.000-08:00

Voice of a Star- Zayra Yves

Out of the flame
and into the street

runs the child of everything,
naked with grief
and nothing to hide.

She is fueled by a selfless light
where only the heart
is a guide,
follow her.

(painting by zayra yves - all rights reserved)

Let go of the small idea you hold of yourself and others...

2011-02-09T09:21:00.000-08:00

"Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?"

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God; your playing small doesn't serve the world."

That quote by Marianne Williamson might be one of the most popular quotes I have heard people verbally speak, as often as it is quoted in print.

It came to mind this morning how often I have been caught in the trap of smallness both by my own proclivities and by those of others. If you have that habit of agreeing with someone's idea of you which keeps you from feeling joy or traps you into a small place of story, or if you find yourself being a miser who is holding someone else in a very tight place, then maybe today you can let those stories grow a few inches taller...let some joy and forgiveness into the center of it.

Another author and inspirational speaker, David Whyte, has a terrific poem on this same subject of not shrinking, "Sweet Darkness." Recently I attended an event at the Mount Madonna center where I had an opportunity to listen to him recite the poem. And, I was reminded that we are all greater than the illusions we create to cause ourselves and one another pain.

Sweet Darkness- by David Whyte

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb
tonight.

The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

You must learn one thing:
the world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive

is too small for you.

_

There are sad moments when humans want to be stuck in the small petty stories they tell themselves and others but what is to be gained from that?

Let your love blossom into having enough heart to heal the pain, embrace the taller version of your soul while you elevate the greatest parts of those you love. It can be done.

Destiny, Fate and Soul

2011-02-09T02:42:00.000-08:00

No matter what is written about destiny, we cannot be certain as to where it comes from or how its dramatic fate truly plays out its passion in our lives. What I see is that everyone eventually has a moment to be more than their story (as the story is often a limited vision of ourselves passed to us by family or society) which is when destiny appears to meet up with our hard work to create a measure of glory.

The other opportunity for destiny to arrive is when we step outside of our small notions about ourselves to rise up with forgiveness and gestures that show how much we truly value our journey and each other.

Whatever the case may be, destiny, like fate, and many of our spiritual and emotional experiences, has an aura of mystery about it. Perhaps we are not supposed to know for sure the answer to where destiny arrives from, so much as we are meant to make ourselves fertile ground by clearing away the "stuff" that stifles us. This is where the practice of detachment is helpful, especially when there is a lot of negative influence or undo drama being created by the planet of humans (assuming that most of us are just regular human beings, regardless of our awards or talents, and not saints), as it allows for some distance on the web of nonsense.

No one can take away your destiny or journey. We each have our own path to walk where each relationship we encounter is unique. By the same token, no one can remove your long hours of work, effort and constant attention to the details of your soul. The soul has its own way of taking your breath away.

People Cannot Claim People

2011-02-08T01:11:00.001-08:00

Only things can be possessed; beings cannot be possessed.
You can have a communion with a being.
You can share your love, your poetry, your beauty, your body, your mind.
You can share but you cannot do business.
You cannot bargain.
You cannot possess a man or a woman.
But everybody is trying to do that all over the earth.

- Osho

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."

And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran

-

Image: drawing by Kahlil Gibran

Eternal Light

2011-02-08T00:39:00.001-08:00

An African Legend: White Lions & Leopards

2011-02-08T00:33:00.000-08:00

1st Prize:
Faded Hieroglyphs by Zayra Yves

"This poem is a surreal and exceptionally powerful poem that explores tribal and ancestral belief systems, and highlights the respect and awe that lions once had. Congratulations Zayra, for this and the other poems you entered they were all wonderful to read." Michelle Stewart & Judges

_

Faded Hieroglyphs

There are eternal images somewhere I have been in my dreams.
I long to return to the sands where lions roam,
sit as sun statues, and roar in the night winds.

I have heard them singing of golden rings,
of fire in my belly, while ashes and petals
blew in the alleys with yesterday's news.

