Author: Ali Grimshaw

Cultivate

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 28 Comments
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Shadowed understory no longer needed
sprout through old layers of indecision
boldly bolt toward sunlight to come.

Regardless of broken branches,
depleted soil from years
of growing the same crops.

Angle for full height, extension
of reach, beyond what is
expected of your species.

Grow yourself beyond
the gardens of your past
self.

© Ali Grimshaw 2019

“Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend.” – Sarah Ban Breathnach

Forgiving Connects

 

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Available 24/7

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 27 Comments

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Never preoccupied by screens screaming

unknown friends, nor business buzzing heads.

Mine sit in wait, pocket ready, stacked bedside,

cursive faded on the bathroom mirror. Ever-ready

to ask courageous questions, with reassuring palms

warmly press down on my shoulders. They lead

remind from behind, cocoon me from nightmare bombs

and disappearing green, when my inside raisins.

Trustworthy friends of ink, folded and unfolded

because the need is so great.
© Ali Grimshaw 2018

Poem in Your Pocket Day 2019 is on April 18 and is part of National Poetry Month. On this day, select a poem, carry it with you, and share it with others at schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, workplaces, street corners, and on social media using the hashtag #pocketpoem.

“You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket.”  – John Adams.

d’Verse Open Link Night #241

 

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Topography

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 21 Comments

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An inner dissection

sections of her heart

thinly unlayered, to find

the magnificence of awe

that used to be part of her.

Faded peak moments mapped

on her skin. Elevations reached

and fallen from while yearning

changed her topography.

Thoughts of who

she could become, still

a proposed expedition

© Alicia Grimshaw 2019

 

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SHADOW ~ PIC AND A WORD CHALLENGE #182

Absent

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 28 Comments

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The sad yellow kitchen towel

knows that you will not be returning.

It sags with grief, folded into itself.

No longer your footsteps

squeak across the floor

to make the house speak.

I sit in your chair to be with you.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2019

napo2019button1 (1).pngThe National Poetry Writing challenge for today is to write your own sad poem, but one that achieves sadness through simplicity. Click the icon to find out more and connect with others who are participating. Enjoy!

The Listener

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 15 Comments

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Can you be

with your own silence?

Walking with yourself

wherever you go

naked

or clothed in words

that warm

or weigh you down.

Will you mirror

a friendly listener

hear your own voice

gently?

© Ali Grimshaw 2019

Shadows in Kauai, Hawaii 2018

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Today’s challenge is to write a poem that ends with a question. This poem was inspired by a fellow blogger, Pragalbha’s post. Thank you for the inspiration. I wrote this after reading her words today, “Being With Myself”

Beyond shore

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 9 Comments

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She never failed
to float him beyond
the current of his day.

He never resisted
slipping away with her
curved sides just right

perfect in their holding space
arcs to part waves
when he needed release

she took him far from shore
her motor always finely tuned
of that he made sure never to neglect.

© Ali Grimshaw 2019  (Rewrite from 2017)

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I’m so excited that it’s NaPoWriMo again. NaPoWriMo is an annual poetry challenge that takes place in April. The idea is to write a poem a day resulting in 30 poems in total. The NaPoWriMo site provides prompts if you want to use them. I have added to this challenge by reading poems every day of the month from several different sources. Click on the icon above to join in.