Hesitation

October 21, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 8 Comments

Like the filthy inside out sock

squished at the bottom of the hamper

under stench of damp rags.

Life can feel like that place.

Maybe it is time to do some laundry.

There is no rule, no prize for

handling it alone,

an unnecessary isolation.

The borrowed red sweatshirt

arms wide on the top of the mound

is not an accidental reminder of love.

Call. Just call.

Call before you change your mind.

That someone has seen dirt before

and will listen.

If you are struggling today check out this blog, The Mighty, You are not alone.

Succumb To The Season

October 14, 2017October 14, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 28 Comments

Will you?

Fall, drift, yield

hand in hand,

warm kiss of palms,

veins of life intertwined,

before we,

plunge through crispness

to the other side

of golden.

Succumb

Firecracker Phrases

October 13, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 27 Comments

Now I sit in thought with

what I wish

I would have said

instead of that which came flying off my tongue

like butterflies leaving my mouth

beautiful at first sight

fluttering innocently toward you

with a closer look

upon landing

were really illegal firecrackers

of golden red that

left you speechless.

I’m sorry.

Forgive your mistakes. Forgiving Connects.

Take your shoes off.

Image ~ October 7, 2017October 7, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 11 Comments

Enlight63

Deny

One Sky

Image ~ October 3, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 10 Comments

Under the sky

Come write with me.

October 1, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 9 Comments

Writing is all about connection. Letters arranged to reach out across miles or decades. Voices being heard. Acknowledgement of experiences. Fantasy. Dreams on paper that can fly. Feeling another’s mind like jumping into a clear mountain lake. This is why I love writing with others. It is about a shared authentic experience that anyone can participate in.

If you are in the Portland, Oregon area during the month of October come visit the Multnomah Arts Center Gallery where I will have some poems displayed in public for the first time as a guest of artists Erin Leichty and Martin Levin. I am also holding a FREE community event.

Connecting Through Shared Writing

You are invited to connect with others through shared writing. We will use poetry to listen, write and reflect together. Participants do not need to have any writing background just a willingness to listen and embrace a fun learning experience. You will leave inspired by the art and words as we gather in the gallery space at the Multnomah Arts Center on Sunday, October 15 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm. FREE

ERIN LEICHTY & MARTIN LEVIN On Display October 6 – 24, 2017

Paintings & Metal Sculpture, Featuring Poetry by Ali Grimshaw

“Holding Space” & “Meditations on the Platonic Solids”

Reception: Friday, October 6 • 7 to 9 pm

Harmony in the Trees

September 23, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 11 Comments

The tree colors sing in unison

settle my rattled soul

unlike any music

ever heard.

This orchestra of leaves

soothes the tempo

that pounds from a

day of instruments

that refused to play

the same song.

Leaf

Learning to Dive

September 16, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 16 Comments

One day I finally knew that I could swim

in the blue of the sky.

That I was as strong as I declared myself to be.

That my fears were teachers made just for me.

That there would always be cracks to slip through

times of trembling, shaken awake to fall again.

Then I stood next to the lake,

a mirror of blue sky wholeness,

arms wide with acceptance

I, the problem and solution

dove into a

reflection of release.

Take in Varenna, Italy 2016

Recreate

Doorway to Forgiveness

July 30, 2017July 30, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 10 Comments

Dulled by time, the dusty door

coated from years of holding back

nailed shut, painfully impassable

darkness left sealed for so long

you can’t remember it ever being open.

Bewildered frustration, heat rises

sweat drips down your chest

fury and defeat of stones tied to feet.

This emotional cycle circles through

each day as you stand before it.

Maybe it isn’t possible to reopen

you are so small.

But look

you still hold the hammer in your hand

the key dangles from your back pocket.

In honor of Forgiving Fridays on Forgiving Connects

Thank you

June 28, 2017July 3, 2017 ~ Ali Grimshaw ~ 14 Comments

My poems, 32 Degrees and Bouncing Bullets, have been shared on The Drabble. This blog is dedicated to publishing original fiction, non-fiction, and poetic works of 100 words or less. If you enjoy creativity and concise writing this blog is for you. Thank you to The Drabble for creating and supporting a community of writers. Through poetry we can calm our minds, share the human experience and laugh together to keep our sanity.

Make it a beautiful day.