Red with ceremony was the light
and women's bodies did not harden
as they stood in the shadows
watching the winos commune with jackals
and the children play with paper sails.

Among the kohl eyes and black draped women
shopping in the bizarre,

I long to wander free as a winged creature
in the shape of a hieroglyph,
in the shape of mystery, in the curve of linen…

I long to see the women in the streets
who speak to me from their eyes;
hear them as they say:

Welcome home my sister, my brother.

I feel their presence now and know that we are one.

If this life is fragile and we are often too easily broken,
then let today be the day we celebrate love, so beautifully transparent
with its perfumes and melancholy vines.

Come me with where the lions roam free
and give over your weary heart to rest in mine.

I long to be once again in ancient sands, in pristine gardens,
in God's country listening to the wild things speak.

Let us be where the journey is loving,
where the tribesmen know secrets we have forgotten.

Come with me now where the white lions are walking.
I have heard them calling your name.

_

If you want to hear Faded Hieroglyphs, you may go to my web page and click on the ReverbNation link or you may go to Crowned Compassion on CD Baby and purchase it directly.I would also like to add that three of my poems are published in this magnificent collection! It is just stunning. I feel so honored to be there with the writers, artists and photographers!!!!

Amazing!!!!

www.whitelions.org
(photo is from Linda Tucker's book cover: Mystery of the White Lions

www.zayrayves.com

book is published here:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1963069

My Favorite of Shad's lyrics from 'Keep Shining'....

2011-02-07T22:50:00.000-08:00

One of my younger sister's sent this message to me today and she really made my day. I listened to the lyrics several times and I was so impressed with these two stanza's that I felt compelled to share them because the words are so positive in a world kind of nuts with being petty. I also was deeply touched by my sister's gesture.

It's a message not to give up...no matter.

Here are some of the best lyrics from Shad's
"Keep Shining"

-

Nothin’s for certain, we all have to trust
Someone
I used to want to find the love of my life
Now I’m tryin’ to live a life of love
It’s not just a husband and wife thing
It’s something that Christ brings
True beauty doesn’t run from the light
Keep shining

-

t’s funny how words like, ‘consciousness’ and ‘positive music’
Can somehow start to feel hollow, it’s
Become synonymous with polishing soft collagen lips
On the face of race politics
Well you can’t be everything to everyone
So let me be anything to anyone
The world turns and there’s clouds sometimes
But there’s no such thing as a setting sun
It always keeps shining

-

"This hole in my heart..."

2011-01-27T08:10:00.000-08:00

"You’ll get over it…” It’s the clichés that cause the trouble.

To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don’t get over it because ‘it” is the person you loved.
The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never loses. How could it?
The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve over is not made anodyne by death.

This hole in my heart is in the shape of you and no-one else can fit it. Why would I want them to?"

Written on the Body
- Jeanette Winterson

NEW BOOK RELEASE: Leaving You Unpainted

2010-12-31T08:14:00.000-08:00

Leaving You Unpainted is collection of love shared through poetry in an unpretentious and unadorned style, yet it is profoundly provocative with its visual sensual feast of beauty, art and love in its myriad of expressions. It is both haunting with sorrow and lyrical with divinity. Once you begin, you will be addicted to the end. It is a must read for those obsessive passionate souls and art lovers who understand that mystery is as much a part of love, as the obvious. It is the journey of love, loss, letting go and creating something beautiful from it all.

Review: By Joseph Mallon
A poetry offering by Zayra Yves can only mean new outpourings of love filtered through star fields, churned hot blue in densely swirled spirals. She reaches out again as a poet laureate of love with an elegantly produced gem of a book. Love divine, love romantic, love found quickly, and lived deeply. A narrow sliver of experience yearned for in lifetimes of desire. These intense poems are no cerebral exercise penned in quiet reflection. The words come hard earned in a stained, dog-eared, under the mattress handbook of love by a poet who lives the love of which she writes. Sometimes sweet, often erotic, always soulful, these poems speak to lovers with hearts split wide open with ecstatic joy, and soul smashing love cries. This is a wondrous work, moist with the sweetness of peaches, and the salty taste of love passions. Kisses come often here, are held deeply, and will be longingly remembered. Zayra’s love may be left unpainted, but it is not without color.

