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!

Regardless of the holiday you choose… I wish you peace and love.

December 24, 2016 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 8 Comments

Brokenness Between Us

December 22, 2016December 22, 2016 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 6 Comments

When you have stomped on

the trust we had between us

flattening it

to a paper thinness so transparent

few fibers left to hold the oneness of us.

After the debris is cleared away, thorns and boulders

removed with the owning of your actions.

Damage control is called in

cracks that can only be filled

with risking to love you

again with my whole being.

No hesitation or waiting period required.

I am all in.

When you sit with a friend…

Image ~ December 20, 2016 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 8 Comments

With gratitude.

December 19, 2016 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 18 Comments

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

It’s not possible

December 17, 2016 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 6 Comments

Can there ever be too much whole face listening,

a time when acknowledgement was no longer needed,

when kindness was overdone?

No desire for extra hands to lighten the load?

A day when being vulnerable was a waste of courage?

Letting another see your frailty a chance not worth taking?

A moment of too much love?

Walk out onto your street and look.

Those downcast eyes are the reply.

Run now, its not too late.

Where do you belong?

December 13, 2016March 24, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 13 Comments

Who decides where you fit in?

Walking into a room full of others

feeling like you don’t belong, not one of them.

Severed, the other, a misfit.

Open faces smile, glance your way.

But you have already closed the door

on belonging.

Doors open both ways. Exit this one.

Return again with this knowing

you are not held separate. Proving your worth

was never a requirement. The family of all things*

has been waiting for you.

Take this place, a space saved just for you.

Anywhere in the room will work.

Acceptance comes from inside.

* Acknowledgement to Mary Oliver’s words from her poem “Wild Geese”

Discover Challenge – Finding Your Place

Let’s go down to the river.

December 11, 2016December 3, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 16 Comments

Let the current caress

ripples lap at your errors

knee deep in, “I can’t believe I did that.”

wash away mistakes of this day

to leave the clear clarity of water.

Toes numb from cold reality.

Stepping out onto the bank

with new beginnings dripping

from your feet.

As I was finishing this poem I remembered this old spiritual song. It is amazing how our minds work. I had not heard or thought of this song for many years. I have been humming it for days thinking of the countless others who sang this same song going back, year after year after year. I somehow feel a connection with those voices from the past. If you want to hear it click on this link to youtube. Let’s Go Down To The River To Pray.