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365 Pages of 2018 – a poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 22 Comments

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I wrote across
and down the page
sometimes diagonal doodles
to break through lines
that I refused, not willing
to be penned in.
Editing bled and tore through
to pages underneath.
Grateful for a thick tablet
layers of mistakes on the way to golden
this party called life, waking up
to attend, embrace the tousled mess
tumbles, triumph, trembles of love
that live outside of words.
The minutes are not guaranteed
savor this very one.

© Ali Grimshaw 2018

Each year I celebrate getting to live another year by writing a birthday poem. I hope this inspires you to author your life. What story are you writing this year? These bloggers have inspired my next chapter; Debbie at Forgiving Connects , Colleen at The Chatter Blog, Val at Find Your Middle Ground, Miriam at Out an’ About, and Brad at Writing To Freedom

Here is the link to last year’s birthday poem 365 Pages.

May love touch your day.

Ali

Slightly to the right – poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 27 Comments

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One step to the right

not a stretch, just a nudge

shift of weight to the side.

One step away, between

worry and what if?

Landscape of exhaustion

or a horizon of possibility.

Not a marathon, nothing to train for,

just one

small

step.

Get your shoes on.

wonder is waiting.

© Ali Grimshaw 2018

 

Resharing one the most liked posts from this year.

Sending the light of hope your way.

 

Phrases on Fire – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 50 Comments

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Now I sit inside heated regret
what I wish I would have said

rapid words that flew off my tongue
like butterflies leaving my mouth

beautiful at first sight, fluttering
toward you. With closer inspection

upon landing, were really illegal
firecrackers of burnt red destruction

flames that left you singed speechless
while I coughed on my smoking impulsivity.

© Ali Grimshaw 2018
Rewrite of a poem from 2017

Fire Up Creativity—dVerse Poetics

My light is shining

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 23 Comments

 

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Thank you to Vita Brevis Poetry Magazine for publishing my poem,

What the Grieving Seek, this month. It is an honor to have my words shared on this poetry journal. Vita Brevis (life is short) aims to publish work that shows a keen awareness of not only art’s beauty and longevity but life’s toils and finiteness.

Please click on the above link to give my poem a visit.

May poetry touch your day.

Ali

 

Sandals in November – A poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 37 Comments

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They called her crazy
an attempt to freeze her with jeers
never understanding
that she chose
to avoid too much comfort.

Empathy would always
be her closest friend
arm in arm, they would
walk in sandals through
November frost.

Warmed by desire
for connection.
A step toward those
who had no shoes.

© Ali Grimshaw 2018

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Forgiving Fridays 

Finding Fault – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 22 Comments

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Blame is an easy

coat to wear, it’s large pockets

empty promises

© Ali Grimshaw 2018

“The impulse to create begins – often terribly and fearfully – in a tunnel of silence. Every real poem is the breaking of existing silence, and the first question we might ask any poem is, What kind of voice is breaking silence, and what kind of silence is being broken?”      ~ Adrienne Rich
An invitation from now until November 6 to share poems of witness by advocating for justice, making a stand for equity, speaking up and out against injustice, hatred and bigotry. #poemsofwitness
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Dona Nobis Pacem – A poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 30 Comments

Through the fearful thoughts, clashed conflict
of what might be, we always have a choice

to speak love, listen behind and underneath
the words of others for the common thread

that we hold. A line of connection
alive with the many lives that have held it.

Feel the yank of one who is pulled away
the space empty, thread loosely lost to hang
without warm hands to hold it.

Hands that may be the only ones
to keep us unraveling.

© Ali Grimshaw 2018

If it wasn’t for blogging I know I wouldn’t stop to write poems and writing them gives me the life I want to live.  So, thank you fellow bloggers for the opportunity to reflect and connect across the oceans and to speak for peace today. We can change the world one conversation at a time. The world needs each one of us. Please keep your light on.

Join in at Blog4peace.com

Remembering

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 43 Comments

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You always asked me why,
how did leaves change color
giggling from the red wagon
I pulled around the block.

As the leaves parade, an early flaming row
burned into memory, your voice
is missing in the trees.
Wishing it returned

with the falling.

© Ali Grimshaw 2018

dVerse challenge Quadrille #67 – early

ON A SPACE CALLED LAND

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 15 Comments

The voice of a poem can pull your feet from the muck and this one did so for me this morning. Therefore, I am sharing it forward with the hope that it free your feet as well. It comes from  SINGING HEART POEMS, STORIES & MUSINGS BY KAREM BARRATT

ON A SPACE CALLED LAND

And so it happens that we are all walkers:

Runners, joggers, skippers;

Trail blazers, some of us.

Path finders.

And that is the answer of the ages.

Of the “who am I” and “what am I doing here.”

We are machete wielders, creating

The path unique to ourselves,

To our laughter and our tears.

We are charterers of the unknown

Jungles that our lives are, similar

To many, yet different in every sense.

We do not travel the road less travelled:

We create the way.

We build the bridge, draw the maps,

Write the memoirs that the

Next generation will forget or

Misunderstand, because I am not

You, nor you I, and my yellow

Brick road is  blondish, buttery white,

Whilst yours is coppery gold.

And so, like the Spanish poet

Said, dear walker, there is no road.

The road is rendered by your feet when

You start your walk.

And that is life. And who you are.

A walker of dreams on a space called land.

By K. Barratt