Before taking flight
your snow white wings
gracefully expand
above the water
Scalloped feet paddle below-
An unseen source of
strength supporting
your angelic dance
An unseen
Source of
Strength
Not strength
displayed with
force, but instead,
filtered through grace
Each gesture
a reminder-an
ethereal expression
of eternal affection
New every morning
Ready and waiting to greet us-
One day, a gracefully
Blended watercolor
The next, child-like
Sponge-painted clouds
On bright blue
Construction paper-
Certain summer afternoons
Perfectly uniform shapes
Stenciled onto an
Azure backdrop-
And on not-so-happy days
A blank gray slate
Hovering in agreement
With the tears below-
Only a few from
An infinite list-
Simple descriptions
Of the sky above-
Once seen, never
To be seen again
Except in memory
If we remember
It is new every morning
Ready and waiting to greet us
Hoping for a greeting in return
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
We hesitate to say
It is so good to see you!
When the circumstances
Bringing us together
Are times of sadness
Yet, those are the times
Seeing you is most needed-
A knowing smile
Through the tears
A quick but strong
Grasp of the hand
A sweet, simple hug
The truth that one person’s life
Has the power to influence so many
On display in real-time with real people
Gathered in an honest attempt
To provide loving support-
Go ahead and say it
It is so good to see you!
Connections interlaced
With grace and
Gratefulness
While seated at a funeral yesterday, we noticed many familiar faces. Memories of my father-in-law’s service eight years ago immediately came flooding back. Many of the same faces were in attendance that day.
Eight years ago, we were the family sitting up front. Yesterday, we were part of the support. Connections across years of life’s experiences.
Why insist on
Seeing things
Only the way
That you want
To see them?
Everything
A part of
The same
Domain-edges
Clearly defined
Explanations
Always
In black
And white
No room for
Meaningful
Questions or
Incomplete
Answers-
Hues
Undreamt
Wait to be
Discovered
In the hidden
Curves
Of our world
And the secret
Corners
Of our hearts
Day before vacation
Awakened from a
No-sense-dream
A phone ringing
Several missed calls
And text messages
Confused does
Not justly
Describe my mood
I was frantic
A panicked spiral
Attempting to take hold-
Not just a mess
But a hot mess
According to
My husband
Shhh…
He was right
I need you
To stand still
And take a
Deep breath
Breathing out
I felt the tears
Beginning to form
This is me
But only
A part of me
Today, I sit
In the airport
Traveling within this
Thirty-year love
And we are ok
Better than ok
Constantly bombarded
By outside sources
A cunning attempt
To create doubt
Are you happy with your appearance?
Wouldn’t you like to be thinner?
Don’t you want to look younger?
If those wrinkles
Around my eyes
And in the corners
Of my mouth
Are tracing the years
Of laughter and tears
Why would I erase them?
If my body is
Telling the story
Of birthing three children
Loving the same man
For more than thirty years
And knowing the grief of loss
Why would I not let it speak?
I am a journey
Of experiences
And emotions
Spilling out
Along the road
For others to see
No apologies
Only grace
Accepted
And shared
One footprint
Great or small
Shallow or deep
Creating a pause
Within each step
Each space
Left behind
Able to catch
Raindrops
From a cloud
Following
Overhead
Or teardrops
From a friend
Following
Close behind
And within
This catching
Of rain and tears
Lives freedom
To release
A drop of grace
With every step
A drop of grace
To meet each
Follower
Cloud or friend
With this message-
I know you are there
I won’t leave you behind
Once again, sharing poems from the writing circle. I continue to be grateful for this experience. Can’t believe it’s been three years! Thank you, Ali, http://flashlightbatteries.blog for creating this beautiful space. ❤️
Can you imagine?
Camping in the woods
Red-orange glow
Of the campfire
Smell of smoke
Sleeping in a tent
So serene…until
Seven little girls
Bathing in a
Small tin tub
On top of a
Wooden picnic table
Enter the picture-
Warm water carefully
Poured over each
Little head
The night air
Filled with giggles
As they dry off
In front of the fire-
Maybe not so serene
Except for the
Sweet dreams
Of sleepy headed
Children after
A busy day
Exploring
The wonders
Of the wild woods
I seem to be
Spending
More time
Inside my heart
These days
Blocking out
The noisy world
Ignoring my own
Thoughts
So as not
To neglect
A single memory of you-
I know some
Will fade
With time
But for now
It is my heart
That holds
Each image
Your quiet strength
Your gentle smile
Your sky-blue eyes
It is a sacred job
This holding
So, I think
I will remain
Inside my heart
Just a little longer
The night sky
Seemed to weep
The weight
Of its tears
Soaking deep
Into the soil
Creating a path
For the colors
Of spring
The night sky
Seemed to sob
The sound
Of its tears
Forming a
Wall of peace
To block
The noise
In my head
The night sky
Seemed to cry
The grace
Of its tears
Replacing mine
If only for
A little while
As peaceful
Sleep returned
Felt like a stranger
Looking in
A window
Confused by
The actions
Witnessed
Tones detected
Perceiving
A cycle
Of frustration
Embarrassment
Tears and
Exhaustion
Asking questions
Inside my head
What is wrong?
Why so upset?
Felt like a stranger
Looking in
A window
But I was not
A stranger
And I was not
Looking in
A window
It was a mirror
My reflection
In the panes-
A realization
That left me
Wondering
Whether to take
A step back
Or lean in closer
Admitting feelings of anxiety and depression is not always easy. And even harder to explain. This poem is an attempt to describe that feeling of being outside myself. Knowing my actions and feelings don’t make sense, but having difficulty controlling them.
I share because someone reading may need to know they are not alone. And simply put, it helps me accept my reflection with a bit more grace and understanding. ❤️
Piano Girl 