At the station, the train of life only pauses
our illusion of control blankets nature’s causes.
Nights to days shift, and the engineer steers
rhythm of the planet moves through the years.
Cycle of no endings, wheels freely spin
untouchable by human error, solstice arrives again.
© Alicia Grimshaw 2018
© Alicia Grimshaw 2017
© Alicia Grimshaw 2018
Ok, breathe
ease back in the chair.
Breathe. Ahh. Blue sky in my backyard.
Oh no. Not leaf blower man.
I thought he moved.
Breathe. Let it all go. You are free.
See? It stopped. Listen to the birds.
Close your eyes.
Breathe.
What? Not again? This is noise pollution!
Slow. Feel your body in this space.
Who invented this *&%$# thing?
What ever happened to my silent friend, The Rake?
Breathe. Let it go.
This too shall pass.
Remember the teacher said find calm within chaos,
Breathe. I bet he didn’t have leaf blower man
nextdoor.
Inhale.
Exhale.
© Alicia Grimshaw 2018
For the Thursday d’Verse challenge. My first contrapuntal poem. Contrapuntal are poems that intertwine two (or more) separate poems into a single composition.
According to her internal judge
she was never up to par,
even when crossing the finish line first
accomplishment slid off her skin. Always
gripping, holding on for acceptance.
Yet perplexed separation pained her days.
She wanted belonging
and never wanted to fit in
knew it would change her.
A part broken off to float away irretrievable.
No one else stayed after class to console the bullied teacher.
It never occurred to her not to.
She saw those faces on the fringe,
secretly knowing she was an outlier as well.
She let go of the kinship rope
not to lose herself.
© Alicia Grimshaw 2017
If you are wondering
doubting,
don’t give up. Stay.
Someone loves the light
only you can be.
© Ali Grimshaw 2018
National Poetry Writers Month 2018 – Click to read more poems.
trusting sunlight, reach
disentangle tight petals
unfurl, face forward
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
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
Today my poem Incomplete was published by Vita Brevis, The New Poetry Magazine. Vita Brevis aims to publish work that shows a keen awareness of not only art’s beauty and longevity but life’s toils and finiteness. I am honored to have my words join those of many wonderful poets on this site.
May the flame of poetry continue to burn brightly as we share each other’s words.
Make it a beautiful day as only you know how,
Ali
flashlight batteries - Ali Grimshaw 