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PraiseIn a piercing way, Tenneson touches the deeper heart strings and shadows that surround a center in us all. Look in this mirror to see what it means to rise above the darkness yet another time. What a common and necessary journey for each of us – and the whole family of humans at this time.
Toke Moeller, Cofounder of The Art of Hosting, The Flow Game In this brave and vulnerable book, Tenneson Woolf illustrates once again that we humans are made stronger at our broken and mended places. His mid-life descent, survival, and ascent into a man still in process is a profound map. We may try to avoid these dark corners, but whatever we, the reader, face will be strengthened by the light he shines. Christina Baldwin, Author of Life’s Companion, The Seven Whispers, Storycatcher, and The Circle Way Whenever anyone tells the truth about their experience, hiding nothing, we have the chance to recognize the human experience. Dark nights of the soul are an initiation into spiritual wisdom. Dwell with Tenneson in these poems and you’ll know what this means. If you find yourself in these pages, you will have received the gift that Tenneson offers. Margaret Wheatley, Author of many books including Perseverance, Leadership and the New Science, and Who Do We Choose To Be |
Why I Wrote This Book / Welcome
“In the middle of the journey of our life I found myself within a dark woods where the straight way was lost.”
~ Dante Alighieri, Inferno, 14th Century Italian Poet
THERE ARE MANY OF US THAT FACE OUR DARK WOODS, losing the straight way. The journey into the dark woods impacts those that journey and those that wait for us at forest edge. This journey happens with unique nuance for men, enculturated so often to not speak of such hell. I choose to speak of the dark woods.
These poems, stories, and reflections are not intended as happy. Consider yourself warned. If you need happy, stop now. Find something else. These are honest expressions. Written from as much clarity as I could find from a year in which I felt most challenged. Most suicidal. Most in despair. Most panicked. Most lost.
Initially, I thought these writings might be more exclusively for men. Men in loss and grief and despair, who might benefit from a bit of permission to be in loss and grief and despair. But I think these writings may be for women too. We are all trying to show up with each other.
I hope that you find within you, your own cadence and authenticity, and even friendship, with despair. For me, I had to.
~ Dante Alighieri, Inferno, 14th Century Italian Poet
THERE ARE MANY OF US THAT FACE OUR DARK WOODS, losing the straight way. The journey into the dark woods impacts those that journey and those that wait for us at forest edge. This journey happens with unique nuance for men, enculturated so often to not speak of such hell. I choose to speak of the dark woods.
These poems, stories, and reflections are not intended as happy. Consider yourself warned. If you need happy, stop now. Find something else. These are honest expressions. Written from as much clarity as I could find from a year in which I felt most challenged. Most suicidal. Most in despair. Most panicked. Most lost.
Initially, I thought these writings might be more exclusively for men. Men in loss and grief and despair, who might benefit from a bit of permission to be in loss and grief and despair. But I think these writings may be for women too. We are all trying to show up with each other.
I hope that you find within you, your own cadence and authenticity, and even friendship, with despair. For me, I had to.
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Sample PoemSmall Glasses of Beer
It was him and his dog and me. We were drinking small glasses of beer. I meant to be playful plopping my emptied glass in front of him. But it hairline cracked. We laughed. But I still felt bad. I‘ve made mistakes in this life. Created hairline cracks and mass shattered shards. But I really could use some laughter now. Like with a friend and his dog and small glasses of beer. |
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