In the solitude of these chambers
my heart remembers how to breathe.
Cool air pulled in, an inflation of freedom
expansion completed. To rise and fall,
again, again, again…
My internal rhythm,
muscles in unison,
ceaselessly at work,
to fill me from toes to earlobes,
without my acknowledgement
or praise.
An intake of peaceful,
taken for granted,
to keep this heart beating
another day.
© Ali Grimshaw 2017
Celebrate #Loveuary with the blog But I Smile Anyway
Dressed in white, they gather
a sacred opening, shared hush
They lean in to listen for what is to come.
My eyes honored guests to witness their glory.
One of few who will attend this party today.
© Ali Grimshaw 2017
Out of an infinite number of stories ending this year
how lucky am I to continue mine.
To understand, as I didn’t before
how to see the next blank page
author what is left.
To smear the words by numbing
or battle to awaken the next chapter,
an internal fight rekindled by rewrites.
Still awed by the power of dusk to soften the view
I choose to attend this party called life.
Many minutes are not guaranteed.
I savor this very one.
© Ali Grimshaw 2017
Each year I celebrate the gift of getting to live another year by writing a birthday poem. This is my poem for 2016. I don’t have the words to clearly express the layers of learning, global connection and inspiration I found by jumping into the world of blogging this year. Thank you to WordPress for making it possible and to the many, many kind bloggers who offered support. I am honored to have a poem chosen by the Drabble as one of the top ten editor’s picks for the year. Ten of our favorite Drabbles of 2016. I hope this inspires you to share your voice in 2017.
Discover Challenge – Retrospective
In January 2016 I chose to begin sharing my poems publicly. This was scary but I am glad that I took the leap. I never knew that I would end up connecting with people around the world when I started to blog. It has been the best adventure of this year of living. I am in celebration and gratitude to VerseWrights for publishing six of my poems today. VerseWrights is a wonderful daily, online poetry journal. Thank you to all my readers and for those that support poetry. Let’s keep the communication going around the world. PEACE is possible.
Sending love across lands and oceans,
Ali
Thinking in reverse
months tipping, like dominos
to revisit that summer day.
Longing for this cleansing pool,
an offering of chilled calmness
encircled by stone, here I joined
the river of slow movement,
pulling at my rapid pulse.
Plucking the notes ever slower.
Heartbeat dissolving
until I was
just being
water.
© Ali Grimshaw
He brings me leaves
one each day
a contrast in shape
varied vibrancy, coral to ripe peach
left on the kitchen counter
until evening arrives at our window.
Held in his palm
this single donation
color story of today
our eyes meet
the wrinkles, textured hues, imperfect edges.
Our hands hold a temporary prize between us
cherishing.
Trees give without expecting
something in return. Thankfully,
so does he.
© Ali Grimshaw 2016
May you find someone to share the beauty of nature with today. Happy Thanksgiving.
You have landed
in your own pond
sending out rings
your circles overlapping those of
other rocks who have taken the plunge.
I cannot see the ripples
you will make in others’ lives.
Yet, I know they exist. As I have
felt your wholeness in our embrace.
I see you time and again, resurfacing.
The shine in your eyes,
never to be the same
only brighter.
© Ali Grimshaw
When she fell
in her pain she was grateful,
to all those along the way who
patiently taught her how to rise to her feet.
showed her how to dust off,
heal the wounds,
start again.
After years of practice
she wasn’t afraid of falling anymore.
Dirty knees were honorable.
© Ali Grimshaw 2016
flashlight batteries - Ali Grimshaw 