Shell strewn path crunches underfoot
Sandals protect from sharp edges
Jasmin and coconut lingers on salty air
Sometimes home helps reset.
A calmness in the middle of a storm
Not knowing what waits on the other side
How long can I stay here,
Watching turquoise waves roll in
Soothing my tired soul?
Forever?
Spiraling again, no bottom in sight.
Free falling, begging for a soft landing,
But knowing there will be skinned knees
Endless tears, and heartache all the way.
This darkness will end. Won’t it?
Keep pushing through;
No, just stop and breathe…
It’s only bad in your head.
The skies will be blue again,
Clouds part and the songbird sings
But you can’t see, eyes slammed shut
And the whine in your head
Drowns out all joyful sounds.
This is the face of anxiety,
Of depression, of a breaking soul.
Where is my lifting hand…
He tries, but can’t reach me…
I can’t try anymore.
Limbs are tired, shaking…
No strength remains…
Now, if I could just only sleep…
But my head begins to spiral once again.
The drop of color,
Bright on my fingertips;
The color of young love.
The orangey pink hue,
Reminds me of me and you.
Do you remember the dress?
I picked it for you,
hoping to make you smile.
My nervousness, waiting at the gate…
Yes, children, we waited at the gate back then.
Twirling in the skirt and
fiddling with the straps on my shoulders.
White little polka dots dancing around.
Coral. Then, your kiss….
The color still works against my aged skin.
If only you were here to hold my hand…
Sitting here, wind in my sails…gone
An unsettled uneasiness engulfs me
Stress is building, fingers are pointing
nothing feels safe anymore…
Never work, not home, even things that distract…
I need to get lost, go away, be unburdened
Be alone with my thoughts
But I can’t think anymore
If I do, I’ll lose my mind.
Maybe everything coming apart…
Will help to make it all alright.
Begin again.
Grinning from ear to ear
But her eyes gave her away
Diving in, another piece of cheese.
Her only solace, was she a mouse?
Cheddar melting on her tongue,
The sharpness makes her feel….
It’s about all that she senses.
Spiraling, watching it happen.
Still not sure what will make it stop.
Make it stop.
Stop!
Sitting here, biting lips,
Trying not to say a word.
Cringing as the future unfolds,
One voice drowned by the din.
They know exactly what they do,
But it’s not what the cheering masses think.
Those who see it know,
We won’t be heard for now,
But we’ll end up cleaning the mess they make.
We can only hope realization isn’t too late.
Clean up on aisle eight!
Barren shelves, white as fresh fallen snow
Waiting for beauty and whimsy to grace thee
Faded family photos set aside to blend in
But inspiration is elusive and out of grasp.
The festive holiday has passed
And a chill has settled in my bones.
Nothing brings in the warmth
Not even this freshly brewed tea
I’ve wrapped my hands around.
Nothing inspires, what a bore….
I’m in desperate need of new decor.
The season’s warm glow fades
The chill sets into our bones
Frivolity will soon cease
Cheer and hope soon will wane
But for now we push forward
A false sense of new beginnings
Just waiting for reality to settle in.
Smiles, toasts, plastered grins.
But we all know,
it will one day end.
(Well…that took a turn!)
Let them fail, then they’ll learn…
But lessons should be shared too.
Striking the balance, so I’m not the bitch,
But also not guilty by omission.
Where is the line? Ha!
Line? What line? There is no line.
Once advice is rejected, guidance refused,
Load up the wet buckets and the mops.
Invariably there will be a need for
Clean up on Aisle 6!
Settled in, cup of tea in hand;
The chair gently sways beneath.
A warm sip trails down her throat.
The mist before her begins to lift
And the world comes to life.
Blue ridges off in the distance
Green trees rustle near by.
A bluebird flits from limb to limb
While a warbler sings to the side.
Yellow, white, orange and purple…
Clumps of wildflowers dance.
The mist lifts revealing skies so blue.
The birds fall quiet as the day begins.
Dawn Renee Writes 