BUY THIS BOOK HERE:

Art on its way to Moss, Norway for charity....

2010-11-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

This little postcard of art by Zayra Yves is on its way to Moss, Norway to be part of an exhibition that will feature 140 Twitter artists. The project was put together by four Twitter Tweeps with David Sandum (www.davidsandum.com) leading the blog and call for artists. The charity is for their local library with the art exhibition project as an event to raise funds for their children's books. This is how David described the idea and process in his blog:

"For a while the project seemed impossible. How would one coordinate such a thing? But then a few weeks ago, I read an article in the local paper, saying how the public library had gotten it's funding cut and wouldn't be able to order the children's books they needed. It then struck me this was the perfect venue for a twitter art project. And soon the idea of a wall of art work at the library, where it's proceeds would go to charity/children's books, was stuck in my brain. But how would I gather all the work? The answer felt as swift as Twitter itself: Have each artist send a postcard (symbolic of a tweet), with hand-painted original artwork. The postcards would then be posted on the wall and sold for 100 kr each ($17.00), and all the money would go to children's books. This amount would make it possible for nearly everyone to support the public library, and if we collected enough artwork, enough money would be raised."

After an email exchange, Zayra's art was welcomed into the exhibition! For more information follow zayrayves and davidsandumart on Twitter!

Our Heart Song Returns

2010-11-06T22:34:00.000-07:00

by Zayra Yves

On the wings
of grace
our heart song
returns
with the beauty
of places
she has been
now
transformed by
the golden goodness
of souls
who opened
for her warmth.

She returns
on fire
with the purity
of spirit,
with the sweetness
of those
she has loved
lingering
on her lips
and the charm
of life
in the swing
of her hips.

She arrives
as new love
right into the center
of your being
where you gratefully
embrace her,
welcome her
home.

(photo and poem by Zayra Yves)
www.zayrayves.com

Faded Hieroglyphs Receives First Prize

2010-07-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

Zayra's poem Faded Hieroglyphs receives the honor of first place in the African Legends competition hosted by Michele Stewart, in honor of the White Lion Global Protection Trust and the Leopard Conservation Project. African Legends is destined to be a beautiful coffee table book with magnificent artwork, additional creative writing and inspired poety. It is such a heart warming joy and honor to be included in this collection of work.

Zayra would like to thank Linda Tucker of the White Lion Global Protection Trust, Fred Berrange of the Leopard Conservation Project, Michele Stewart, and the other judges, for their heart centered approach to life, to creating a sacred place for such magnificent beings, and for including Zayra's poetry in their visionary work.

When the book becomes available, we will send out an announcement. In the meantime, feel free to support the White Lion Global Protection Trust (www.whitelions.org) and the Leopard Conservation Project (www.leopardcon.co.za).

Interview with Suzanne Barnett

2010-04-05T22:21:00.000-07:00

The interview with Suzanne Barnett is now available on YouTube! It was great fun! Check it out!

Zayra's new book "The Secrets of Unknown Flowers" due to be released soon.

Plus there is a new audio collection in the works "Love Takes the Long Way Home"...

more to come...

Time to Celebrate Art!

2009-12-02T12:12:00.000-08:00

Zayra's art postcard celebrates the marriage of art and poetry in her new studio space. For an appointment to view her studio email: zayra.yves@gmail.com

What fills your mind?

2009-09-27T22:12:00.000-07:00

“One of the most curious things in the structure of our psyche is that we all want to be told because we are the result of the propaganda of ten thousand years. We want to have our thinking confirmed and corroborated by another, whereas to ask a question is to ask it of yourself. What I say has very little value. You will forget it the moment you shut this book, or you will remember and repeat certain phrases, or you will compare what you have read here with some other book – but you will not face your own life. And that is all that matters – your life, yourself, your pettiness, your shallowness, your brutality, your violence, your greed, your ambition, your daily agony and endless sorrow – that is what you have to understand and nobody on earth or in heaven is going to save you from it but yourself.”

