Tug of War

May 6, 2018May 6, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 8 Comments

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According to her internal judge

she was never up to par,

even when crossing the finish line first

accomplishment slid off her skin. Always

gripping, holding on for acceptance.

Yet perplexed separation pained her days.

She wanted belonging

and never wanted to fit in

knew it would change her.

A part broken off to float away irretrievable.

No one else stayed after class to console the bullied teacher.

It never occurred to her not to.

She saw those faces on the fringe,

secretly knowing she was an outlier as well.

She let go of the kinship rope

not to lose herself.

Photo credit to Pixabay – Alberto Barco Figari

Observe

Remembering

April 29, 2018June 7, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 30 Comments

I miss the days of your eyes,

a yearning treasure seeker,

when I was the X on your map.

Portugal 2017

Safety Net

April 26, 2018April 26, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 21 Comments

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I will embrace you

in this house of circumstance

walls cracked and cratered

plaster fallen failures.

Shelter you with my being

through the unavoidable crumbling

a steel umbrella in the storm.

I gave grown capable of being

the shelter, like the arch of

protection you once were

for me. I am solid

even as the erosion continues

with you under my wings.

April 26: Poem in Your Pocket Day – celebrate by selecting a poem, carrying it with you and sharing it with others throughout the day and on social media using the hashtag #pocketpoem. Share a poem that got you through a hard time or one that makes you laugh. Touch someone’s heart.

Morning Newsbreak

April 21, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 17 Comments

The 5:00 am thud,

my front porch newspaper.

When will this sound disappear

from my listening landscape?

Like the comfort

of sounds, predictable life

before the robots were made.

When hands held headlines

faithful objects, a lifeline

of interpretation on paper thinness

read in gentle openness

played at morning speed of drowsy slow

accompanied by the aroma of coffee.

The illusion of a day with

news within my control.

“It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men [and women] die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.”—William Carlos Williams

13 Ways to Support Poetry – guest blog post by Dick Allen – A great article with specific ways to keep poetry alive in the world.

dVerse OpenLinkNight #218 – If you are looking for a community of poets you can find one here.

National Poetry Month – Fall in love with a poet.

Thanks for keeping the door unlocked

April 18, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 18 Comments

If you are wondering

doubting,

don’t give up. Stay.

Someone loves the light

only you can be.

National Poetry Writers Month 2018 – Click to read more poems.

Always Available 24/7

April 13, 2018April 14, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 39 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, 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.

This poem was inspired by the following quote from John Adams. “You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket.”

Ars Poetica – d’Verse

National Poetry Month – Fall in love with a poet.

Photo by Pixabay free images.

Love Louder

April 13, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 17 Comments

Can two words be enough,

make a poem on their own

to shake the passers by awake.

Just a couple, woven into

the fabric of an ordinary day?

Please tell me they can.

Photo of a local high school fence, Oregon

Photo Challenge – Awakening

National Poetry Month

My light is shining

April 12, 2018April 11, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 21 Comments

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Thank you Ghost City Review for publishing my poem, The Passing Judgement Of Those Walking By, this month. Ghost City Press is based in Syracuse, NY. Their goal is to provide a platform for the exhibition of work by new and emerging writers and artists in the online literary community. They publish writers who understand the complexities of the world we live in and who reflect this in their work.

We all have poetry inside us. How different the world would be if this were believed.

Make yours a day of wondrous words.

Ali