Heather Pound

there is something about

an old friend, someone who

has known you for years

and years.

 

and even if you haven’t

seen them for quite some

time, it’s as if an old language

re-emerges, one that is

 

stored in the back of the

brain and just needs a

quick dust and spit polish

to become fluent once again.

 

and the dialect is unique

to you and them and while

others may understand

the conversation’s gist,

 

they cannot comprehend

the full kaleidoscope of

memories and experiences

that come alive as if they

 

were yesterday. this thread

that links and beautifies

the treasured gift that is

old friends.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash

you, the one who is not

as fresh faced as once upon

a time. you, the one who

is disillusioned or just

plain tired. you, the one

who started out spreading

love like butter, but did

not love yourself much

in return.

 

i want to tell you that you

are not on your way out

or on the downside of

some metaphorical hill,

you are growing into

what you wanted to

become all along.

 

you have discarded the dross,

the parts of yourself that

caused others pain.

improved your character,

healed past hurts,

learned to prioritize,

made important life

connections,

 

and now is your time to shine.

you are not on your way out,

you have just found your way

in–into your own skin in a way

that you never have before.

 

so, celebrate this victory,

bask in the glow of your not

small at all accomplishments.

take the time to look back and

remember just how far you have

come.

 

then go out into the present,

remember who you are,

straighten your shoulders,

and sparkle unfettered

as starlight.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

on our last holiday

we panned for gold.

tip water in, shake,

gently pour.

releasing dirt,

sand, and pebbles

over and over until

all that was left

were small flecks

of gold

that sit now in a

vial on a shelf in

our room, a reminder

of a time well spent,

–together.

and now i think how

much like us this is.

each time we commit

to dip into the waters

together, more and more

of the things that we

brought with us from

before filters away.

each time we feel the

shake of circumstances,

the grit surrounding us

us loosens and floats

to be cast aside.

every time we address

troubles we face and

choose each other

once again each

and every day,

the sand separates

and departs.

and in this patient,

steady process

we have found

much more

than specks

of gold.

we have found

nuggets solid,

and veins golden

running through

and throughout

the treasure

that makes

up us and

grows more

evident each

day that we

pan this life

–together.

©Heather Pound 2023

Fifteen years ago today, my husband took on not only me, but 4 kids who really needed a dad and has loved them as his own ever since. And life as a couple still just keeps getting better and better!

i wish i could take you

by the hand and show you

all the good,

 

all the things that you

intrinsically possess.

 

the qualities, nuances, talents,

and expressions of these

that make up who you are,

that make you unique

and likeable

and altogether lovely.

 

but the heavy truth is that

the reflection in my eyes

is not enough,

never enough.

no, you must

gather this

yourself.

 

place this in your basket,

bit by bit. and do not

filter with cruel,

unforgiving sight,

 

speaking of yourself things unkind,

things that you would never speak

out loud of others.

 

and whose voice is that whispering

to you anyway, the accent, tempo,

and unloving flavour of the words?

 

do not let that voice become your

own, resist it fierce for it is a stealer

of all that is good.

 

and there is good, much good to be

gathered within the garden of your

nature.

 

and since i cannot

make you see

-not really-

my hope is that

you will understand,

accept, embrace this

in a little while

and on your own

and may it last.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image: Fran via Unsplash

palm fronds out my window

rise and fall and flow

with the wind

and the music does as well,

notes meld and dance.

 

melody and harmony

approach each other to bow,

then whirl away,

arms swaying

feet spinning

joy obvious.

 

and as the clouds blow past

on a day not full of sun,

but not as dark as the day

before,

 

i consider the state of

my own heart as well.

and know that i will be

better off and richer

in the hours ahead for

taking a few moments

 

to notice and appreciate and

allow beauty to become my

companion of choice.

 

this i always know,

but do not always do

and now i wonder why.

 

and the music bows again

and the palms wave farewell

and my heart feels

the sun at last

and the magpie sings.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image: Ovidiu Cozma via Unsplash

you will be kept warm

at all times and in all

circumstances if you

wear love like

a garment.

 

whether today it is

stained or tattered

and torn, or clean

and fresh and new.

 

this garb can always

be mended, always

be scrubbed and

can always be

altered, regardless.

 

it will protect and

nourish and will

draw your soul

to all that is

valuable and

worthwhile and

good.

 

and while you are

clothed with this

apparel that is

finer than the

highest of fashion

shaped by mankind,

 

you will not only

wear love next to

skin, you will

exude its aroma

to all those who

have the pleasure

of being near.

 

so do not stare long

into your wardrobe

today, take space

and look into your

heart instead,

 

select the finest

garment you find,

slip it over

your head,

and step out

into the world. 

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Timothy Dykes via Unsplash

it is childish to

say that we are

sorry, but then

to not turn,

insincere.

 

not change the

direction of the

way that we

behave,

 

not temper our

actions, our

tongue, our

attitudes,

our hands.

 

no, that is not

‘sorry’ at all,

for truly being

sorry for the

thing that caused

pain, is wholly

in action, not

just a word.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Dev Asangbam via Unsplash

do not become restless.

just take a few moments

to breathe into this pause.

 

do not gallop unbridled

through this season of

transition as if this

 

unknown destination is

all that must be sought.

no, take this time to

 

locate the daisies growing

in the cracks therein and

observe them with patience

 

for within this space of

hiatus there are nuggets

of gold and lessons galore

 

and even though this is not

where you want right now to

be, you can still locate peace.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Jakob Owens via Unsplash

once upon a time there was

a girl whose heart was open

wide and who, with stars in

her eyes stepped out on the

path of life

 

it wasn’t too long until a bit

of rain began. first, it was a

drizzle and with a smile she

brushed the droplets from her

eyes with ease.

 

as the journey continued, the rains

grew more consistent. yes, there

were days of sunshine, too, but

when the rain struck hard and fast

she leaned into the wind.

 

and then the storms began, the kind

that stopped her in her tracks and

knocked her down flat, but every

morning she would climb back up

one foot at a time.

 

until one day she could no longer

rise. and as she lay, she wondered

all kind of things. how had she

failed, would she ever walk again,

and was she even worthy?

 

and she was compelled to rest. and

she learned that rest was good, that

it was okay to shelter in the storm,

that life had rhythms and that

healing is a part of these.

 

she watched as her wounds began to

mend, painfully slow but steady, and

she began to hobble. and while

sometimes she stumbled, she

discovered she was surely  

 

growing stronger than before and

learning to live with intention and

boundaries and things that were

appropriate all along, but that she

was discovering at last.

 

and while it would be nice to simply

state that she lived happily ever after,

she did develop deep and abounding joy,

and peace and contentment were often

her companion, realistically ever after.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Wolf Zimmermann via Unsplash

it is not okay

to simply

download

pain

 

prickly

with hurt

and injury

perpetuating

 

sword

white hot

it slashes

without

discrimination

 

and limbs are

severed, and

hearts bleed

fresh

 

yes, your pain

is valid, even

understood

 

but it does

not give you

license just

to strike

 

this pain that

has become

part of your

identity must

be allowed

to be more

suitably

processed

 

and that takes

intentionality

and courage

and patience

 

and these flashes

of outrage do

nothing but

add to shame

 

and haven’t

we all had

enough of

that

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image: Cathi Geisler