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Tenaciously Tender
Courage is
the verdant newborn grass sprout
thrusting
through layers of
stony, craggy, chalk-defaced sidewalk cement-
taking a risk,
in order to thrive
in its hostile
“wrong”
unforgiving
environment.
Courage is
the fragile young orchard seedling
pushing, pushing, pushing evermore
through layers of
moist, thick, tightly packed peat soil,
of death and decay,
taking a risk-
in order to
provide shade and bear fruit;
in order to grow
in its hostile
“wrong”
unforgiving
environment.
Courage is
me: a delicate, still maturing, unique individual
climbing, fighting, clawing,
through layers of muck and mire,
of pain and suffering,
of darkness and despair,
those places I seem to feel oddly “at home”-
taking quite the risk-
in order to
give light and share hope;
in order to live
(without fear and blame,
without guilt, without shame);
in order to thrive
and to grow…
in my own somewhat hostile
seemingly “wrong”
somewhat unforgiving
environment.
#poetry #personal #emotional #courage #growth #journey #trauma #survivor
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
My existence has
meaning,
that power source fueling
my daily decision
to continue living,
because
-despite
its acute pain
and more chronic suffering-
I can still...
feel cared for
when friends
go out of their way
to check on me,
just because;
feel worthwhile or necessary
when someone, anyone,
is willing to articulate
the ways I’ve positively impacted
their life;
feel the full heart of a caretaker
when Mooshie and Gem
meow
as they hear my voice over the phone,
run
to greet me with affection and admiration;
feel beautiful
when he
stops
in his tracks-
just to take in a second glance;
feel valuable
when we
cry and cry,
do our best to make things right,
and there I find him
still snuggled
next to me,
molded
to my body’s curves,
seeping
into each nook and every cranny
the next morning;
feel hopeful
when my eyes
take in the sunrise
or my skin
its rays-
warmed by light
at last;
feel cleansed
when I
feel the gentle caress
of the water-
renewed,
as the old
is taken away
and the new
is finally
given a place;
feel large and grand
as I
remember,
savor
my victories of this life-
allowing myself
pride, praise;
feel small and insignificant
as I
gaze
into the depths
of the vast night sky-
pondering possibilities,
feeling free;
feel safe
when he
wraps me
in the blankets,
cradles me
in his arms,
I hear
his steady breathing,
look over
to see
his face- calm-
everything
will be okay.
#poetry #personal #life #journey #gratitude #positive #positivity #perspective
Elmer’s
(Life)
a beautifully delicate,
yet forceful and strong
nutcracker-
poised
around the neck of
(Me)
a plainly forgettable,
yet sturdy and steadfast
bottle of All-Purpose Glue...
I-
on the outside:
opaque,
unassuming,
yet full to the brim
with a goopy, sticky mess-
my own carefully hidden secrets and pain
and
It-
appearing:
flawless,
fine,
yet cold and unfeeling in truth,
ready to crack me in two-
leaving my “mess”
spilling out
into the open…
Seemingly catastrophic.
Yet,
upon some reflection,
perhaps
not so…
Yes, I am
filled to the brim
with a goopy, sticky “mess”
but
this substance
brings and holds
things together,
I’ve found.
Bizarre phenomenon.
So,
maybe,
perhaps,
this process
called life-
this bursting,
this breaking,
this coming out into the open-
is less catastrophe
and more opportunity…
To use
the goopy stickiness
of my “mess”,
its many varied lessons,
its “all purpose-ness”,
to hold myself
and bring others
together-
to be
the glue
I’ve always needed.
#poetry #personal #emotional #reflect #reflection #hope #positive #positivity
Twice Broken, Once Forgiven, Never Forgotten
Until I break these chains of fear,
Until I escape from you, my dear,
Until I eventually run from love,
Until I give my soul to the stars above,
I will never let you break my heart.
I will never agree to play that part.
I will never be your mindless puppet.
I will never take your disrespect.
I will always remember how much I cried.
I will always know how often you lied.
I will always see you tear others down.
I will always know that no one is around.
You have lost my trust.
You have lost my faith.
You have lost my love.
You have lost.
And you will always lose,
Maybe one day you'll learn,
As I write of your wrongs,
And become better, finally.
Cat
This three letter, one syllable word is a noun.
A feline is called a cat.
This is a word we teach young children when they first start talking because it is so easy to say. Almost as easy as dog, but not quite.
Curiosity can kill a cat.
It is difficult to bell a cat.
A cat is independent.
Some people don’t like a cat, because she is mean.
Until I met my cat, I thought the same.
Then one night, I found an itty-bitty cat with an eye infection and took her in.
From that day, the meaning of the word cat changed.
Cat is fluffy.
Cat is grey with dark grey stripes.
Cat has a white underbelly.
Cat has multi-colored paws.
Cat has green eyes and a button nose.
Cat has sandpaper tongue.
Cat likes to sleep with her back touching mine.
Cat rubs her face on my face.
Cat jumps into my arms when I get home.
Cat likes cuddles.
Cat is warm.
Cat is love.
Sun
Dont be afride I am with you. You see the sun think of me, It will dry your tears and show my never ending love for you. Know all those nasty things I said wasnt true, that you are the most importent thing in my life even though it was short. It didnt hurt, and I am not alone. Grammys up here and so is ungle. I see my Heavenly father and his son. He hugs me all day and told me to tell you he will keep me safe until you come home again. He says he loves you too and hes proud. I am too! So please dont be sad, I am with you and its better up here then down there, I am home. I now know why I always felt weird on Earth, Its because it wasnt were I belonged, it wasnt my home. But know i am finally home. Until we meet again know that there is never a time that I wont be with you and please let the sun dry up your tears cause one day you will be with me fovere and more.
Beware The Seven
Beware the seven
Sometimes we seem sweet
Sometimes brutal and cruel
But this is the world we live in
And it's in this one, we rule
You dont always realise it's happening. You think the thoughts are your own.
The way we pull and push your strings will always be unknown
Sometimes we hide in the darkness. Hidden in the veil of black.
But often we're right in front of you. Smiling as we attack.
As puppets you continue to believe that the desperation is just a sudden surprise
You dont know that we control you, even as you look in our eyes.
Rarely you get quite clever. And come to know how powerful we be.
Although you watch as we play our games, You very rarely see.
We pull your strings and we tap your brains until you're the person we want the most.
Your body is pretty and often used, but it is now only a host.
Inside, you are ours. You belong to us, in ways you could only dream.
You reach a new level and think yourself proud as you let your soul be seen.
As puppet masters we'll snatch at the offer, twisting until you sin.
You may think you're strong, but we're almighty and eventually you'll let us in.
You are the prettiest, little possession....
Beware the seven.