Heather Pound

i once lived in a place that was hard

impoverished—its people often

wore this as lines upon their faces

 

in this environment my soul

was starved for beauty,

distracted by the suffering of humanity

around

 

until i began to zoom in my gaze

to anything beautiful no matter how small

the colour of a wall, the carving on ancient door

a flower that blooms between cracks in cement

 

and i noticed and learned and grew to appreciate

what was there to be grasped

rather than being constantly distracted by

all that was not

 

Heather Pound 2024

Photo by Victoria Strukovskaya on Unsplash

i saw a whole pod of dolphins today

twenty odd strong, they leapt across waves

and two pigtailed girls playing a clapping game

with smiles and grins

more complicated and lengthy than

the ones i used to know

 

and people passed with ready smiles

as gentle waves rolled on and on

and all that is light and right with

the world felt near

 

and while i know that elsewhere things may

be dark—and frequently are

today i drank only of the brightest and best

filling heart and mind and soul

with beauty

 

when times like these come, grab them

and on days when they don’t…

remember and hold close

the days you drank the light

 

Heather Pound 2024

when your life that was once whole

appears as porcelain plate

upon the floor, shattered…

 

take heart

 

this is not the end.

you still can breathe

you still can think

you still can gather

pieces together.

 

but first,

allow all the

things that are

to just be, accept them.

observe them laid out there

 

then listen to the pieces

as they speak

 

telling their stories individual

acknowledge what insight

what caution

what savvy and understanding

wisdom

they already retain.

(these lessons are uniquely yours)

 

then sweep them up careful

to keep in safe place—as treasures.

 

these are parts of you,

your gifts, your learning

your legacy, heirlooms fashioned

to be passed down to your

children’s

children’s

children

 

these pieces of your life

although currently smashed

upon the floor,

they matter

 

–this is not the end of your story

 

Heather Pound2024

Photo by S. Tsuchiya on Unsplash

this place you are in at present

(and perhaps have been

far longer than you wish)

is sparse and bare.

 

it is acceptable to bring in

a comfortable chair

a cozy lamp

a hot cup of tea,

anything you wish

to make yourself

a bit more at ease.

 

but do not renovate

repaint the walls

strengthen the frame

decorate even.

 

you may be here for a while

and you might just visit again.

however, please remember this…

 

grief is a stopover

never a home.

 

—do not settle in for longer than needed.

 

Heather Pound 2024

Photo by Anthony DELANOIX on Unsplash

you always have something to bring

whether empty or filled to overflow.

it is not about quantity or quality

but simply about presenting

whatever it is

that you have

to offer.

 

embracing the genuine

the real

the most honest parts of who you are

mask-less and make up free,

since this is precisely what others

also need.

 

you never know how one moment honest

from your lips, your hands, your heart

might all the difference make

in the life of one who feels

they are about to break.

 

and you will never know

until you give it a go,

vulnerable.

 

–just bring the real you.

 

Heather Pound 2024

Unsplash+ In collaboration with Getty Images

there was a moment recent

when healing came as lightening bolt,

yet soft as a summer breeze

sweet as love’s first kiss

powerful enough to usher

storm clouds across the sky

 

and i

was forever changed.

 

–moments like these are possible–you can experience this too!

Photo by averie woodard on Unsplash

there is warmth

hot drink and fire

just inside the door.

you see it through the window

standing outside

in falling snow sodden.

 

what is it that hesitates,

that keeps hands down at sides

feet unmoving

shallow breathing?

 

you want all that is bright

and meaningful and cordial

on the other side

(i see the longing there)

 

what will it take to lift the latch,

to come in out of cold

frozen-hearted

but able to be softened,

mended?

 

but still, there you stand.

you have not run….

and that in itself could be

considered courage

 

–perhaps you’re simply getting ready.

Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash

when you are hurt

and your knees have bent

for your hands to

pick up stones

defensive

 

pause…..

 

you do not need to start

a battle

that might become

a war

that may damage

far-far beyond what your

reflexive hand

ever intended

 

instead….

 

place the stone down

between you

–then add some more

as you can

as an offering

towards peace

 

and begin to build

a bench instead

where you may meet

in the middle,

sit together in the sun,

admire the view,

and discover common ground

 

–take the pause before you throw that stone

Heather Pound 2024

Photo by Simon Schmitt on Unsplash

when you are ‘different,’

some days you walk

slow through water

while others run free,

 

struggle to lift a weight

everyone else appears

to carry with ease.

 

not quite fitting in

is having all the ingredients

to prepare the meal of life

right there on your shelf

 

but the recipe is smudged,

guesswork involved.

 

this sometimes leads to being

misunderstood by those

whose pages are clean.

 

but go out into the world anyway,

differences intact,

do not hide your creative light

your unique way of seeing

your own particular shine.

 

you are the movers,

the shakers,

the out-of-box thinkers

and you have much perspective

that this world needs.

 

please don’t let us down.

 

–for all my neuro-spicy people.

Unsplash+ In collaboration with Getty Images

i wonder if you know

you do not need

to go out into the world

and do phenomenal things?

 

if you do

that is terrific,

but you do not need to strive

to produce

the way you do

 

especially if the motivation

is to validate the fact

that you are here at all.

 

you are here

you are human

–you matter

 

anything else after

is gravy.

 

so go out

do amazing things

if you choose

but you are already

at your upmost value

just by being

you.

 

–there is a freedom when your heart truly believes this. 

Photo by Nijwam Swargiary on Unsplash