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Culture is Served

By Aspen Marie Published 6 months ago 1 min read
Photograph: Paperbirch Restaurant

A friend of mine

Wrote a cookbook

He named it Tawâw

Cree word for “come in, you’re welcome; there’s room”

A worthy telos

I think about this word when I see

Creative people, maker’s making

For soul’s sake

Celebrating fellow artists

Citizens of ethereal Athens

To write about connection feels trite

The word has lost its meaning

Swirled about by students writing banal essays

A philosopher’s unique underworld

Who must appease a pulp Cerberus

With constructive feedback

Influencers selling mirage experiences

Repugnant Hermes; disregard his missives

Do not give them credence

Tawaw bequeaths wisdom immortal

A much older word

More right and pure

Than any colonial construct built on capitalism

Turtle Island’s Philophrosyne

Connection commands

We engage with one another

To validate poeisis

Don your sandals for a long campaign

Action is required

Tawaw says there is room for you

But demands nothing

An invitation without expectation

No energy required to sit

To breathe the same air

Friendship is more like Tawaw

Than connection could ever hope to embody

Invite someone into your world

Without needing them to be

Anything but themselves

Devoid of pity or manipulation

Admiration without pedestal

When I see his book in the world

Love’s labour brought to life

My heart sends him warmth

Hestia’s gift

From my hearth to his hearth

Artists, writers, dancers

Envision beauty

Forge it from raw materials

Eternal Hephaestus reborn

Our maker’s space is an invitation

To others

Welcome

Come in

There’s room for you here

Friendship

About the Creator

Aspen Marie

In love with life and all of its foibles.

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Comments (4)

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  • Tim Carmichael6 months ago

    I really love this. It’s like a reminder that we all just need a place where we can be ourselves, no pressure or expectations.

  • Komal6 months ago

    Ohhh this is absolutely gorgeous! 😍 This makes me want to host a feast for artists with zero agenda, just art, food, and firelight.

  • Oh wow, this was so beautiful 😍😍😍😍

  • 😄 art of words 🙏 great piece 👍

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