Have you ever
Felt surprised
By being surprised?
It is a curious feeling
Like realizing no matter
How beautiful
The sunrise
On any given morning
It can be
Beautifully
Different
On the next–
Security may reside
In the routine
But hope radiates
From the surprising
You make it look so simple
Perched on a wire
With your closest friends
Perched nearby –
They may sit on a
Different wire-there may
Even be a wire
Missing from your staff
But your melodies still
Mingle to create
A sweet morning song-
And while I can’t
Physically hear your songs
Above the music currently
Playing in my head
I can feel it in my soul
A few clung tightly
To green tree leaves
Even after most of
The others had fallen-
Falling was the
Ultimate goal
Surrendering
To the ground
Patiently waiting below-
Their landing providing
Refreshing
Nourishment
The power to change
An entire landscape-
Why would some choose to hang on?
Perhaps fear
Of the unknown
Perhaps love
To fall with
A gentle touch
Teaching this passing traveler
A valuable lesson-
Though alone for a moment
Surrounded by many for a lifetime
The categories are endless
And then there are
The sub-categories
We’ll skip those for now-
Strange the ways
We group ourselves
Based on things like
Where we grew up
Our age
Our interests
Our successes
And our failures
Remaining careful
Not to give away
Any unexplainable joy
Terrible moments of grief
Or frightening memories
Thought of only when
It’s time to sleep-
What if I looked past
All of the lists
Ignored the labels
What would I see?
Another set of eyes
Perhaps-
Carrying all of life
Happy, sad, all of it
And another heart
Behind those eyes
Afraid to trust
Waiting to see if my hand
Will follow my smile
A poem from a recent circle. ❤️
I see you up ahead
Peeking out from
Around a corner
Wearing a curious smile-
You used to be
Much further away
Another lifetime away
But now my sight
Is surprisingly clear
Considering the distance
My heart has already covered-
Strange, I thought it would take longer to reach you
Even the thought of it
Made me nervous
Not knowing how different
Our reflections would be
Yet, catching a glimpse
Of your curious smile
Around the corner up ahead
Assures me that it will be okay
Present my entire life
All the years prior
And will hold its place
Long after I’m gone
Freely lending itself
To spark a child’s imagination
On a big-sky night
Look! It’s following me!
A peaceful protector
Freely lending itself
To ease a grown-up’s worries
Just be still and breathe
A picture-perfect perspective
And timely reminder
Comfort and joy
Can come from far away
The dense morning haze
Weighed heavy on my
Foggy morning brain
Forcing sad thoughts
To the surface-
No way around
Muddling through
The middle would
Have to do
The haze gave way
To mid-morning layers
Of grays and whites
Overlapping, continually
Trading places until
Swaths of baby blue
Smiled through the gaps–
And with no hesitation
I smiled back
Sometimes we all need a reminder of our many reasons for smiling. Time with family is one of my favorite reasons. 💗
Seen in a simple glance
Felt in a single step
Eyes compelled
To focus on the source
And not the darkness
Attempting to sneak
Into my periphery–
Though it may try
It cannot block
The quiet promises
Of hope and warmth
Flowing from the light
Lengthening each glance
Strengthening each step
Assurance that this light
Will not be engulfed
Rather, that the darkness
Will eventually disappear
Do not live in fear
Does not mean
I am never afraid
Live a life of joy
Does not mean
I am never sad-
When afraid
I remember love
When sad
I remember hope
Neither the words
Or the feelings
Contradict each other
Instead, they affirm
Causing my heart
To beat stronger
And my faith
To grow deeper
It’s not the getting older
That bothers me
Yes, I often wish
My body felt less stiff
My joints were less achy
But it’s not the getting older
That bothers me
Aging is a natural progression–
I’m beginning to understand
What bothers me-
It is the time passed
Compared to the probability
Of the time remaining
Life’s great happiness is to be convinced that we are loved. Les Miserables, Victor Hugo
Piano Girl 