Heather Pound

the earth is weeping

after the swirling sky

awoke, opened

her eyes, and let tears

fall as tributaries.

 

and the wind who felt

confined in all this

emotional expression

took the opportunity

to blow out rage.

 

and the people just

watched and

remembered that they

were insignificant in

the midst of the power

 

of the minute ball of

dust and water where

they dwell in the middle

of only one galaxy of

a 100 billion stars and

 

chose not to think even

further still at the vastness

and terror of it all. instead

they were reminded to

soak up every moment

 

that they are granted,

to seek beauty whenever

it is found and to remember

to love each other well

—and to live.

 

-after watching the destruction in our tiny country caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Shashank Sahay/Unsplash

i thought my chest was scooped

out empty, dry

~~

but as i scanned my ever 

beating heart, i found 

~~

a little bit buried and partially

stale, yet there was still 

~~

a tiny-weeny mustard seed

of faith, that everything 

~~

could still be worked for good.

and i remembered that all that 

~~

must be done was to raise that puny 

seed up to the light, to water it with 

~~

tears. then light can do its holy work 

causing hope to sprout, to grow 

~~

and blossom once again. and all it takes 

is the humblest, most meagre of beginnings.

~~

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Artsy Vibes/Unsplash

i do not know why people choose

to spend their time worrying about

terrible, possible, theoretical things.

 

the truth is that the worst deeds that

human beings can do to one another,

are already here, most vehemently exist

 

and have been for centuries and eons past.

so, if you have been blessed to reside in a

place where you have not viewed or

 

experienced things such as these, then

please don’t waste your time dwelling

on the dark. it will do nothing to prepare

 

you for a time when darkness might arrive

and will sap away your joy today. instead

drink up the light, let it soak into your bones.

 

fill your heart with beauty ‘round, make peace

the place that you reside, and if darkness should

come, it is the light alone that will sustain.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Julia Florczak/Unsplash

the road to vitality

is not paved by

avoiding things

on the path that you

would rather step

around, ignore.

 

labeling certain

emotions

‘unacceptable,’

distancing.

they still exist

after all, even

when denied.

 

no, the road to ‘vital’

is found by noticing

it all: the good, the bad,

the painful and

unpleasant.

 

accepting, honoring

and responding to

these parts of your

journey as well.

 

this is the way

to grow

and develop

and flourish,

and live

a vital,

connected

life.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

 

image:Andre Hunter/Unsplash

the morning sun breaks

through the clouds

after days

and days

of rain

and you recall

the beauty

once again

that is possible

and all of

those things

that troubled

and stole

your sleep

seem to vanish

like mist

in life-giving

rays of scarlet

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Bobby Johnson/Unsplash

in order to vanquish fear

it must be admitted

rather than ignored, denied,

 

shoved down. too proud

to recognize, tentacles

wrapped around tight

 

and tighter the longer

that its presence is unheeded.

avoiding feelings such

 

as these is a perilous sport.

instead, make space, and

while you would prefer

 

not to give it a home long

term, it is visiting now.

it has lessons to teach and

 

as you acknowledge and listen,

leaning right in, this is where

understanding and freedom lies.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

 

image:Jeffery Erhunse/Unsplash

tomorrow is a new day, yes,

but this instant,

right now,

is also a beginning fresh.

 

and that sense of failure

is simply that, something

that your senses notice.

 

but with each and every

minute,

moment,

second,

you can let that feeling go

and start over once again.

 

and face the rest of today

with renewed hope,

even after mistakes

are made, by just

taking a breath

and starting anew,

again.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

 

image:Jeremy Bishop/Unsplash

just because you are 

beneath the surface

surrounded by water

entire,

~~

does not mean that 

you have sunk to

the bottom, irretrievably 

entangled in rocky cave.

~~

you might just be

mere meters beneath 

the cover of waves,

~~~

and only a few small strokes

of fluttering feet from 

the pure air that sustains.

~~

so, do not peer down into

the depths, discouraged.

instead look up, up to the light,

seek the warmth of the sun.

~~

be encouraged by its nearness

and you will break free from

the smother of a space you

were only intended to visit. 

~~~

and return to the habitat

you were born into, a place

where you can freely live

and breathe and flourish.

~~

–grief is just a stopover, but never a home.

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Mourad Saadi/Unsplash

never have i ever 

stopped loving you.

not even for one minute

not even for one second.

i never have 

and i never will.

~~

and now that you are grown

and living on your own

please remember

repeatedly

that i still do.

~~

your heart may come to 

wonder about your value

as the world around 

pecks at skin,

and its message 

‘not enough’

soaks into bones.

~~

but please do not forget 

that you are accepted 

unconditionally,

and loved

completely

and cherished

extensively,

and now and forever

i endlessly

believe in you,

always. 

~~

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Daiga Ellaby/Unsplash

the walls loom high

insurmountable.

and while i know 

you have the way

i am not sure that you will.

~~

you part the sea, 

you flatten walls,

you move mountains

–and you have 

for me. but in this instance

~~

the battle has gone on 

far too long. and i am 

tired. and while i know that you 

do everything in your time,

i wish your time was now. 

~~

but then it occurs to me 

that just like in every part 

of life, focusing on the problem 

is exhausting.

plotting the solution 

~~

is overwhelming.

and that life is best lived 

today, now. so, i stop 

and breathe, extend my hands

and remember, that in this moment 

~~

in time you are always right here. 

and that no matter how long 

or high or wide this wall, 

that right now, even now, 

with you i am on holy ground. 

~~

©Heather Pound 2023

image mine