Wisdom of a sunflower

April 1, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 22 Comments

Her face follows the sun

an anchor of light, trusted to lead while she grew

a warmth of reassurance when her sight was lost

from darkness. A seed born with the knowing

yet unable to realize until the day of blossoming.

She held it all along. Resolve of love, strength to push

through the compacted soil of failure, to stretch

when trampled, to believe in the next dawn

while she remained in the shadow of night.

“Like sunflowers that stop tracking the sun as they mature, we too begin to respond differently to life as we age. We learn to brave more parts of the day with our heads turned away from the sun, because we realize that we can only know who we are if we let the sun shine behind us and allow it to draw our shadow in front of us, so that we may see how we are really shaped.

We begin to realize how even darkness has its gifts, and how even if we don’t always bask in the light, we can survive.” – When Sunflowers Stop Following The Sun

I was inspired to write this poem after reading this thoughtful article. Never underestimate the power of sharing with careful words.

National Poetry Month 2018

Between the lines

April 1, 2018April 7, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 21 Comments

Hawaii 2013 159

line straight as the horizon, faintly blue as sky meets sea

each edge, finger-width apart, to contain the message

my words lay cushioned by these guiding layers

some smeared by effort of my own hand

it was not by accident that I wrote to you

between the lines and not on them.

our relationship never occupied spaces

defined by rules of in or out.

Rise/Set – Morning in Maui with my sweetheart observing the sea.

d’Verse – Open Link Night

24 hours later

March 18, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 17 Comments

Years ago I chose the RULE

24 Hours minimum, before

doing, speaking, before action

24 Hours to steep in the experience

all emotional flavors infused, allowed to cool

to sip consideration of your viewpoint

before I express my own.

My reflection on the gift of time to change our perspective. I also have a poem related to this theme up on Via Brevis today. via EDITOR’S CHOICE: Weather Forecast

Running Partner

March 16, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 18 Comments

Rain on our lips

down the path we run.

Through puddles

not around.

Mud and moss

wind whipped hair

years of words

between breaths of air.

Over roots, between trees

creek waters roll by, unraveling

questions quenched by the miles.

Thoughts uttered within the flow

of movement, vulnerability

not possible in stillness.

Ali Grimshaw – revision of a poem first shared in 2016

Long live the poets.

March 11, 2018March 11, 2018 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 17 Comments

I don’t usually share this type of post but this group really struck my fancy. What an incredible combination of creativity to bring poetry to the world in a new way. The Haiku Guys + Gals. write personalized haiku poems on typewriters at every type of event imaginable. Each interaction takes just a minute or two, and culminates with the creation of a custom gift for the event guest to take home or share. Some people have likened the experience to “a photo booth for the soul.” This is a haiku they wrote for a fellow blogger. It speaks to me and has me thinking about sharing poems in new ways.

your reach is as long
as your imagination
so untie your hands

May poetry touch your day,

Ali