How do you capture
a lifetime of fatherhood
put it down on the page?
Your voice in times of doubt
your hand on my shoulder
your cup always half full.
Yet, it wasn’t what you said
year after year that I remember most
you stood beside
you held up others
you lead with love.
You showed me.
Dedicated to my dearly loved father, Thomas Jenkins, who has fathered many over the years as an educator and coach. No words will ever be enough to tell you how much I love you.
© Alicia Grimshaw 2017
I am grateful to VerseWrights for sharing two more of my poems today. Follow the link to find them. VerseWrights is a wonderful online poetry journal. I especially enjoy listening to the PoetryAloud section. There are so many poems to listen to and it gives me a sense of comfort to connect with another’s words.
We all have gifts to share. Please keep shining your unique and essential light in the world.
What do you hold onto
when the bottom drops out
leaving you foundationless?
Your roof carried away by a tornado.
Left only with blankness and a pen
you forgot was in your hand.
I draw myself a new house
windows of openness, a tin roof to hear rain
a welcome door without requirements
with the hope that you feel safe enough to visit.
Uncensored, just as you are not
when you leave the premises.
© Ali Grimshaw 2017
Out of an infinite number of stories ending this year
how lucky am I to continue mine.
To understand, as I didn’t before
how to see the next blank page
author what is left.
To smear the words by numbing
or battle to awaken the next chapter,
an internal fight rekindled by rewrites.
Still awed by the power of dusk to soften the view
I choose to attend this party called life.
Many minutes are not guaranteed.
I savor this very one.
© Ali Grimshaw 2017
Each year I celebrate the gift of getting to live another year by writing a birthday poem. This is my poem for 2016. I don’t have the words to clearly express the layers of learning, global connection and inspiration I found by jumping into the world of blogging this year. Thank you to WordPress for making it possible and to the many, many kind bloggers who offered support. I am honored to have a poem chosen by the Drabble as one of the top ten editor’s picks for the year. Ten of our favorite Drabbles of 2016. I hope this inspires you to share your voice in 2017.
Discover Challenge – Retrospective
The sun on my skin
inspiration of blue sky.
The bright taste of sunrise
juice of summer peach dripping off my chin.
Forgiving myself with ease,
every day.
© Ali Grimshaw
Years from now
yearning for the body I have today
with its imperfections and pain.
My gnarled fingers and I will laugh.
How could I have known
the fluidity I possessed.
© Ali Grimshaw
Sometimes I think back on that night.
Your eyes intent on explaining, a look of determination,
of wanting to give.
I remember trying to hear you,
wanting to understand and failing to understand.
With each new telling, static filling the room.
Making adjustments to find your frequency.
Unable to tune you in.
Now I am left wondering.
What was it you so badly wanted me to know.
Feeling like I couldn’t get to the airport in time,
before your message took flight.
© Ali Grimshaw
Tweeting and yelping and posting and texting
so much to say
words flying, tumbling, and flung fast
landing so loudly
I cannot hear the song of your voice
knock on my door
at least let me try to hear your words
as they fall from your mouth
with nothing added but fresh air
© Ali Grimshaw
You are a blue sky.
A color that I love to get lost in.
A consistent and ever-changing
backdrop for others,
and stand alone marvel.
Sometimes filled with challenging clouds
opening my eyes
to visions of blue
I’ve not seen.
© Ali Grimshaw
In fading light,
glowing colors blend
and it is impossible to tell
where one begins. So it is
with you and I. When did I begin on my own?
So many years you nurtured and cooked, rocked,
encouraged, and cared for me while fighting for yourself.
As we unblended and became our separate colors, lessons were learned.
What was said and what was left empty in the room for me to choose.
The boundary of where you stood, lines I sometimes crossed.
In the mirror of the years I am in awe of your effort.
You gave, at minimum, years of listening
with your whole face turned toward mine.
Intent on taking each word in
not letting a single one
escape your ear.
Mother’s Day 2016 – Dedicated to my mother and her commitment to keeping her colors vibrant while letting me find my own.
© Ali Grimshaw 2016
flashlight batteries - Ali Grimshaw 