Dodie Horne: A mother's Life in Poems

A mother’s life in poems

“Communion

Eyes look down.

 Souls look up.”—Dodie Horne, Root &Plant &Bloom, Poems by Dodie Walton Horne, edited by Jennifer and Mary Horne, 2020, p. 104.

Dodie wrote poems from childhood. She died prematurely in 1994, at age fifty-nine, from a brain tumor. How ironic that a woman who dearly loved words died of cancer in the center of her body where words form. Dodie’s daughters, Mary and Jennifer, surveyed around 370 of their mother’s poems and beautifully packaged and published them as a gift to us. 

The book is divided into sections by subject, headed with lines from her poems. For example, “They Brought Me Spring” is about motherhood. “Life in Little Rock” is about younger adulthood and self-acceptance. The “Calendars and Clocks” section is about time passing and aging. “The Questing Why” concerns religion and the spirit.

Dodie was a girlfriend, soul friend, and masseur who cared for my wounded body through many physical trials. I loved visiting her in her last home deep in the woods in Ferndale, except I was never certain each time if my car would make it through the winding, rough dirt road!

I visited Dodie during her illness. I remember leaving magnolia branches in her room on our last visit in July. She never spoke. She died soon after the visit. I treasured the thought that the magnolia fragrance filled her room and helped midwife her into God’s arms. I could not hold back tears from the synchronicity of Dodie’s last writing, “REAL LIFE,” that Jennifer and Mary left in the book.

“— ‘REAL LIFE’ events are not necessarily events; this evening in July shows me that the magnolia candles have finished spreading their light and dropped to the ground, replaced by glowing lightning bugs random cool breezes. I look out on this scene and feel it with all my senses.

—And there would be, there is: writing—in itself an act of gratitude. ‘REAL LIFE’ goes on.” 1

As our large magnolia tree blossoms by our house, I always remember Dodie and what she taught me.

Dodie couldn’t hold back the words of love and gratitude she gave to so many people in her lifetime and now beyond.

1 p. 188.

Joanna Seibert  https://www.joannaseibert.com/

Travel

Travel

Guest Writer: Shannon Seibert

Post Europe Trip March 2025, final thoughts.

 "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." Mark Twain

Shannon in Vienna

Travel is, in my opinion, the most excellent classroom where history comes alive, where art, architecture, food, and culture create new spaces in our minds, and most importantly, where we connect with people outside our little corner of the earth.

I learn, grow, and expand my worldview. My perspectives are challenged. My circle of influence is broadened. It makes me more humble, more grateful, and more curious.

I remember when Americans, as a whole, were proud that we were a melting pot of different people, cultures, religions, and customs. America wasn't just a dream but an IDEA, a way of thinking. I think we have forgotten and lost being proud that we are a melting pot.

Memorial in Vukovar, Croatia

Historically, many wars, hate, and loss of life are about rejecting melting pots.

All nations, peoples, governments, and cultures have flaws and flawed histories. They all have their challenges, corruption, and failures. But what is the beauty they offer?

What are the lessons they teach?

. Orthodox Church in Belgrade, Serbia

What can I bring home and improve my own "backyard"?

Here are a few things I brought home this time; some are repeats of previous trips.

1. Slow down. Your work will still be there; no one is coming to take it away.

Sunset on the Danube

2. Sit with friends over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, OFTEN, and for extended amounts of time.

3. Offer signs in multiple languages. In Serbia, signs were offered in FIVE languages to make things more accessible to more people.

4. Church doors had many, many languages. One church had eight languages inscribed on its main doors! Churches offered services in two different languages every service.

5. City centers are pedestrian, and all shopping is located in one area. Families and friends could gather here; kids ride bikes, and babies learn to walk. City centers are where life happens together.

6. FREE public transportation

7. Every city had a memorial/remembrance of the holocaust (probably the darkest stain on European history). They remember not to be ashamed, not woke, not DEI. They just don't want to repeat history! They acknowledge it and REMEMBER so they don't repeat it.

8. There are anti-fascism monuments in every town.

Monument against War & Fascism in Vienna. 

"Gate of Violence": A large chunk of granite with carvings representing victims of the war, including chained laborers, gas masks, and a woman giving birth (symbolizing the rebirth of Austria). 

9. Focus on doing ONE thing really well. Multi-tasking is overrated and lessens the quality overall. Whether it's sausages, pastries, oils, wines, or beer, just do that ONE thing really, really well.

10. In general, people are people. They want to live in peace, have a secure existence, provide safety and opportunity for their children, worship how they choose, have a trustworthy and helpful government, and live FREELY.

Cookies at market in Budapest, Hungary

One final story is from Serbia, a place with a corrupt government (per our guide), where votes are bought, coerced, and manipulated. Only 30% support the current administration, but they win elections because of the corruption and false propaganda that is rampant—a fragile "democracy," no doubt.

But Serbia is also a place where 300,000 Russians have resettled and 100,000 Ukrainians have fled since the start of the Ukraine war. We know why the Ukrainians are there, seeking safety. But why so many Russians? Primarily because they have sons who must serve in the Russian military. The parents don't want their sons to die. They are there to save their children's lives; all 400,000 just want to save their children's lives. I think all parents can empathize with that.

Shannon Seibert Shannon@smallworldbigfun.com 

Joanna Seibert  joannaseibert.com

Solomon and Wells: Presence, not Words

Solomon and Wells: Presence, not Words

“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.”—Song of Solomon 8: 6.

at race for the cure with Shaun

Samuel Wells is the vicar at St. Martins-in-the-Fields in London and a frequent writer for Christian Century. He recently titled his article “Is Love Stronger.” 1 Wells tells the story of visiting with the husband of a wife who committed suicide whom he did not know, and hearing their story, then delivering the homily at her service, suggesting that all is now well.

However, when he visited the husband a week later, he was met with anger about his sermon. All had not been well with the woman, who had a painful wasting disease, and all was not well with her husband. The husband said he told Wells that before the funeral.

 Wells said he learned from this experience that when being with people living with tragedy or in the aftermath of a disaster, all he has to offer is his presence beside them. There are no words to improve the situation and attempts to clean up the problem do not affirm their difficulty. Wells believes his role is “not to make things better for someone. It’s being beside them as they face the truth.” This is what makes love stronger than death. It is a presence, not words.

This is also true when we meet with spiritual friends. Sometimes, trying to see God in any problematic situation is simply listening to our friends’ stories and letting them know we are beside them. We are not there to improve things or give answers but to be a loving presence beside them in a great storm. Eventually, we hope to lead them to see God’s presence in them, which has been present all along.

 In times of great tragedy, I remember people who just came and sat beside me and cried with me and never said a word.

 Often, the person who can best do this is someone who has known a similar tragedy. They have walked in their shoes and understand that the presence of the listening heart is a more powerful healer than any words.

These are also people like women running or walking in Race for the Cure, who show their loving presence with their feet instead of their mouths.

This is love stronger than death.

1 Samuel Wells, “Is love stronger?” Faith Matters, Christian Century, April 25, 2018, p. 35.

Joanna joannaseibert.com  https://www.joannaseibert.com/