poem

Poems from the Circle

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 13 Comments 
On and On We Go
On and on we go
 every second, a commitment
 every breathe, a moment
 every moment, a feeling
 every feeling has a heartbeat
 and the beat goes on and on
 a soft beat to every step, to and froe
 and step by step the moments go
 a quest for answers never stops
 until our eternal sun drops

By Ivor Steven 
You can find more of Ivor's wonderful poems 
here, on his blog.

I am grateful for Ivor’s permission to share his 
poem from the writing circle. I continue to 
meet amazing people across different time zones. 
Writing together provides a mirror for us to process 
life in a safe place.
Interested in joining a writing circle?  
Join me this Sunday, click here to register
or Email met at coaching@aligrimshaw.com

Lens-Artists Challenge #123 – Found in the Neighborhood - I like this photo challenge of finding joy close by. The photo above was taken recently on a walk in Portland, Oregon.

Sandals in November – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 37 Comments 
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 only by desire
for connection.

A step toward those
who had no shoes.

© Ali Grimshaw 2020
Quote

dVerse – Open Link Night

When Comes The Night

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 23 Comments 
after the sordid day
rain recalls the language of music

and I go, leaving frenzied voices behind
to bed beneath magnetic star spray

to see above the thousands
while I hear the lake moon moan

when can I live life
as ripe peach sky?

© Ali Grimshaw 2020
dVerse Quadrille - Poetical Magnetism

I have never liked crossword puzzles but I got a kick out of this magnetic poetry site. What a fun way to play with word use.
Check it out here. magnetic poetry

One breath – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 27 Comments

I want to launch into the air a thousand words of love. Handwritten and in every font, (even the unpopular ones) lines and curves that will rise and carry us forward upon touch, and to accompany these words, send the sounds that bring us alive, like birdsong, a child’s laugh or footsteps echoing toward home. Release them as a million messages to freely be carried by the breezes that reach us all, to land on building tops and crosswalks, to fall in the teacups of the grieving, in the tangled hair of a skipping children, to settle on weary parkbench sleepers, cling to the yet delivered news traveling with the sunlight to the next continent, let the words land on the bare hands of the parched and weary like raindrops on the skin of those that need it most.

I pause here to take a breath and now realize you are still listening. How generous of you.

What do you want to launch into today?

I’m listening.

© Ali Grimshaw 2020

Join us for Open Link Night on dVerse

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Outside of Your Home or View – Oregon Coast

Shift – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 14 Comments
Leaves in an Oregon River
absent stood out
on the page of my day,
like sharp yellow highlighter,
a biting bright contrast,
to your slight soft smile.
Remembering our laughter
mixed with warm sunlight smell
of blackberries, overripe
with the end of this season,
some clinging to the vine.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2019

As we shift to the next, there is a tension of holding on 
and letting go. I feel this as I experience goodbyes 
and new places. Sending love to anyone who is saying 
farewell and transitioning with this season.  Let's 
welcome in the new colors that arrive with this change.
 

Nested – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 45 Comments
  • Salmon River, Oregon
Somedays we may
need to return to the nest
lined with words of hope,
blanketed by belief
in our ability to fly again.

Somedays we may
need to hold ourselves
leaning into curved sides
of this small structure
built by someone who loved us.

© Ali Grimshaw 2020
dVerse Poet's Pub - Quadrille #113: Blanket Us

Let Fall Catch You – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 29 Comments 
Painted leaves sing in unison
Unlike music, their song
is soundless harmony.

This orchestra of glow
soothes the tempo
of an internal pounding

from a day of instruments
that refused to play
the same song.

Fall catches you
with muted volume
a serenade of equilibrium

let the blushing colors 
sing you home.

© Alicia Grimshaw (rewrite of 2018 poem)

4:00 am Inquiry – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 35 Comments 
Whose fault is it?
Were you the one
who left it undone?

Did she really say
say it that way 
or was it just play?

Why didn't you leave
sooner rather than later?
Did it get better?

Was he to blame?
Should I feel shame?

When did it all start 
mattering so much?
Is it ok to touch?

What is there to do?
Are you wondering too?

Where is the starting line now?
What are the rules in play?
Are you even in the race?
Do you want to be?

© Ali Grimshaw 2020

dVerse Poet's Pub - Open Link Night. Come join us here.

ex·cog·i·tat·ing

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 18 Comments 
Broken shadows across the cracked ground
smoke ghosts reside in charred places
once nestled home spaces, closed
doorways of tomorrow
silent squatters drift
among dreams to
imagine
rain, please
rain.

© Ali Grimshaw 2020

dVerse Poets Pub Challenge 
NONET – a nine line poem that begins 
with 9 syllables, descending 
line by line to 1 syllable.

* First line of this poem taken from 
W.S. Merwin,“To the Light of September”

Assurance – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 27 Comments 
Stretched openness of summer sky. 
Time’s width I can't hold 
in one viewing.

I bend to gather 
this spray of light 
and still can't see all
points arriving through darkness.

Each beam 
it’s own part in the collective
we have named starlight.

I stand openly
as sky falls toward me
into my arms
assurance that is bigger
than this moment.

© Ali Grimshaw 2020
With all of the smoke in the sky, 
the stars are no longer visible.
I remember they are there 
and see them in my dreams. 
Please send prayers and thoughts
of goodness for the many fighting 
the wildfires in Oregon.

Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com