My Poems
I have always enjoyed writing poetry, however, I never thought I would have a place to showcase it. I hope that as you read my words you are encouraged to take a moment to be mindful and notice the thoughts that come to you. As well, perhaps what you read will inspire you to think about things in a new way. Maybe I will simply have created a picture in your mind, and well, I'm pretty happy if I've been able to do that.
I look forward to adding new poems as they come to me!
Sweet Drops
Sweet drops of life poised elegantly,
Insignificant to some, nurturing existence to others.
How long will you remain?
Long enough to quench a thirst?
Or longer still, until you return to your source?
Taken for granted when you come as needed.
Prayed for or cursed when too much time passes without you,
or you create flood waters that rise wreaking havoc with all we hold dear.
Your beauty is innocent,
Your power undeniable.
Winter Solstice
Each time you come around, you become a silent target.
I reach out for you like a sprinter extending toward the finish line.
Some days you are my only goal.
When you finally arrive, I know that I have made it.
The tunnel I've been existing in begins to brighten - the window for possibility opens a little more with each passing day.
I am no longer in survival mode, instead the real me slowly awakens and I convert to thriving mode.
The depression of darkness is at last replaced by new hope for what lay ahead.
Healing
She sits quietly at her usual bus stop,
Lost in thoughts of an event she’d rather forget.
Traffic rushes by – zoom… vroom…
Rain begins to fall – dip, dip, dip...
The day is as grey as she feels in her mind and in her heart.
Nearly a year has passed since it happened.
Moments of joy have occurred,
However, they have been brief and fleeting.
“You’ll get over it” – she is casually told by her friends,
Not understanding the depth of her pain.
If they knew, they wouldn’t be so cavalier with their comments.
Pitta-pat-pat, pitta-pat-pat…
Her hair has flattened to her expressionless face.
She would be an expert at poker, if only she played cards.
Chsshhhh!!! The bus appears in front of her,
Doors open waiting for her to board.
She takes a seat, alone, at the back.
How am I supposed to tell a complete stranger what happened,
When I can’t even tell my best friend???
I DON’T want to do this!
City blocks go by…
Looking up from her thoughts she sees the office building where her appointment is scheduled.
She pulls the cord - ding!
Descending the steps she apprehensively approaches, and enters the building.
I DON’T WANT TO DO THIS!!!
Trembling, she enters the elevator.
The doors close and the elevator begins to rise.
Ding – 2nd floor. Ding – 3rd floor. Ding…her stop.
Nervously, she makes her way to the office door and opens it.
The receptionist looks up and smiles warmly.
“Go right in, she’s expecting you.”
“I’m glad you came back.
Now the healing can begin.”
Morning
My consciousness awakens,
as glorious sunbeams stretch through my bedroom window.
Nature’s radiance warms my face,
delivering the message of hope for a new day.
Today, all things are possible.
Spring
Spring rains come,
Washing away the doldrums of winter,
Inspiring growth of a new season.
Blossoms soon appear,
Filling the air with a sweetness like no other.
So fragrant, so alive.
Vibrant, eye-catching flowers unfold,
Proving that even the harshest of winters can’t keep them down.
I am inspired to follow suit,
Refusing to yield.
Focusing on my growth,
And leaving behind what no longer serves.
Nature has much to teach,
When we are in-tune enough to listen.
Possibility
Strength comes from within.
It comes from getting messy -
Allowing yourself to be vulnerable.
You never know how much better things can be,
If you don’t step away from what is.
It’s okay to be nervous about the unknown,
But rest assured, that is where new adventures await.
What would happen if you traded in your fear for hopeful anticipation?
You might surprise yourself and grow even more than you thought possible.
Upside Down
I sit in front of my breakfast
Trying to hold back the stinging tears.
A lone, salty drop falls into my cereal.
Yesterday everything was fine.
Today, my world is upside down.
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I close my eyes as I sit on a cliff high above the ocean.
How I wish I had its power.
Ceaseless in its plight to break down anything in its path.
Waves crashing against the rocky shore, battling for victory.
Wind whispering as it snakes through the tall grass that surrounds me.
Greedy seagulls overhead, hopeful I might toss them something,
Beckoning me to toss them something.
“Go away!”
The Ocean
Bad News
Pain is what I feel today.
It came on so suddenly,
but not without warning.
I’m amazed at the strength of my mind.
Even though I saw it coming,
I still chose not to believe.
Ever the optimist, that’s who I am.
I thought I needed to be positive and everything would be fine.
No negativity, I thought, only bad things come from that.
And still, my nightmare came true.
The hurt is real enough, but thankfully, inner strength pulls me through.
Autumn
Days grow shorter.
Trees become more and more decorated,
Like soldiers displaying their medals.
Reds, oranges and yellows intermingle in the wind.
Some humans take the time to appreciate such beauty,
Others are blind to it.
I revel in it – am calmed by it.
The exquisiteness pleases my eyes and soul.
