During darkest of seasons.
I tinsel you with light,
my face giving its full glow.
Your apple-cheeks of radiance
champions of joy for
encounters with newcomers,
or friends. Christmas tree
or not. I will decorate you
with loveshine.
Not a bulb between us unlit.
© Ali Grimshaw 2021
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Photo taken at a past Portland Winter Lights Festival.
It is perfect way to escape Winter darkness in Februrary.
Do birds tweet tips to build the ultimate nest the perfect moss, twigs and feathers, compare upgrades while glancing at neighboring trees? Are their morning songs full of howtos improvements for the hatching experience which worms provide ultimate first year growth? Do they evaluate whose chick flies first beak prodding, edging young to the side of the nest? Do whales train for the record breaking swim gossip about sleek oils to reduce resistance, or share tips for secret feeding grounds? Do they nose their young to be better, faster, more than the last generation in hope of survival? Do they feel the temperature change of homeland waters and wonder? What does it mean to live up to your full potential? Who decides what that looks like while growing inside a cage of culture we have been born into? More is better or not, faster? Further? More fragile? What says the wisdom of each being? When have I last heard my beating heart? © Ali Grimshaw 2021 Join us at dVerse Open LInk Night - HERE
To Know You by Kelley Morris Oh, that I would not Miss the chance To know you Past your likes Past your dislikes The chance To offer time As a gift for us both- After all, that is The only way We truly connect Occupying The same space In the physical In the technological Either has the ability To spark the same magic Oh, that I would not Miss the chance To know you Due to the foolishness Of a word Such as busy- Is there really such a thing, anyway? I am grateful for Kelley's permission to share her poem from a recent writing circle. You can find more of her poems here, pianogirlthoughts.com. Kelley lives in Oklahoma, I in Oregon. I never would have had the chance to know her if she hadn't joined a writing circle. It has been an amazing to write with her across the many miles, hear her experiences and find connection with someone who started out as a stranger and now is a friend. I continue to meet big-hearted humans across different time zones. Writing together provides a mirror for us to process life in a place where we have all agreed to listen with compassion. Come join us for a writing circle. No experience needed. All voices are welcome. Photo taken November 2021, Bozeman, Montana.
Awe is the wisdom of sweet sticky handed laughter. Let loose to tumble through doorways of my day. Eyes of wonderful, cherishing new gleam on faces found. Mystery of how this connects to that which we would have never guessed was related. Unexpected sparkles in the corner. © Ali Grimshaw 2021 Meeting the Bar: Critique and Craft - Join us at dVerse HERE
Briefly
Stages and ages of crimson edges
crisp rounds, centers of golden.
Veins will remain long after the delicate
sections have disassembled themselves
to join the soil for another cycle.
These elders don't fight seasonal changes.
Through the quiet and loud
or bend and wave of storm
they receive while sheltering seedings below
forever willing to show their nakeness
in the darkest of times.
With empty arms
while full of life within.
Their offerings a mosaic
of temorary color.
© Ali Grimshaw 2021
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I can’t imagine my life without poetry. How many times has a poem shifted my thinking, invited my tears of release, or shined a light on the awe of being alive? Each poem is an invitation to slow down. Without them what could I have missed? Therefore, I am grateful to others who promote poetry and for each poet brave enough to share.
Thank you to Susi Blocks for nominating one of my poems from The Short of It for The Pushcart Prize I am one of six to be nominated by her. My poem, Thunderstorm Conversations can be read on Susi’s blog, I Write Her. If you’d like to be featured on The Short of It, click here for the submissions guidelines.
Thank you to the poems, let’s keep making space for them to arrive.
Ali
As the virus careens spinning down our long road. The dust has yet to settle from the wheels. Slow motion particles fall as we sift silently through glittered remembering. Was that last month or yesterday? As I am here reaching you are there still only through airwaves and yet I hear your love. © Ali Grimshaw 2021 Join us at dVerse Poets' Pub for Open Link Night HERE
What happiness can arrive when sunlight's retreat paints leaves cherry crush, berry swirl butterscotch eye candy walking through an ordinary Monday your hand in mine, we breathe the awe street lined masterpieces colored by a lack of chlorophyll less of something created more today © Ali Grimshaw 2020 Another yummy tree in my Portland, Oregon neighborhood.
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)
tasting sadness on your skin I lean into the space between your peach-warm cheeks glow while shadow-stones play on Autumn's windowshade head to heartbeat I hold you to my chest feel a shift to calm a small sigh from your lips warmly weighted © Ali Grimshaw 2021
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flashlight batteries - Ali Grimshaw 