Author: heatherpound

when my child was 

but one month old

she sat in her carrier, 

contemplating.

glancing at my face 

from time to time,

but mostly staring 

at a chair 

in fascination

while my doctor 

examined me. 

and he commented,

‘look at what 

she’s doing now.

this, this is vital 

for development, 

giving children space 

from activity and 

noise and letting 

them just be. this

is a gift as mother 

that you can provide. 

~~

and today i sat across

from my loved one 

in silence.

staring at the view, 

soaking in the day

and realized that 

this is one of the 

most productive things 

i have done in ages.

embracing companionship,

creating space for rest 

for heart and mind

experiencing solace, 

gathering in strength for

the journey ahead, 

peace in the now.

this is important work, 

yes work, that produces

longevity and quality 

in everything else we do. 

just as it was for my child. 

~~

—-during this holiday season, offer yourself the gift of space.

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Ben White/Unsplash

image:Subhajit Jana/Unsplash

do not gaze long on the bottom of the jar

that reveals scarcity, lack.

~~

empty is not there to appropriate your 

thoughts and transform into fear.

~~

it simply means there is room to be filled

so, what will that ‘more’ be?

~~

–you get to choose.

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Autumn Mott Rodeheaver/Unsplash

do you know that it’s okay 

to be tired, to feel the 

weight in your limbs,

sluggishness of thought,

eyes heavy,

words jumbling out slow?

~~

this does not scream ‘failure’

or ‘something’s wrong.’

this is a natural state signaling 

that rest is needed,

nay, required after seasons

of pushing uphill long.

~~

you do not shame yourself

for requiring air to breathe,

so why do we shun rest,

nonsensically striving to show 

that we are stronger than this

basic human function, unhealthy?

~~

so, if you must be like a bear

and hibernate for extended days

this is okay. you can tuck

yourself up in cave and slumber

as desired because rest is not 

defeat, it is a healthy need.

~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash

sit with me beside the sea

and let us watch the waves

and maybe you’ll remember 

that there is power beyond 

your own frame of reference

and fantastic beauty 

to be found

all around 

~~

and that disengagement

that you have worn as 

part of survival long

may start to fade

if we sit here and 

watch together

in hope

and wait

~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Dylan Sauerwein/Unsplash

you do not 

complete me.

in fact, no one 

else is meant to. 

~~

this idea of completion

is a killer of relationships,

unrealistic in expectation

and execution.

~~

it’s entirely

unreasonable

to expect YOU

to fill the void

that makes me 

whole. 

~~

my insecurities,

my issues, my healing

required. these are

mine to bear, 

not yours,

not ours.

~~

but complement 

each other we do. 

we fit together 

like hand and glove 

because we have 

executed adjustments

repeatedly,

~~

large and small 

required.

done the mahi,

put in the effort,

and have chosen

each other again

every. single. day.

~~

we are two 

imperfect people

pursuing wholeness

together 

~~

and loving each other 

wholeheartedly

along the way. 

~~

and because of that

my cup is full.

and when you are near

or even far away

i feel the completeness

we have each found

and share 

together. 

~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Roselyn Tirado/Unsplash

to embrace 

the new

you must 

relinquish old.

as much as 

you may have

loved the season,

it has passed.

~~

and all that is left 

are baubles

strewn around.

so many crumbs

of things

that were. 

beautiful, 

treasured,

laced with memory.

~~

and while you

are allowed

to sit with them 

and remember

as often as

you wish,

do not be slow 

to put down these 

playthings past, 

walk out the door

and live.

~~

——grief never really leaves, but it adjusts to make space for other stunning things. 

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Kelli McClintock/Unsplash

you must be still if you want your inner muse to speak

just think of all the songs never sung, paintings left undone,

poetry never written because we were too busy 

to be still

and listen.

~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image: Alex Seinet/Unsplash

the daylight slips away 

and songbirds sweetly sing

the day to close

~~

and i, who used to 

fear the dark, breathe deep

and relish in the hush

~~

joining nature in her rhythms

tranquil, for all must

slumber and refresh

~~

and tomorrow’s troubles

are not today’s and need 

to keep their place

~~

and night is nothing to be 

feared when a heart chooses

peaceful and content

~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Carson Arias/Unsplash

i heard a song i used to sing

back when living on knife’s

edge, never knowing 

one minute to the next

if peace or cyclone 

would billow ‘round.

~~

the melody speaks hope 

of shelter safe even 

within the tempest, 

and i would belt this loud

back then in faith that 

joy in morning comes.

~~

and i paused and let tears

come, grateful. incredibly,

astonishingly so, because i

never knew back then just

how far i would leave that 

space, how wide the chasm

would become, how much

healing i would gain.

~~

and how fragrant fresh 

life would now be. and 

I am humbled by grace 

and its power to recreate, 

and that it was gifted me.

~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Barnabas Hertelendy/Unsplash