Observing such vibrancy leaves me mesmerized,
Causing me to think of a fire’s dancing flames illuminating the darkness.
Autumn is time for yet another demonstration of nature’s incredible splendor.
Connection
I kindly encourage you to put your phone away.
Look up to see the world and those around you.
What could be more important than human connection?
​
We are becoming zombies, transfixed by what?
Does it really matter who accomplished the most outlandish feat simply to get more likes?
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Don't be afraid to make eye contact and smile at a stranger,
See the twinkle in their eyes, or share yours with them.
How else do we meet new people if we don't see them?
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What would happen if the next time you were waiting to catch a flight, see your healthcare practitioner, or get an oil change, you were to simply sit and be?​
What would happen if you were present with your thoughts?
I wonder what would come up?
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Not only do we need to connect with those around us, we need to connect with ourselves.
If we aren't connected, we are lost.
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So be courageous and share the glory that is you with the world.
Because you are amazing and have stories to tell.
Seek others' stories too, for they assuredly have some of their own.
Imagine how connected we could be if we simply put down our phone.
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Family
It isn’t always easy to be around each other, or get along.
Each person is so incredibly different, despite sharing a history.
What if we could look past the exterior façade to truly see each other?
Who each member is at their very core.
What their values are and who they strive to be.
What if we could see them how they see themselves, rather than through the lens of our life experience and judgment?
Would that change our opinion?
We all have struggles - challenges we choose to hide for fear of being seen as weak or maybe even selfish.
What if we simply supported each other and treated one another with
compassion?
Maybe then everyone could drop their guard and step away from the mask each thinks is protecting them, hiding their vulnerability.
Let's move forward together with love as our guide.
Let's build each other up and look for one another’s value instead of their faults.
Let's reach out to one another, check in, and ensure each knows how important they are to us.
We get but one opportunity to live this life, let's not waste it with suppositions and doubts.
Instead, let's laugh, smile, and hug one another creating wonderful memories to look back upon when we need to be uplifted most.
Summer Rain Shower
I sit in my bedroom and notice the rain as it begins to fall,
the sky above me a blanket of heavy cloud.
​Within moments, the drops descend more quickly in their race to reach the earth.
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A rhythm begins that puts me into a trans-like state,
allowing my concerns from the day to fade as I focus on the sounds produced by the falling drops of water...
- high pitched plinking on a metal roof,
- the steady swish as they land on grass,
- plip, plop, plip - go the drops into a self-created puddle,
- whack, whack, whack on the concrete driveway.
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Eventually, the competition to reach the ground first eases, and I make my way outside.
I feel tension leave my body as I inhale the rich sweetness of the air.
The grass and the leaves on the trees appear greener.
The concrete sizzles as steam rises from it,
for not long ago the brilliant sun was heating its surface.
The shower has passed leaving my senses to enjoy all it has left behind.
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I take on many forms as the seasons change. I hibernate as a bear in the winter when the snow and cold weather are here. While my bed may be nearly empty, my presence is always felt, and humans fretfully await my return. As the spring thaw begins, life slowly returns, and I get to stretch out my body once again. A couple of unusually warm days and once more I flow strong. Spring rains come, indeed thunderstorms – forcing rain into my framework increasing my size, speed, and strength like a herd of buffalo fiercely stampeding. My waters churn powerfully, and I shove rocks and boulders with all my might. The banks crumble and eventually cave at my mighty force. The storm ceases and the spring rains draw to a close.
Summer slowly approaches and I find myself in a calm, consistent state - like an eagle soaring effortlessly across a brilliant azure sky. My body now teems with life. Not only do I come alive with fish and tiny organisms, but I give life as well, for all are provided with life giving water to drink and flourish. As my temperature increases, so too do the number of humans who use me as a source for entertainment and exercise. Some enjoy swimming against my current to increase their strength and endurance, while others use my sandy shore to build magnificent sculptures. I love watching humans water-ski across my surface, flipping and dancing as they play.
As the days grow shorter, the air temperature begins to decrease, and I am no longer a hub of activity. My shores and waters become empty as the humans gradually disappear until next year. There are, however, always a few die-hards who push the limits and test their boundaries. I wholeheartedly enjoy their company and enthusiasm, wishing more had that same zest for life.
Fall arrives and I no longer have the size, speed, or strength that were present not so long ago. Once again, I will soon be as small as a squirrel flitting through the forest gathering its winter supply. If I had it my way, I would run at the steady rate that I do through the summer. It troubles me to think that I must wait again until spring to have the same impact of which I am capable. I love feeling strong and powerful.
One would think that I would be used to this pattern by now, but I can honestly say that I am not. There are far too many qualities that I enjoy about myself during spring and summer, and with that, just as many that I do not in the fall and winter. However, it reminds me that life is a series of cycles and through the seasons we are allowed to, and in fact we should, change and grow. With that, we must remember that even when things aren’t going our way, with time, they too will change. Knowing this, is what keeps me going and my hope is that regardless of your circumstances, it will encourage you to do the same.
The River
Yvonne