J KRISHNAMURTI

Color Me Pomegranate Arrives in San Francisco

2009-09-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

NEW BOOK RELEASE: Color Me Pomegranate

The pomegranate, as a symbol and for its color, has historical meaning for women both in mythology and literature. Zayra's literary poetic collection, Color Me Pomegranate, travels through the many layers of mythical women turned into real women living these myths out in every day life. On the pages of this collection, we encounter Aphrodite, Medusa, Meda, Persphone, Athena, Inanna, Ishtar, Gaia, Sophia, Durga, Kali, Mary, The Black Madonna, Eve, Anne Sexton, Marilyn Monroe, Sylvia Plath, Kiki de Montpamasse, Lee Miller, Berthe Morisot, Joan of Arc and the Scarlet Woman in all vessels, in every woman's body. It is the fall and resurrection of all women within the mystical experiences, which are often times as full of suffering, as they are gritty, and soft on the emotional path toward the alchemy of self discovery, self acceptance and self love for the spiritual evolution and content of the feminine. The book ends in the rise of all women through the Goddess in a transfiguration: "I am SHE."

Book Review for Color Me Pomegranate:

"Zayra Yves' latest work "Color Me Pomegranate" is strictly for the serious seeker of wisdom, full of disturbing yet profound words and mind images. Written through the dark hem of the goddess, it stirs the soul and makes it awaken. The work is a bit like contemplating Edvard Munch's painting, "The Scream" (1893), which haunts with the collective muteness and inner longing reflected in viewing it, for the sacred in all the profanity. It is a brave Jungian-style exploration of the soul, and resounds with the wisdom of Marion Woodman's writings on the transformation of the soul. This is a work of catharsis, piece after powerful piece, full of chaos and silent screams. Yet it closes with an affirmation and comes back out into the light of day. Pomegranates may have dark seeds, but they are red, full of passion. Zayra's passion urges the work on, and passion must be the driver through this kind of difficult work. What we know is that the world can't sit on Pandora's Box forever, because it will have its say, but we can choose to bring order to chaos in our own personal transformations, which is what this work does."

- Moni Roleff (author, holistic teacher and healer)

"Empty as Nirvana" Goes to Portland

2009-05-25T23:04:00.000-07:00

IN OTHER WORDS Bookstore Events
AUTHOR READING: Zayra Yves Reading “Empty as Nirvana”

Time: Saturday, June 20, 2009 3:00 p.m.
Location: In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources

“Empty as Nirvana” is a passageway between worlds, it is a fusion between the modern and ancient. It hides nothing as it explores the moments of arrival and departure in relationship, as well as in religion, tribal traditions, love and heartbreak. We are exposed to the compassionate nature as much as the haunting memories of survival after savage experiences. In this book we hear the voices of Buddhists and mothers mixed together; of Zimbabweans, South Africans, Zulu’s, White Lions and Egyptians. Zayra Yves shows us that she is capable of seeing into the soul of our soul that leaves us feeling pure rather than exposed, sane rather than lost. She is a passion-filled force embracing both her human desires as well as the divine essence. “Empty as Nirvana” has been compiled from both new material and previously published poems that have been included in magazines, journals, audio recordings, radio broadcasts, and other print publications. Yves is a multi-faceted and thought provoking writer as she delves into the raw soul exposed in all of its paradox, pain and healing. Her poetry is often spiritual without being religious while it is earthy, mystical, flowing – like a river that moves through the universe of stars. In its course, it reveals the human suffering that cries from the abyss, the majestic cathedral of the ceremonial soul, the erotic body of light, the undeniable presence of the muse, the great hope for a more expansive state of compassion, and the rapture of total abandonment of love.

