Wednesday, March 1, 2023

 Light


In the beginning, there was a lit Match, 


looking to share a flame.


It found a candle in the pitch blackness 


and shared it’s fire. 


The world became illuminated.


From that one flame, the fire was passed on 


to millions of candles, over thousands of years.


With each new group of flames, 


the world became collectively brighter.


And a time came when there were so 


many candles burning at once, it was impossible 


to look anywhere and not see the glow.


Yet, after a few centuries, the flames grew stagnant. 


They didn’t go out, but they didn’t grow,


never getting smaller, but not larger either.


Sometimes they flickered, yet even then, 


they kept to themselves.


It was as if each candle existed alone.


They were together and yet, not.


Seemingly out of nowhere, 


one of the flames began to grow.


This candle wasn’t any larger than


the others, but once it’s flame 


started growing, it didn’t stop.


Miraculously, this candle was


adding to and nurturing it’s own flame.


It alone began to illuminate the world 


more than all the other candles had 


even been able, together.


And though the candle shared it’s flame with every 


single other candle, it never dimmed.


It shone on, powerful and humble.


Once again, the other candles flickered


and the same candle continued to share.


It shone so brightly, it became Light.


Light lit everything up.


It showed other candles how to make the 


world brighter and they always took 


solace in Light.


If Light was strong and steady,


there was no doubt they could shine on.


One day, the Light went out.


The other candles didn’t know what to do without Light.


They knew none of them could independently 


illuminate the world as Light had.


Should they go out, too? they wondered.


But then, they realized that would leave 


the world in pitch blackness, again.


So they committed themselves to the memory of how Light had shone,


with kindness and acceptance


of itself, of the Match, and of all other candles.


They shone on.


However, now when one flame flickered, 


many candles offered to share their fires.


They learned that sharing the flame


was how Light had grown so brilliant,


and discovered when they shone simultaneously,


the world was radiant.



Monday, July 19, 2021

Firefly

Come closer, little firefly...
I have waited many years for you.
Trilling frogs play the melody to 
your dance against the still, dark woods.
The wafting grassy scent and wood underneath 
my feet will bring me back to you someday.
A smile spreads across my face recalling  
perfectly tart lavender lemonade.
Thank you for lighting my path.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

SLEEP

THOUGHTS RACE THROUGH MY HEAD,

SYNAPSES OF MEMORY TELLING ME WHAT TO DO, SAY, THINK.

WILL I EVER GET TO SLEEP?
Dying


Is death the end of everything,

Or a new beginning?

An unfortunate eventuality,

A timeless reality;

Met with fear or acceptance,

The warrior has ne'er a chance,

To gain the upper hand.

Friends pass without a proper farewell,

Perchance I had a moment to tell,

What shall I say?

"You will always be with me after you have gone away."

Words do not bring comfort or peace,

For a pain that will never cease.

TRAGEDY SURROUNDS ME
CALM BEFORE THE STORM



Moonlight reflects off the still lake and dances like twinkling lights as waves roll in and out with ease.

The clear dark sky shines with the light of too many stars to count on this night so uncharacteristically warm for January.

Around midnight everything will change, bringing howling winds and blustery mounds of deep snow.

Oh, how I treasure this calm before the storm!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

N.E.D.

NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE . . .
I am N.E.D., they say. . .
No evidence of disease?
I am missing organs.
I have scars all over my body.
I have ingested the legal form of marijuana.
I can't get pregnant.
I am in menopause.
I tire easily.
I have chemobrain.
I have an unbreakable bond
with 1,000s of people I have
never even met.
I truly understand the meaning of the phrase Livestrong.
My scars, both physical

and emotional, are permanent.

There is abnormal evidence of disease . . .
Starting Over

Five years ago, I had my ...

first hairstyle.

first date.

first apartment.

first job.

Even though five years have gone by,

I am starting over, over and over again.