Author: heatherpound

she sat, chin resting in hand 

and thought of days gone by,

dreamy-eyed

~~~

while her face spoke of a thousand

memories, unconscious smiles,

momentary sadness, joy

~~~

how can one heart hold so many

precious things without exploding, 

and reminiscing stirs the pot of them

bubbling, brewing, boiling over

~~~

it seems one can only remember

so long at one sitting before the simmer

overflows, messy

~~~

joy and sadness mixed, love, longing,

loss. all of these make us human

and she was one of these

~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Sincerely Media/Unsplash

when i was a young, i wanted to

study the stars–until i discovered

that math would be required. 

~~~

but staring into the starry skies

has never waned, it is still just

as magical as when i was nine.

~~~

that pulling of the soul into

mystery, the unfathomable 

enormity of it all.

~~~

something that cannot be held

within two hands, like the wind, 

like the waves—

~~~

but even greater still. we think 

we are wise, but our minuscule

brains cannot contain the

~~~

vastness of space, billowing out

beyond our ability to explain.

inspiring stories eloquent, 

~~~

adventures in unknown. but when 

i stare into the starry night, i cannot

speak–and think about the face of God.

~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Elliott Brennan/Unsplash

today

is not just

any other day.

it has never before

been and will never 

be again.

~~~~

whatever 

the day holds

ahead, routine 

tasks or adventure

extreme, there are

riches to be gathered

therein.

~~~~

so, do not begin

with heart asleep

and waste the day 

away. take space, even 

for a moment, to stir up 

the light that lives within

and intentionally shine on 

this potentially phenomenal day.

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:A.Z/Unsplash

today, if the space you are

in is restricted and the sun

does not shine, then just

sing a song anyway because

your story is still being written.

~~~~

if you see no way forward

or no way out, then smile anyhow

because even though you cannot 

yet see, the pathway does exist.

~~~~

if your heart is heavy and breath

burns your lungs, raise your head

even a little, a tiny rebellion 

against the dark, because light 

will always shine once again. 

~~~~

you see, i have occupied similar space 

before and i can promise you this.

~~~~

—sometimes we all need to hear that there is hope. 

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Dmitry Novikov/Unsplash

i have watched you for years.

watched over you from the 

moment of your first breath.

delighted at your first word,

first step.

~~~~

i have done my best 

to guard you, 

keep you safe, 

while also aspiring 

to instill a sense of 

wonder at the world around

and an understanding

of your importance in it, 

courage.

your talents, abilities, 

a joy to you, 

a gift of fresh air to others. 

~~~~

but now it is up to you.

i cannot walk your path,

cannot dream your dreams,

hold your hand, plan your way.

this is part of letting go, 

and you must take the reins.

~~~~

and i

must not block the way. 

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Mantas Hesthaven/Canva

i am water.

unsettled

shaken

ripples

on surface,

difficult to

navigate

for myself

and others.

tossed by

the wind,

currents

and tides

unpredictable,

unsubstantial,

agitated.

~~~~

but like the sea

i can still

by restless activity

paused,

purposelessness

bridled,

intentionally

seeking rest,

ceasing of

nervous motion,

calm enough

for waves to 

soften, 

dispel.

time spent

seeking peace

and finding that

grace is still there,

always there,

even for me.

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash

do you feel

that stretch,

the pull of flesh 

that steals breath?

instinct says, 

‘pull back, restrain,

always protect

come what may.’

but when it comes 

to sorrow,

resisting only 

adds to pain.

~~~~

instead, lean in. 

embrace.

allow the tears 

to flow, as many

and as often 

as required. and

remember that 

added space

within a heart

is never waste. 

~~~~

–a heart that has expanded through sorrow, is a heart that can hold more love.

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Natasha Reddy/Unsplash

when fragile 

comes to call

a visit has often 

recently occurred

by cousin ‘should’

who whispers,

foul breath upon

our necks, that

mistakes should

not be made, or 

the responsibility

of the happiness

of others should

be ours to bear,

or we should

not have needs 

of our own.

~~~~

he is an ungrateful 

guest and the only 

‘should’ we need 

take notice of then 

is that we should 

show him the door. 

then shut it firm

and tight, breathe

deep of air without

his stench and make

choices without

his crafty, filthy lies. 

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

i heard someone speak 

of their life full of 

considerable deeds 

and adventurous things

as if they were but dust.

~~~~

and i wondered how 

they could not see 

that they have not 

only lived expansively 

but with enormous courage.

~~~~

and I thought that maybe 

in the pursuit of achievement

they had neglected to notice.

~~~~

to pick up the pebbles 

of the journey and

put them safely into 

pocket to handle 

and polish with

appreciation and care.

~~~~

to embrace life with intention 

and enjoy the things

they had seen and 

experienced along the way,

not in achievements,

but in meaning day to day

~~~~

this made me sad indeed

and i reflected on my own life

and found motivation there. 

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

i have spent too much time

in the land of in-between,

not really happy, but not 

really sad. making it through

the day, but not taking the 

time to fan into flame the

spark of joy that lives

within, tired. 

~~~~

while the influence is less 

than in times past, 

this is the habit i strive to

unlearn completely before 

any more life passes me by.

~~~~

and to do that, I must remember

to feel. not just flatten and ignore

those emotions that dwell within,

but allow them to breathe 

and speak.

and listen.

~~~~

for while the mind might fear the 

message they bring, no breadth 

of emotion has ever killed me yet.

~~~~

no, the real hazard is that land

of in-between, that soullessly 

steals away days 

one-by-one, depressed. 

~~~~

and whatever life has thrown my

way–and it has given its best–

i still have a choice of where 

to reside. 

~~~~

in-between is a place

i will always determine to leave, 

for it is a thief.

its travel brochure is titled ‘safe,’

–but it lies. 

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022