What if I wrote what could not be asked
the inappropriate bold words, or a question
that made you cringe slightly with wonder.
Left it on your desk, scented paper
inside an envelope that you would need to choose
to open or not, wondering who it could be from
unmarked, with just your cursive name penned upon
the front. Leaving you to hesitate with the thrill
of good or bad news to come.
© Ali Grimshaw 2019
Another sunrise through our window
light of reexamination
realization of the rich journey
the roads I would have not taken
without your vastly different
sense of direction
neither of us see West the same
but agree, it is not the end of our daylight.
© Ali Grimshaw 2019
d’Verse – Quadrille #80 challenge
I am grateful to Ann Kestner at Poetry Breakfast for sharing my poem today. If you have ever had a difficult time figuring out how to say something then you will probably relate to this poem.
Borrowed Flight – A Poem by Ali Grimshaw (click here to read)
Poetry Breakfast serves up a poem each morning to go with your coffee or tea. If you haven’t checked out this site then give it a try. It is a great way to start your day.
A love note to my mother. In appreciation of the love mothers give every day.
© Ali Grimshaw 2018
© Ali Grimshaw 2019
THE SOUL BOX PROJECT is a national community art project calling for the making of one hand-folded paper box to represent every person killed or injured by gunfire in the U.S. since 2014. Hundreds of thousands of these Boxes will be displayed together in massive art installations to reveal the staggering number of gunfire victims.
I had the privilege of visiting this exhibit and making my own Soul Box to contribute to the cause. If you are near Portland, Oregon take time to visit and read what these boxes say. Multnomah Arts Center Gallery
Find out more at SoulBoxProject.org
“The point is, art never stopped a war and never got anybody a job. That was never its function. Art cannot change events. But it can change people… because people are changed by art – enriched, ennobled, encouraged – they then act in a way that may affect the course of events… by the way they vote, they behave, the way they think.” – Leonard Bernstein
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
The 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!
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)
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.