If you live in Portland, come join us at IN OTHER WORDS bookstore!
We will love to have you there!

http://www.inotherwords.org

In Other Words Bookstore
8 B NE Killingsworth St
Portland, OR 97211
Tel: 503-232-6003

Big Minds, Big Hearts and Big Poetry Come Together Again

2009-02-22T23:03:00.000-08:00

On March 7th and 8th in Los Angeles Genpo Roshi, Bill Harris and Zayra Yves are sharing the stage. Zayra is scheduled to read inspirational poetry in between Bill and Genpo’s workshop sessions.

It is a remarkable combination! Here are the details:

https://www.centerpointe.com/bigmind/details/

And, if you register early you’ll also receive a copy of Genpo’s amazing book, “Big Mind, Big Heart” and a collection of Bill Harris’ articles about spiritual growth, “Oneness Isn’t Metaphysical.”

~ In the Company of Angels ~

2009-02-17T00:17:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, March 1st at 4 in the afternoon there is a poetry reading at Ernesto’s Studio in Pt Reyes Station. Reading poetry is Zayra Yves whose modern-day poems are spiritual, earthy, mystical, flowing. Joining Zayra is Renata Santerre reciting the poems of Rumi, Hafiz, Kabir, Rilke, Tagone, and Maya Angelou. These two women will present an inspiring afternoon of words from the heart, both past and contemporary. Refreshments will be served.

The Image of the Angel is made from Paper Mache and is lifesize.
Ernesto Sanchez is the artist.

Ernesto’s Studio is next to the Reyes Cafe outdoor patio.

Ernesto Sanchez
P.O. Box 43
Pt Reyes Station, CA 94956

Art Studio (next to Cafe Reyes)
415 370 4339

Zayra's Audio Collections on CD Baby

2008-12-19T01:25:00.001-08:00

The newest release from Zayra Yves is "RETROGRADE MOTION." You definitely want to own and indulge yourself in all twenty-two richly complex pieces, which are set to a bed of music created by Gardner Cole (www.gardnercole.com) with tribal sounds, cool vibes and an all around moody meditative feeling. The temperament varies from the sensitive feminist to the morose, from the artistic to sarcastic, from the beautiful to gritty, from the transformational to spiritual and on into the unknown where one simply decides to be unfinished.

In addition, her second very sexy CD, Sleep in the Sea Tonight with Me is posted at CD Baby. It is a heartfelt journey for lovers from the beginning when love is awe struck to the passion all through the salt of heartbreak back to hope again.

Zayra's first audio collection of poetry is Crowned Compassion. It is a mystical journey through many philosophies, feelings, world religions, politics and the heart. Africa with a special focus on Zimbabwe, is featured in this body of work, as is Egypt and South Africa.

Zayra Yves is not like any other poetess you have heard, she poetically sheds the layers of life to bring out the volume of emotion and experience underneath the lyrical observations. Zayra is a poet who has a gift for sharing rare intimacy with her listeners and has a natural inclination toward courageously exploring the adventures of the heart. Her ability to recapture the past and echo it in the present as if it were a living moment reminiscent of friends, lovers, exile, discovery, sorrow, boats, rouges, bandits, trees, dancing naked and butterflies, is seductive and colorful. It leads you down the path of love.

~ Retrograde Motion for Christmas ~

2008-12-08T00:04:00.001-08:00

Retrograde Motion is a real life, true to the bone, deeply spiritual and moving audio poetry collection. I worked on it all year with Gardner Cole. He is a great musician. I mean, truly. Then Frank Weidemann created some wonders out of the graphics, so we have a full 110% professional collection of poetry set to music. Not to mention that David Hughes from Shine On Studio polished up the whole thing and mastered it.

The reason I like this collection is that I know I pushed myself to a new level emotional risk, as well as exposure, and expanded into a lot of different perspectives, voices and feelings. The poems are like vignettes and not at all what you are used to thinking of when you think of poetry. You will find yourself in these poems...you will feel like they are yours.

If you are not familiar with any of my poetry, then let me share for a minute that I write so that others can reach in and take it for themselves; I make it an aim to tap into the universal, into a plethora of feelings and authenticity that we can all relate to. Under normal every day circumstances I hide most of my artistic self in a shell. I work my day job that is very demanding, and I am grateful to have it, as it allows me the ability to work with talented musicians, gifted artists and other professionals to create beauty from nothing. I don't like to talk too much about the art of creating these CD's or even why I do it because too much talking gets me in trouble. I have found that I communicate best from my inner most being by utilizing the poetry and art.

