You chose me
when I couldn’t choose myself.
When I was swimming in darkness,
awash in ink,
blocking out the love.
You remained beside me
when my words didn’t make sense.
You stayed. Listening.
Seeing who I would become
and already was in the moment.
You opened up a new vista
where we stood together,
our backs to the past.
© Ali Grimshaw
Alone is different
than loneliness.
connection, a link, from one to the other.
not trusting, disbelief, an arm’s length away.
impenetrable invisible cushion
keeps me hidden even
when you think I am there.
Will I let you know me?
The jury is still out.
© Ali Grimshaw
My list is overflowing,
letters fall off the page,
some words jump
knowing they will get more attention elsewhere.
Many items tired of being ignored
have started a support group.
finish is used to making friends by now.
Each longs for special alone time with me
eagerly waiting for the big day
the black line drawn
through their middle.
The gold medal of achievement.
© Ali Grimshaw
Right now, sitting in this chair
the distance covered remains unseen.
Many treacherous miles between your first step
and where you have now arrived.
Climb the roof. Stand tall upon it.
Without hesitation see the trodden path
streams crossed, soggy socks, sunburnt ears
blistered, lost toenails, a little bruised.
Criss-cross scratches, hillside slides.
There is no shame for the road traveled.
You have traversed
this view is for you alone.
© Alicia Grimshaw
Are you sorry for the times
you tore me down
scathing words that left me
stumbling for cover
pounding me lower
knowing there wasn’t an escape route
trapped with this internal voice
causing a shrinking of my essence
down to a single drop of
fear?
© Ali Grimshaw
Without you
he will be an island that I cannot reach
an evolving door
a language untranslatable.
You are the bridge, an extension
carrying my voice to him.
Without you
will the connection be severed?
Just a recorded message
at the other end.
This line is now disconnected.
© Ali Grimshaw
Discovery Challenge – Connection
Say your words,
don’t let your voice whither inside.
Weariness can talk you into thinking that your voice doesn’t matter.
The past may try to convince you that your voice doesn’t count.
Resignation will yell,
“No one will listen any way, so save your breath.”
Say your words
clearly and just loud enough.
Say them for yourself and for the one
that isn’t willing to be the first to speak,
but can and will be the second.
© Ali Grimshaw
Sometimes we push comfort away when we need it most. Fear keeps us from opening our arms. Desperate times are more difficult when you face them alone. Let someone see the true you and allow yourself to be comforted.
sometimes a regret comes back to life
emerging as a poem.
morphing as it translates into words
pain blossoming
on a single stem
each petal overlapping
some parts me
some parts you
forming an image fixed in time
an elixir of us
I drink in
to set us both free.
© Ali Grimshaw
Discovery Challenge – Shared Journeys
flashlight batteries - Ali Grimshaw 