Tag: poetry circles

Twenty-Nine

On By Piano girl5 Comments

Take a breath
It isn’t complicated
At least, it shouldn’t be
Most of the time
It happens with
Little thought
Until a thought
Becomes thoughts
And thoughts turn
Into questions
And suddenly
I’m seeking answers
For how to react
To the latest change
Then change
Turns into changes
And soon, there are
More than I can count-
Well, maybe
I’m exaggerating
Just a smidge
Concerning the number
Of changes, just not
The significance-

A house with no kids
For the first time
In twenty-nine years

How does one prepare?

Yes, I know-
Thank you
It isn’t complicated
Take a breath

Once again, I am grateful for the poetry circle. Listening, writing, sharing, connecting. ❤️

Simply Sunday on a Tuesday?

On By Piano girl11 Comments

I wrote the following poem in a recent poetry circle with Ali Grimshaw. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ I had planned to share it on Sunday, but a not-so-fun bug made its way through our house and left me zapped. So, Tuesday it is! 😉

Best Baby Life

Your world is growing
So quickly, I can barely keep up
Sweet sleep became
First smiles became
Babbles and the beginnings of words-
Simply sitting on the floor
Watching as you explore
Affords a new kind of joy-
Goodbyes are difficult
They make me sad
Afraid I’m placing
Too much pressure on you
Until I realize you are
Living your best baby life
Reaching, learning, growing
And I am part of your journey
Just as you are part of mine

Perfectly Fastened

On By Piano girl5 Comments 
Can one heart
Have too many
Connections?
I’m not sure
I don’t think so
Can’t think of 
Any chords I would
Choose to cut-
Some are stronger
Than others
Some longer
But only a few are
Perfectly fastened
With each beat of my heart
Those are the ones
Keeping me alive
Or rather, making me
Want to be my 
Best version of Alive-
I don’t always
See that version
In the mirror
But I know she’s there
Waiting for me
To give her some
Attention

Life Lessons

On By Piano girl7 Comments 
Will you push me on the swings?
Oh, please, please, please!
 
Ok, just once!
 
A tiny taste of the magic 
That is flying up to the sky
Magic not diminished
When gravity pulls you back
Your only desire
To do it again, and again, and again-
There won’t always be
Someone to give you a push
But that’s ok because
Life has lots of lessons
And this one is important!
 
Kick your feet out
In front of you
Just as you’re about
To touch the sky
Pull them back
Repeat
Do it again, and again, and again-
Pretty soon 
Your imagination
Will carry you 
Wherever you wish to go

Still no sunshine…maybe next week. ☀️ Sharing another poem from a recent poetry circle.

Both Places

On By Piano girl8 Comments

I’m getting used to
Not knowing
What to expect
Or how to feel
Choosing
Not to view
This turn of events
In a negative light
That would be
A contradiction,
Would it not?
Light has a way of
Lifting, drawing out
Right as the heart
Begins to cry
Whether the tears
Come from the reality
Of grief’s reminders
Or from the joy
Of new life’s smiles-
Light can live
In both places
Perhaps that lesson
Is teaching me peace
Even in the not knowing

I always look forward to poetry circles with Ali Grimshaw of https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ I wrote the above poem during our most recent circle. Thankful for this space and the precious friends I’ve met. ❤️

Tiny Apartment

On By Piano girl2 Comments

I’ve been known to say
-Referencing a
A certain time
In my life-
I was quite a mess!
Thought I hid it well
At the time
But truthfully
Some things
Cannot be hidden-
Insecurity paired
With indecisiveness
Those two should not
Be left unattended!
Neither should
Guilt and regret
Those four took up
Way too much space
In my tiny apartment
Thankfully, circumstances
Required interactions outside
The voice in my head
And eventually, I was
Able to say
I’m no longer a mess!
Hmmm…what would be the opposite?

Sharing a poem from a recent writing circle facilitated by Ali Grimshaw. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ Perhaps you can relate. 😉

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl6 Comments

I am learning
There are many ways
To express my grief
Tears, laughter
Listening
Remembering
But also through words
Not always sad
Many times sweet
No matter which way
I choose in any
Given moment
The healing happens
In the expressing

Transformation

Simple recipe
Words on a card
Pat of butter
Two cups of flour
Ice cold water
The comforting smell
Of pie crust baking
Warm milk
Cocoa powder
Sugar, of course
Touch of vanilla
Continuous stirring
Required
For perfectly
Smooth filling
I can almost
Taste it now-
Watching my sweet Dad
Wearing his apron on
Thanksgiving morning
Remembering
With gratefulness
His smile
As I tasted
The leftover filling-
The simplest of
Ingredients
Transformed
Into so much joy

Yesterday’s poetry circle with Ali Grimshaw https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ was a precious gift. I am grateful for both the words I wrote and the ones I was blessed to hear. ❤️

From the Circle

On By Piano girl4 Comments

Sharing two poems from a recent poetry circle facilitated by Ali Grimshaw. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/. I continue to love this process and the people it allows me to meet. ❤️

Who Me?

I saw you waving
From the side
Of the road-
Who me? I smiled
Wanting to stop
And stay for a bit
But the cars were
Starting to move
And work was waiting-
Seemed silly
In the moment
Nevertheless, I quickly
Snapped your picture
Hoping to capture
Your golden yellow leaves
Grateful to receive
Your promising message
On such a gloomy morning
It’s ok-The rain must fall
We will all be brighter tomorrow

All in the Family

I am known
For crying
My mom is known
For crying
My grandmother
My aunts
Even my daughter
I suppose we
Come by it
Honestly
This tendency
To express both
The happiest and
Saddest moments
In a similar way
Causes some
To ponder
And sometimes
Dare to ask-
Why are you crying?
And if they truly
Want to know
I will gladly tell them
That is if I can stop crying

Mid-Week Smiles

On By Piano girl5 Comments

Sharing two poems from this month’s writing circle. Grateful for time to write, listen, and reflect with this sweet group of individuals. ❤️ https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ with Ali Grimshaw.

What is Your Favorite Color?

I have always
Only had one
Some people
Periodically
Choose a new one
Like my sweet niece
A new color
For each new year
But not me
Can’t let mine go-
I sometimes wonder
Why it’s my favorite
Then quickly remember
There are too many
Reasons to count-
An endless sky
On a clear summer day
The vastness of the ocean
As it fades into the horizon
The kind eyes of my dad
The bright eyes of my granddaughter
Only a few examples
From an endless list
Painted in shades of blue

A Sweet Rescue

Can you imagine being
Completely covered
In sticky, sweet honey?
Unable to enjoy
Even the tiniest
Of tastes
Due to the
Unpleasantness
Of clogged ears
And glazed eyes
Unable to shift
Even the smallest
Of limbs
Stuck
All alone
Waiting
To be rescued
From your immersion
In too much of
This golden goodness
Relieved
When friends arrive
And carry you
Back to your hive
Lesson learned-
A little honey goes a long way!