The collection just arrived on Friday and is still in a bunch of boxes fresh off the truck. It will not be possible, nor will I have the time to get it fully loaded into CD Baby or iTunes, where the rest of my CD collections are before Christmas shipment cut off dates. Certainly if you want to give something original to someone sensitive and artistic then I think Retrograde Motion is a good choice. That said, if you want it before Christmas then you need to order it directly from me in the next week, otherwise we will miss the shipment....

Personally, I like New Years gifts more than Christmas gifts. But that is just me. My father died on Christmas, honestly, not to mention all of the other things about the overly commercial part of it. Of course, that doesn't mean anything except I don't really get into Christmas on the same level as everyone else emotionally. I like to give creative gifts and things that I know leave an impression for a long time. My audio collections are a gift. I don't even sell them for high prices because you can't really put a price on art. So, I have said all of that to say this, if you want one for yourself or someone you love before Christmas, then send an email to me directly so we can make arrangements.

www.zayrayves.com

You can hear two tracks from Retrograde Motion on ReverbNation and Myspace...just go to my website the links are all over the place. I will probably load a few more songs this week so stay posted.

If you want to know what others have said about my poetry then you can find that under "bio/reviews" on my website. I only give about three or four live poetry readings a year...only when I am invited and the energy is most receptive. I have been endorsed by well known people and not so well known people. I have sold my CD's and books in 54 countries and on five continents. I am an independent artist. I say all of that just so you know that while I have not won awards, I have not tried to win awards. One day I might win awards but I don't need awards to qualify my art or my soul or anything I feel compelled to share with the world. I like the idea of being validated but I am not interested in awards, I am interested in what real people think and feel in their every day lives, and that is the point I write from. When someone sends an email to me that tells me how much a poem touched them or made them cry or laugh, then I have my award. The award comes from you. What else really is there? One day I will pass from this life and if I touched one person with my art then I feel I did what I was called to do.

Hugs, Peace & Good Will to you All!

Love,

Zayra

PS: If you want more details about Retrograde Motion then here they are....

“RETROGRADE MOTION,” Zayra’s long awaited and newest audio poetry collection is currently in production at Disc Makers and is scheduled to arrive off the UPS truck on December 3, 2008. It is over due and past schedule but well worth the wait.

“RETROGRADE MOTION” is poetry you definitely want to own and indulge yourself in. It is worthy of personal immersion into all twenty-two richly complex pieces, which are set to a bed of music created by Gardner Cole with tribal sounds, new age vibes and an all around moody meditative feeling. The temperament varies from the morose to artistic to sarcastic to beautiful to transformational to spiritual and on into the unknown where one simply decides to be unfinished. Whatever your mood, attitude or vice, you are certain to find yourself or lose yourself in these interestingly diverse audio gifts of poetry from Zayra’s new collection “RETROGRADE MOTION.”

Here is the line up:

1. Becoming Abstract
2. The Blurred Version
3. Caught in the Fading Light
4. Consider the Sound of Water
5. Evaporation
6. How a Stone Comes to Life
7. An Invitation in Exodus
8. Listening to Charles Bukowski
9. A Lost Cry
10. A Lover & the Echo
11. Ms. V
12. My Sin
13. The Night Bird’s Last Tear
14. Not Waiting
15. Pilgrim Hitchhiking
16. Red Clay
17. Sanctuary
18. She Transforms Herself
19. Star Flowers
20. Sudden
21. Unfinished & Untangled
22. What Might Still Be

Several of the poems on “RETROGRADE MOTION” appear in her book “ORDINARY SUBSTANCE,” while others are brand new poems released in this collection for the first time, and are slated to appear in her new poetry book due for print in January of 2009.

Retrograde Motion on ReverbNation

2008-12-07T15:53:00.001-08:00