Hard to Hear

The third Sunday of every month, a group meets at The Writers Place and discusses a different writer. This month's subject was Anne Sexton. The first time I did a search of her name, I found the following quote:

"Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard."

Today's post was inspired by that quote. The writing process was facilitated by some awesome singers and musicians I went to hear on St. Patrick's Day.

Hard to Hear

Listen close to your soul.
You can hear a voice
of perfect pitch
and soothing tone.
It speaks to
your every need.
Encourages your
wildest dreams.
Reveals your
deepest beliefs.
Listen hard, and
if you do;
you will hear the voice
that is truly you.

Sun Struck

This poem is a formal structure known as a triolet. It has a specific rhyme scheme and some of the lines are repeated. It is a bargain for the poet, because you only have to write five lines and you have an eight-line poem. This one was written in memory of my sister and is included in my chapbook of grief poems-"I Keep You with Me" (See February 19 post).

Sun Struck

The brightness of the sun
hurts my eyes and my heart.
I am completely undone
by the brightness of the sun.
It highlights the loss of one
who has been there from the start.
The brightness of the sun
hurts my eyes and my heart.

Wake Up Call

I wrote this after seeing the moon when I was out early one morning. I used to be surprised to see the moon in the morning. Now, I look for it.

Wake Up Call

Good morning, Moon.
What's keeping
you out
this
time of day?
Some celestial
celebration?
Is the earth
making
too much noise?
Has the stress
of daily existence
given you
insomnia?
Or, do you
show yourself
at this odd time
to remind us
you are there
even when
we don't
see you?

I Keep You with Me-Looking at Grief with Verse

 I write poetry and also volunteer with a grief support group. I often write poetry about grief. A friend suggested that I collect the grief poems into a book so I did. 

Click Here to Read the Chapbook 

Unleash your Athlete

Feb. 1 is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Win for KC, an organization connected with the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation, is a national leader in empowering girls and women through sports and fitness. Last year, I had the pleasure of writing a poem for WIN regarding this mission. It was published in the organization's "Live Active" curriculum booklet.

Unleash your Athlete
Girls and women, heed the call.
You are athletes, one and all.
Some may play and some may win,
But all have strength that lies within.
Determination and confidence are a must
And so is the ability to adjust.
Unleash your athlete and when you do,
You’ll find that empowerment comes from you. 

Grieving 101

We learn how to grieve and learn from our grief.

Grieving 101

Grieving 101 is the class
no one wants to take.
Unfortunately for all of us,
this class is a requirement,
not an elective.
The homework is hard.
It has to be to help you
learn to live without
someone who has been
an essential part of your life.
The instructor is difficult,
presenting new challenges daily
while dredging up memories and emotions.
The workload is time-consuming
and, early on, it may be
totally engrossing.
Despite the difficulty,
the class teaches
more than you expect and
makes you grow in ways
you never imagined.
You also come to understand
that this class is the prerequisite
to Grieving 102.

Morning

Inspired by a morning walk.

Morning

I walk toward the sunrise.
The sky is clear and blue.
Slowly, light begins to show.
A golden glow
that promises to grow
in brightness and in warmth.
I turn and see
the clouds behind me.
No longer dark and threatening.
Instead, they are reflecting
the hint of a new day.