No Explanation Needed

April 26, 2020April 26, 2020 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 20 Comments

“A practice of gratitude is not about dismissing sadness, anger, fear, or confusion. Rather, it offers us the opportunity to see that we often experience multiple feelings at once; to welcome joy into the same places where we hold grief; to turn our attention to what is quietly growing and breathing day by day, which, to our possible surprise, includes ourselves.” – Kristin Lin, Editor, The On Being Project

No Explanation Needed

You don’t have to explain
how you know where to go or when

stillness brings discomfort.

You don’t have to explain
why sorrow comes and goes

tears visiting your eyes again.

You don’t have to explain
when it happened for the first time

why you feel a mountain sits upon you.

You don’t even have to explain
why it matters so much.

I never need more than just you

Just sit down
next to me, the weight
of your shoulder touching mine

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

Photo take in Lisbon, a trip with my sweetheart.

Something you can count on – poem by Ali Grimshaw

April 16, 2020 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 31 Comments

The sky

it is never not there

will not leave a note goodbye

to disappear in the night.

Serenely blue, growl of gray

watercolored clouds a tumble

dependably ever-changing, yet

never forsaking.

When the curtain goes up at sunrise

a steadfast performance

worthy of an audience.

Don’t miss the show.

No tickets necessary.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

Let Go

April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 36 Comments

“I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light, things that have saved my life over and over again, so that there is really only one logical conclusion. I need darkness as much as I need light.” – Barbara Brown Taylor

When the lights went out, she welcomed the dark

warm on her skin like an old friend

as nourishment for her sadness

leaves rustled a serenade to slow her pulse

the refrigerator hummed along

a reminder of the ordinary evenings

breath slowed, the world kept turning and she let go.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

dVerse – Perfect Seven Lines

Certainty – poem by Ali Grimshaw

April 5, 2020 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 38 Comments

After what seems like

cocooning within forever darkness

light breaks through.

Each bud tilts toward warmth

layers reveal themselves

open with ease of purpose.

Not because they were told

“It is time.”

facing the sun… their hearts knew.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

Caremongering – poem by Ali Grimshaw

March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 58 Comments

house to house
neighbor to neighbor
kindness dissemination

this unstoppable virus of care
magical movement spread rampant

the isolated
blanketed with warmth
by open offers, action compassion

waves of encouragement through the window
one errand for survival at a time

an escalation of tenderness

© Ali Grimshaw 2020

dVerse Poets Pub – Quadrille “Magic”

Coronavirus: Kind Canadians start ‘caremongering’ trend By Tom Gerken

I’m Gonna Walk It With You

March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 32 Comments

“Well it looks like it might be a hard road but I’m gonna walk it with you.
And you know that you might have a heavy load but I can carry some too.”

This song is carrying me forward. I am learning the words. I am singing out even when my voice doesn’t sound pretty. Music heals and keeps us breathing. Sing yourself through the day. Here is the Youtube video. “I’m Gonna Walk It With You” by Brian Claflin and Ellie Grace

All of us
together
while separate
singing softly, for life
as we walk this road
let’s share the load
come together, while apart
in love.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

Sending love to all those who are scared, worried, sheltering in place. Please let me know how you are doing. I am available to listen and write with you via skype, facetime or whatsapp. Together we will get through this.

Pep Talk – poem by Ali Grimshaw

March 12, 2020November 25, 2022 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 41 Comments

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” – Mother Teresa

Show up.
Be your
unique colors.
That’s enough.

Even when you doubt.
Even when you think it won’t work.
Even when you’re scared.

Show up.
That’s enough.

Those that came before
did just that.
Day after day
after day.

Show up.
Stand up.
Speak up.

Stop to listen from your heart.

Breathe.
You are ok.

Now repeat.

Photo taken in NYC July 2019

dVerse Poets Pub – Lists Challenge

Singing through the cracks

March 6, 2020March 12, 2020 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 24 Comments

Image may contain: outdoor, possible text that says 'Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That's how the light gets in. Leonard Cohen LIFE' A DANCETM'

And they sang
through the cracks of pain
through the wandering worries
through the regrets, determined desires
to be true to their calling hearts.

And they sang
because song was needed
because together their voices lifted
because all else didn’t make sense
because they could.

And others joined the circle

and they sang.

Join me at the next song circle. Simply Singing Song Circle in Portland, Oregon with Carole Marie Downing

“Nothing accesses the inner world of feelings, sensations, memories, and associations as directly as music does,” says Diane Austin, adjunct associate professor of music therapy at New York University and executive director of the Music Psychotherapy Center in New York. “The voice is like a bridge from your heart to your head. Singing freely releases what’s locked up in your body.” A pilot study published in the British Journal of Nursing found that singing therapy could greatly reduce the anxiety and depression patients can experience following a major surgery. – Sing Two Songs and Call Me in the Morning by Sari Harrar

The River Knows – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

Quote ~ March 5, 2020March 5, 2020 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 71 Comments

“I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”
– John Muir

In slowing my pace to lightly step
I saw the power of the hummingbird
defeating the odds again
to fly, even though science says it shouldn’t be able.

I leaned on the elder tree that stood through hurricanes.
Touched sprouts forcing through cracked concrete.
Studied a cactus with magenta bloom
in the desperate dry landscape.

Outside I found my mentors.

Along singing creek waters, trails of bright birdsong
and pausing in cliffside meadows where the ocean roars.

