Palms upward as hands face sky
open spaces between fingers relaxing
into what has been a time of gentle
and harsh scrubbing of the heart.
Every inch of skin Brillo pad raw.
An exfoliation of what has been.
My fists, no longer clenched
in tight survival, trust in slow unfurling.
Pain tingling as blood returns to fingertips.
Learning feet reground my trunk
to an upright position, toes rooted
past sand into bedrock. Freeing now
agile hands to sift through the helpful lessons
caught in my soft palms as promises
while unneeded thoughts fall through finger spaces
to join other decomposing conversations
of days when I didn't know listening.
Composting the no longer serviceable
into nutrients for the new words to come.
© Ali Grimshaw 2021
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flashlight batteries - Ali Grimshaw 
trust in slow unfurling
while unneeded thoughts fall through finger spaces
to join other decomposing conversations
of days when I didn’t know listening.
These are such incredible lines!! Truly amazing beautiful poem!!
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I truly appreciate you my friend. It seems like you are someone who really understands what I write. Thank you so much for reflecting back the words that spoke to you. I hope my words give you strength and surround you in love as you journey forward. Peace.
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Such beautifully penned truth! 🙂 ❤
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Thank you for reading and letting me know that my words with you today.
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🤗
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Sending loving strength you way.
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Received with deep appreciation, sister 🤗
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Sounds like, feels like, a welcome relief.
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Colleen,
It is interesting that you heard and felt relief in this poem. I loved that you shared this. I think that sifting through what to keep or discard could be a form of relief. I hadn’t thought of it that way and I appreciate your contribution. This is one of the things I love about poetry. The openness to hear what the words mean to you.
Breathe in peace my friend.
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Ah…thank you Ali. Your last statement is poetry in itself.
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Keep shining your light.
Keep sharing your voice.
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plant
sew
so you know
perhaps
at a later date
indeed.
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Thank you for reflecting back the light you heard in my words.
Peace to you.
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caught in my soft palms as promises…
…decomposing conversations
of days when I didn’t know listening….
…nutrients for the new words for to come.
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Kirsten,
Thank you so much for reflecting back the words that spoke to you. You know how much I love hearing them.
Take good care of your heart.
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A poem full of wonderful sensations… Like when I’m walking along a local golden beach, with the seabreeze caressing my skin, and the sand softly massaging my soles and tickling my toes… 😀😎
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That is a marvelous reflection, Ivor. I am glad to hear that is how you experienced it. It is amazing how a poem can take us places while we remain at home in a chair.
Take care my friend.
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Haha.. and before I plunge the invigorating water…🏊♂️
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