When the crack widens to an unknown view fear can squeeze in between rough edges slide to expand like a balloon of darkness a barricade of shadow to seal the entrance. Yet seekers of light will never be fooled by tricks of perspective their wisdom of the season's shifting songs sing them forward. Eyes of love, illumination for all allowing forgiveness to set another place at the table where lanterns burn long into the night. © Ali Grimshaw 2022
Poetry
Encountering a Listener – Poem by Ali Grimshaw
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night – Gibran
when your words unchanged return, are heard when your song, echoed notes of hue, comes back to you when belonging becomes your word a melting occurs, gray absorbed by blue watercoloring you into the canvas of all becoming whole, no longer fearing the fall Then all the colors of you are revealed poured forth onto the listening canvas of this moment. © Ali Grimshaw 2020 Join the dVerse Poetry Community for Tuesday Poetics
Weather Forecast – Poem by Ali Grimshaw
Light does not fall on us equally. There are hours of gentle illumination, while some remain in shadow. Random flashes which leave you for no reason at the front of the line. Or the end, randomly burned, scorched, with head shaking disbelief. Tranquil dusk light on leaves. Other days blinded into paralysis, unable to see a way forward. I remain in a thundercloud waiting room, counting shadows like minutes. Weatherizing my soul before the next hurricane. Steadfast, determined in my stance, for a return of the glow In stillness it will find me. Sun’s warm hand on my back again. This too shall pass Ali Grimshaw 2017 Weather Forecast was first published on Vita Brevis Vita Brevis Press is a bestselling small publisher dedicated to emerging and established poets, circulating their work in an online magazine and in physical anthologies.
Poems from the Circle
I come into the Peace …… (from Wendell Berry) I come into the peace of the invitation of Light From time to time I misplace this invitation Divine- I even lose the map that used to take me home to you…. To Peace But then after a simple invitation to write my heart I am reminded of my Beauty Your Beauty and the essence of life and Light. By Bahareh Amidi Ph.D. I am grateful for Bahareh's permission to share her 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? Email met at coaching@aligrimshaw.com For more about Bahareh, her poetry and contributions to others as a Poetry Therapist follow the links below. Website: www.bahareh.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/BaharehAmidi Twitter: www.twitter.com/BaharehAmidi YouTube: www.YouTube.com/BaharehLIVE
Together
Writing together can:
• Surprise us. Mend us. Renew us.
• Allow expression of feelings in creative ways.
• Guide our own journey.
Coming together, with folks I have never met, across great distance
to cherish poems and write together is hope in action. It is my heartwork to
facilitate a safe space to hear your inner voice and experience authentic connect with others. So wherever you live I would love to meet you. Click on the links below for more information.
Renewal Through Poetry: Writing Circle Sundays
December 13 at 4:00 pm PST register here – Eventbrite.
December 27 at 4:00 pm PST register here – Eventbrite.
Remembering – By Ali Grimshaw
Remembering I have celebrated while wind rocked our cliffside camper with ocean views and barking sea lions. Grandma's patient smile as we played cards in the warm, small inside. I have roasted turkey while feeling cooked in a silver Tallahassee trailer where there was no cool breeze to invite through the windows sweating through my doubts hour by hour. I have welcomed friends, folks, and yet to know arrivals to my table that was extended, folding out into the living room mismatched plates, chairs, and napkins set with open invitation because all, meant all being in one circle of faces. I have driven from afar to a crisp outside Autumn feast appetizers of touch football complete with commentary by the elder generation, and orange-warm grins around a fire pit concluding with pie topped with fishing stories where we laughed until we cried. This day is never the same I am grateful for this, non-tradition. That my expectations are not there to choke out the one constant, the Thanksgiving that I continue to hold memories of love that never fail to show up on this day. © Ali Grimshaw 2020 dVerse Open Link - Come share a poem and read others from this welcoming community of writers.
Imagine it… Poem by Ali Grimshaw
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie
Imagine it... Now laid bare in the upside-down of it all she sees what wasn't visible before. What glorious imaginations are held within each of us. Waiting possibilities to cross oceans, mountains once impassable. Forgotten imaginations of capable courage to reach across boundaries never thought possible. © Ali Grimshaw 2020 dVerse Quadrille #116 Please visit Vova Zinger's Photoblog for more of his magnificent photos.
Poems from the Circle
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.
As the World Burns Anthology – Indie Blu(e) Publishing
It is an honor to have poems included alongside many wonderful poets in the new anthology, As the World Burns: Writers and Artists Reflect on a World Gone Mad, available on Amazon in both print and Kindle versions.
Many thanks to the editors, Kindra M. Austin, Candice Louisa Daquin, Rachel Finch, and Christine E. Ray for putting this book together.
“We speak with many voices, to the damage wrought in these violent, fevered months. Let us never forget or turn away, from what is just, what is necessary, to keep light alive in this world.”
Check out more from Indie Blu(e) here.
Let’s Carry the Load
In the fog of conflict blinded numbness we look to the leaders to steer, peel back disagreement from the windshield. We wait with held breath for a directive to follow while voices clash, a radio screech between stations unwilling to tune in to clarity. We hope for a brilliant leader to put on a pedestal of responsibility, like the GPS we depend on to find our way the one who will hold the key to making it all go away. Let's reach into our own pockets. What if the driver we seek is us? Not singular but each, all together. The many unified. © Ali Grimshaw 2020 Let’s give thanks for poll workers, Stacey Abrams, fact-checkers — and the weather Thank you to every single person who helped to provide others with the opportunity to vote in our recent election. Together we can, yes we can, keep democracy alive. Thank you Joe Biden. dVerse Open Link Night - Join in the reading and sharing of poetry with a welcoming community.
flashlight batteries - Ali Grimshaw 