Started unpacking today
After twenty-plus years
Guess it’s about time-
Not that this suitcase
Was hidden
No, it has floated
In my periphery
Until a flashback
Would open the latch
Spilling its contents
In a jumbled mess
All over my heart-
A quick nod
Possible sharing
Then once again
Packed away-
Not this time
This time I am
Choosing to
Open the latch
Hold each piece close-
Fear
Anger
Gratitude
Release-
Acknowledging
Their impact
Before gently folding
Placing them in my
Chest of Memories
Not to be forgotten
But remembered
With clarity
Within the journey
Miles Away
It could be the one-hundred-plus-excessive-heat-warning temperatures.
It could be because I’m missing Dad.
It’s most likely an all-of-the-above answer to any multiple-choice question you might ask.
Whatever the question or the answer, my thoughts keep drifting.
What would I give?
To rest in
The Wisdom
Of your shade
To sit beneath
Limbs-curved
And crooked from
Over a century
Of growing
Reaching
Learning to be-
Witness to
Stories unseen
Standing vigil
Thru seasons of
Darkness
And light
Firmly holding
In your arms
All those seeking rest-
What would I give?
To rest in
The Wisdom
Of your shade-
Listening
As the tide rolls in
Wondering
If you can hear it, too
Simply Sunday
It was an eventful week. My yearly physical suggested the need for cholesterol medicine. Then I was rear-ended Thursday on my way home from work.
Such is life, out of our control. Well, I can do some work on the cholesterol front. But that’s not the point. The point is hope remains.
A weekend visit meant all the chicks in the nest, along with the grandbaby chick. Girls went to a concert, boys to a movie. And Gigi hung out with Emi.
The Best Medicine
Listening as you
Find your voice
Watching as you
Learn to reach
Rocking as you
Fall asleep
Troubles
Of the day
Melt away
Collaboration
I love connecting with others in the WordPress family. Reading and learning about you and your corners of the world is fascinating.
David, the author of the https://skepticskaddish.com/ blog, offers a regular opportunity for collaboration. I’ve thought about participating many times. Finally, this week, I submitted a poem.
He graciously accepted and wrote a poem in response.
Here’s the beginning of my poem.
Looking Up
My earliest memories
Are only glimpses
A tiny sapling
Growing roots
Dancing
Swaying
In the breeze
Waiting for limbs
To grow stronger
To reach farther
Wishing time
Would speed up-
I have felt
The seasons
Changing from
Bright greens
To deep reds
Warm yellows
To crunchy browns
Again and again
Wishing time
Would slow down-
Read the remainder along with David’s response by clicking the link below. 😊
Open Fields
Dense Fog
Rolled in
Last week
Came prepared
To stay awhile
Despite the lack
Of invitation
Hung around
Clouded my vision-
Got a headache
From constantly
Squinting
Until…
The tiniest
Wave of Light
Called me out
Into the clearing
And we said
Goodbye
From the other side
Simply Sunday
I continue to discover the ways of grief. Sometimes expected, often not. I continue to be grateful for the writing circle space created by Ali Grimshaw. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ What a gift to get feelings down on paper and share them with loving souls.
The following poem came out of our recent circle. Maybe you can relate. ❤️
Ready to Listen
It seemed like
A good idea
Frantically
Searching
Through old
Voicemails
I thought
I was ready
To listen-
The sound
Of your voice
Even from a
Recording
Would surely
Bring peace
Instead, it was
An instant reminder
Of how much I miss you-
You have not been gone very long-
Grief made her
Presence known
In the song of
Falling tears
And together
We quietly sang
A sad, yet
Grateful
Melody
View From Here
Feet firmly planted
I look up
You seem
So far away
Your curious smile
Offering shelter
As well as fuel
For my imagination
Yesterday
Your appearance
Was somber
Unable to hold
The weight
Of your tears
Tossed around
By life’s storms
Cautiously standing
On the edge of
The highest height
You are closer
But different
A fluffy blanket
Calling to me
Stretch out your arms
Trust me, as you
Freefall into
This softness-
An illusion
To be sure
But, oh,
What a sweet
Consideration
Scenes From a Movie
I love the movie, Begin Again, starring Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo. It’s a story about love lost and found, life lessons, and family. All of it happens around and within the gift of music.
I was recently reminded of one of my favorite scenes. Picture two people traversing the city at night. Their focus is a portable CD player and a headphone jack splitter. Technology allows them to hear the same music in a personal way.
A version of this scene happens twice in the movie. The first time, one character shares a memory with a new friend. The second time, he is seeking a second chance. Just watch the movie. Trust me!
So, what would make me think about this scene in this movie while on a plane flying to Hawaii?
My husband is techy. When traveling, we are all set with earbuds, wi-fi, chargers-whatever we might need or want for communication and entertainment. Technical difficulties? He is my guy!
As we got settled for our flight, he handed me his earbuds. I scrolled thru my iTunes, checking to see what music I had downloaded. Music playing during take-off is a must! It helps me relax.
I fiddled with the earbuds and Bluetooth settings. Before I could make a choice, music magically started playing in my ears.
My husband, Gart, tapped me on the shoulder. He smiled, pointing at his phone device settings. He had connected both his headphones and my earbuds to his iPad. We can listen together. And we did! 🎶❤️🎶
Simply Sunday
Gigi’s House
Smile and coo
Kick and stretch
Bottle and burp
Yawn and nap
Sleepy tears in
Rocking chairs
Bedtime stories
Snuggles and kisses-
Extraordinary
Exploration
How fast your
Little World
Is changing-
See you soon
Little One
Time Warp
Such an odd way
To keep track
Births and deaths
Life and love
Captured in
The minuscule of
Days, months, years…
Blocks on a chart
Giving the appearance
Of logic and
Organization
Life is anything but–
In certain instances
One experience
Can cause a
Shocking whiplash
Taking me from
The Present
To the Past
Then the Future
A flash of light
Revealing what
Time has passed
And where I may be
Once that same
Amount of time
Passes by again-
Not measured
By Perfect
Little squares
In even rows
But by a heart
Carrying each beat
Every breath,
Each smile,
And every tear
That fills this living
Piano Girl 