When you choose what follows I am ... pick your words with care. I am brave can make walls disappear. I am enduring can see you through troubled times. I am curious can allow you to travel on a floating leaf without leaving the front yard. Sometimes others want to choose our words for us. You are trouble. You are incapable. You are unworthy. The secret is words won't stick to you if you don't want them. If you look closely they can be found. Those unwanted words are removable. Peel them off Brush them away or gently blow them into the breeze like seeds of the dandelion. You never have to keep the words unless you want them. So, what words will you choose to follow I am...?
Author: Ali Grimshaw
Passageways – Poem by Ali Grimshaw
Actions taken from love can never be regrets only open doors of possibility to step through. Doorways for light to shine in to shine out or meet in amplification. Welcoming visitors you once viewed as strangers now family members. An invitation to leave a room that doesn't serve you or is keeping you small. This door is locked on the inside a wish come true. You are free to leave anytime. © Alicia Grimshaw 2020 Photo take in on a trip to Amsterdam, 2019. Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge Word of the Day Challenge: Wish
Poem up on Visual Verse
My poem, A WHITE WOMAN ASKS HERSELF IF SHE IS THE ONE, is up on Visual Verse. Click on the link to read it. The photograph offered as the prompt brought up deep emotions for me. I hope you will visit Visual Verse to see it for yourself and read the many poems that it inspired.
Thank you to Visual Verse for sharing my words.
Visual Verse is a collaboration. An anthology of art, poetry, short fiction and non-fiction. Each month we supply a compelling image and invite writers – published or unpublished – to submit a piece in response.
Visual Verse is a celebration. Of the drama of seeing and the desire to express it. Of the things that inspire us, move us, and that we find hardest to articulate.
Visual Verse is a challenge. We offer you the chance to experience the rush of writing without overthinking. Sometimes strange, sometimes beautiful, let the picture be the start of something you can’t predict: your own response.
A benevolent view
what you had always assumed to be solid, now is soggy sadness water warped windows with a view misguided, bent lines of memory altered truth to offer up unjustified reflections will you forgive yourself for all that was unseen before? © Alicia Grimshaw 2020 Photo take in Atlanta, Georgia
Begin Again – Poem by Ali Grimshaw
now, before the spark dims and doubt blankets your mind with too comfortable now, before familiar climbs onto your lap with worries, warmly weighty and resignation joins in to pull courage from the room now, before you forget the dreams of befriending a green tree of sunlight the touch of dragonfly landings. © Ali Grimshaw 2020 In this world of ever changing circumstances taking time to slow down with a poem and a small group of thoughtful people is, like a cool glass of water on a hot day, refreshing. I look forward to the opportunity to write with you. Writing together can: • Surprise and delight us • Allow expression of feelings in creative ways • Guide our own journey
Click on the links below for more information and registration.
Writing for Renewal: Poetry & Reflection Circle Monday, July 6 12:00 PM PDT
Writing to Restore Ourselves: Poetry & Reflection Circle Wednesday, July 8 4:30 pm PDT
Writing to Restore Ourselves: Poetry & Reflection Circle Tuesday, July 14 9:30 AM PDT
Curious about weekly writing circles? Email me at coaching@aligrimshaw.com
Theory of the Undaunted
hold spontaneity in one hand hold courage in the other after hesitation kisses you goodbye free fall into your future let possibility fully fill your lungs float untethered, without holding your breath until the shore disrobes the fog then swim with the passion of another year you never thought you would have. © Ali Grimshaw 2019
Evolving
The world needs listeners now more than ever. My writing circles are designed to practice deep listening and reflective writing in small groups. I am starting up another four week writing series on the second week of July. Curious about weekly writing circles? Email me at coaching@aligrimshaw.com
If I read you like a poem.
If I brought poetry to your exhale how would you breathe? If you brought poetry to my cooking how would it taste? If we brought poetry to our conversation what would we hear? Would we notice the moan of wind escaping our arguments, notice the water from our pipes is at a trickle, and our neighbors don’t stand in the front yard anymore hateful weeds encroaching upon our edible garden while voices overrun each other with lawn mower loudness? A muffled fear, like cotton balls in our ears falls free revealing the unison of our currents. If I lived poetry could I see the heart underneath your skin? Would you see me as a life as valuable as your own? © Alicia Grimshaw 2020
dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night - share your poem and explore the poetry of others.
My light is shining.
The world needs each of us to shine our light brightly. I hope that my poetry reflects the light in you.
The Auroras & Blossoms NaPoWriMo Anthology: 2020 Edition
I am honored to be one of the 38 contributors with two poems included in this inspirational anthology. It is currently available for a reduced price until its official publication date on June 23rd. Thank you to the founders and co-editors Cendrine Marrouat and David Ellis for their efforts to create this anthology.
The Auroras & Blossoms NaPoWriMo Anthology: 2020 Edition is now available for pre-order.
Poems from the Circle
we are held one moment, one breath, one heartbeat at a time. even when I feel I am falling, I am held, safely. sometimes the fire within, which most often warms and lights my next step, rages. out of control – yes – that is the rage unseen, well hidden and buried; wounds of the past. wanting to be felt, seen, honored – so the soft warm light returns. brighter, free. heart opened. By Carrie Cannady
I am grateful for Carrie’s permission to share her poem from the writing circle here. You can find more of Carrie’s writing on her blog, LeadOurLives.net
I continue to meet amazing women across different time zones. Together we are writing, listening and learning from one another. Share your voice with us.
Writing together can:
• Provide authentic connection
• Allow expression of feelings
• Guide our own journey
Click on the links below for information and registration.
Writing for Renewal: Poetry Reflection Circle, 6/14, 7:00 PM PDT
Writing For Renewal: Poetry and Reflection Circle 6/17, 9:30 am PDT
Motherhood Explored: Women’s Writing Circle, 6/13, 10:30
AM PDTMotherhood Explored: Women’s Writing Circle, 6/16, 7:00 PM PDT
flashlight batteries - Ali Grimshaw 