I heard the strength of the outside.

The river knows where it is going
and I will follow it.

photo by antilandscpaper 2-26-20

Hummingbirds have been baffling scientists for years. Matt Ransford commented, “The hummingbird is an animal that by all rights shouldn’t be able to fly” (Popular Science). But not only can this bird fly, it is the only bird able to fly forwards, backward, up, down, sideways, upside down, and even hover. – Mar 23, 2012

dVerse Open Link Night

Temporary – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

February 27, 2020March 5, 2020 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 57 Comments

Your phrases landed
on the floor between us.
I didn’t know how to catch them.

Your breathless words carried
a story of near miss.
One collection of minutes
that almost
restructured my life.

No Explanation Needed

You don’t have to explain how you know where to go or when

stillness brings discomfort.

You don’t have to explain why sorrow comes and goes

tears visiting your eyes again.

You don’t have to explain when it happened for the first time

why you feel a mountain sits upon you.

You don’t even have to explain why it matters so much.

I never need more than just you

Just sit down next to me, the weight of your shoulder touching mine

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

Send a poem to your friends.

The sky

it is never not there

will not leave a note goodbye

to disappear in the night.

Serenely blue, growl of gray

watercolored clouds a tumble

dependably ever-changing, yet

never forsaking.

When the curtain goes up at sunrise

a steadfast performance

worthy of an audience.

Don’t miss the show.

No tickets necessary.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

Send a poem to your friends.

“I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light, things that have saved my life over and over again, so that there is really only one logical conclusion. I need darkness as much as I need light.” – Barbara Brown Taylor

When the lights went out, she welcomed the dark

warm on her skin like an old friend

as nourishment for her sadness

leaves rustled a serenade to slow her pulse

the refrigerator hummed along

a reminder of the ordinary evenings

breath slowed, the world kept turning and she let go.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

Send a poem to your friends.

After what seems like

cocooning within forever darkness

light breaks through.

Each bud tilts toward warmth

layers reveal themselves

open with ease of purpose.

Not because they were told

“It is time.”

facing the sun… their hearts knew.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

Send a poem to your friends.

house to house neighbor to neighbor kindness dissemination

this unstoppable virus of care magical movement spread rampant

the isolated blanketed with warmth by open offers, action compassion

waves of encouragement through the window one errand for survival at a time

an escalation of tenderness

© Ali Grimshaw 2020

Send a poem to your friends.

All of us together while separate singing softly, for life as we walk this road let’s share the load come together, while apart in love.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

Send a poem to your friends.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” – Mother Teresa

Show up. Be your unique colors. That’s enough.

Even when you doubt. Even when you think it won’t work. Even when you’re scared.

Show up. That’s enough.

Those that came before did just that. Day after day after day.

Show up. Stand up. Speak up.

Stop to listen from your heart.

Breathe. You are ok.

Now repeat.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2020

Photo taken in NYC July 2019

Send a poem to your friends.

And they sang through the cracks of pain through the wandering worries through the regrets, determined desires to be true to their calling hearts.

And they sang because song was needed because together their voices lifted because all else didn’t make sense because they could.

And others joined the circle

and they sang.

Send a poem to your friends.

“I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” – John Muir

In slowing my pace to lightly step I saw the power of the hummingbird defeating the odds again to fly, even though science says it shouldn’t be able.

I leaned on the elder tree that stood through hurricanes. Touched sprouts forcing through cracked concrete. Studied a cactus with magenta bloom in the desperate dry landscape.

Outside I found my mentors.

Along singing creek waters, trails of bright birdsong and pausing in cliffside meadows where the ocean roars.

You don’t have to explain
how you know where to go or when

You don’t have to explain
why sorrow comes and goes

You don’t have to explain
when it happened for the first time

You don’t even have to explain
why it matters so much.

Just sit down
next to me, the weight
of your shoulder touching mine

house to house
neighbor to neighbor
kindness dissemination

this unstoppable virus of care
magical movement spread rampant

the isolated
blanketed with warmth
by open offers, action compassion

waves of encouragement through the window
one errand for survival at a time

All of us
together
while separate
singing softly, for life
as we walk this road
let’s share the load
come together, while apart
in love.

Show up.
Be your
unique colors.
That’s enough.

Even when you doubt.
Even when you think it won’t work.
Even when you’re scared.

Show up.
That’s enough.

Those that came before
did just that.
Day after day
after day.

Show up.
Stand up.
Speak up.

Breathe.
You are ok.

And they sang
through the cracks of pain
through the wandering worries
through the regrets, determined desires
to be true to their calling hearts.

And they sang
because song was needed
because together their voices lifted
because all else didn’t make sense
because they could.

“I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”
– John Muir

In slowing my pace to lightly step
I saw the power of the hummingbird
defeating the odds again
to fly, even though science says it shouldn’t be able.

I leaned on the elder tree that stood through hurricanes.
Touched sprouts forcing through cracked concrete.
Studied a cactus with magenta bloom
in the desperate dry landscape.

Along singing creek waters, trails of bright birdsong
and pausing in cliffside meadows where the ocean roars.

The river knows where it is going
and I will follow it.

Your phrases landed
on the floor between us.
I didn’t know how to catch them.

Your breathless words carried
a story of near miss.
One collection of minutes
that almost
restructured my life.

Like flower petals
blown away by the wind
altering forever

their attachment
to the stem.

A reminder of
the impermanence of us.