Will you be a rainbow?

January 18, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 20 Comments

Not qualified, no certificate, diploma

just a person, regular, no one special.

Who me? I don’t know how. Where would I start?

Listen. Open your heart. Look. Open your eyes.

An opportunity right in front of you. Yes, right there.

It won’t matter. I don’t count. It’s too late.

No one ever tires of a rainbow coming through the clouds.

Your colors impossible to see from an internal view

vivid in the eyes of those waiting.

Dr. Maya Angelou – Thank you for reminding me that I can be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud and to take all the rainbows of my life with me wherever I go.

Rainbow photo thanks to pixabay.com/en/rainbow-kelvenne-national-park-1372108/

Acknowledgements

January 17, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 17 Comments

It is a wonderful feeling to have someone acknowledge that which you create. Thank you Sakhi of Quill & Parchment for granting me the Blogger Recognition Award. I am a self taught blogger and have my doubts about understanding how this is suppose to work but if I let doubts stop me I would never have started a blog or shared even one poem. I started my blog with one intention, to give. My first poem, flashlight batteries, is where I got the name for my blog. My goal continues to be to reach out to anyone in the world who may feel alone, frightened or confused. I believe that authentic connection between people changes the world. My advice is to give the gift of yourself. Now and at no time in the future will there ever be another human just like you. Don’t try to be something, just be who you are. The world needs the gifts that only you can give.

These are the blogs I would like to recognize. If you don’t accept awards then please consider this a personal thank you. You have all inspired me.

Although rules have been shared, I want my nominated bloggers to feel no pressure to follow them. Life is short and we all need to make our own choices.

RULES

Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Write a post to show your award.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them & provide the link to the post you created.

Holding Hands

January 14, 2017January 14, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 13 Comments

As we stand together

the ocean’s roar a comfort

lullaby of constant.

You squeeze my hand.

I echo the motion.

Reliable rolling waves,

we count on

when the world is crashing.

The Daily Post Photo Challenge – Ambience

Drawing a house

January 13, 2017January 13, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 15 Comments

What do you hold onto

when the bottom drops out

leaving you foundationless?

Your roof carried away by a tornado.

Left only with blankness and a pen

you forgot was in your hand.

I draw myself a new house

windows of openness, a tin roof to hear rain

a welcome door without requirements

with the hope that you feel safe enough to visit.

Uncensored, just as you are not

when you leave the premises.

Will you let your truth out?

January 10, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 5 Comments

enlight1

You took the colors with you.

January 8, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 7 Comments

When the last leaf has fallen,

and I am left on my own,

my sorrow will have no company.

You took the colors with you.

You took the colors with you,

my questions left alone in the air.

Bleached silence, no reply.

I gave away too much again,

White walls with no solutions,

an empty palette in my hands.

After I posted the above poem printed in red. The Original Phoenix asked me this question, “How do you find the new colors?” What a wonderful question to consider. Today I dedicate this expanded poem to her for inspiring me to dig deeper and bring the rest to life. Although I still didn’t answer her question, I continue to ponder it. Thank you! Check out her blog, CONFESSIONS OF A REBORN GIRL. Never underestimate the power of offering feedback. We all need each other.

Will you reconsider?

Image ~ January 3, 2017January 3, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 9 Comments

365 pages

January 2, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 16 Comments

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.

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

The end inside the beginning.

December 28, 2016December 29, 2016 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 16 Comments

Before the first wobbly

arms outstretched,

slightly unbalanced step,

the last step already exists.

Trip, fall, hill sliding imbalance

scarred knees, bandaged palms

concussions to consciousness,

where the living happens

white knuckles clutch to collapse

navigate with your internal compass

peel your fingers from cold metal

stray from the railing.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Path

In this coming year, 2017, I plan to be braver, to make my own new path and trust in the journey of contribution to others. I hope this poem inspires you to believe in new possibilities for yourself. I have a ready ear for anyone who wants to share their new path into 2017.

Title inspired by an article posted on bboxproductionsblog – Thank you!