Heather Pound

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

whatever you do today

challenge yourself to

move towards the light,

wherever its glimmer 

may be found. 

~~

and all that you must do

is find enough strength

within limbs to stand

and move 

~~

even just 

a little.

~~

and when today’s light

fades, then slumber. 

~~

but when tomorrow you 

wake, seek for its gleam once 

again.

~~

as long as you are moving

towards the light, then each

day is a victory small that 

accumulates into weightier

things.

~~

and on days where tired eyes

cannot open to see, remember

there is still grace, absolute grace.

~~

–light-seekers will always get there in the end. 

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Joshua Hibbert/Unsplalsh

carrying stones so heavy that you have 

stumbled for far too long to maintain balance, 

you have done your best to heal.

~~

and while the finish line may seem too long 

and far away, you have come an incredible

distance– i want to remind you of this.

~~

–when the journey is long, look back now and see how far you have come.

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Ricardo Frantz/Unsplash

lately i have been ‘behind.’

behind in chores, 

behind in housework, tasks,

in communication with others,

in things i want to learn, and things

i want to write. 

~~

this, however, is because i realized 

that i have been behind in other 

fundamental things far longer than 

advisable. things like staring at 

the sea, noticing toasty sunlight

on my skin,

~~

letting thoughts unravel. a kind of

hibernation that does not require

production from mind, body or soul, 

and embraces badly needed rest 

that is finally attainable in the season

at hand. 

~~

and i know that i will be better, and 

more productive and more interactive 

and more importantly more ‘whole’ 

because of allowing myself to get behind 

in tasks, but focusing on vital things 

nevertheless.

~~

—rest is an intentional activity too. 

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Dan Burton/Unsplash

we walk down the gravel hill

within the tunnel of trees

and i nearly slip and fall

and you chuckle and say 

that i should follow instead

the example of the old

rally driver i am with

who knows where on

the path the grip lies

and you would be right.

~~

–listening to someone who has been there and knows about the path you are on is advantageous.

©Heather Pound 2023

my image

the storm is rising, forecasting

days of torrential rain ahead. 

~~

i walk down by the beach and

lean into the wind, struggling

to stay upright, grinning at other

humans as we pass by, brave.

~~

hair flying, clothing dancing.

~~

and then i glimpse the perfect

sight of hope in the face of tempest.

~~

sails rippling and smiles wide, 

they run towards water and choose 

the elements as their friend. 

~~

laughing at its efforts, they 

harness instead. letting wind carry 

them across ocean in pure, 

intentional joy.

~~

so, i stop, sit, and watch them 

for a while, ponytail whipping my face, 

and welcome the challenge stirring within

~~

that this is how to face the season ahead. 

not retreating, not hiding, not afraid,

but shoulders squared, embracing 

the beauty within the storm. 

~~

©Heather Pound 2023

image:mine

it has taken quite a few years, but i think i am now close to

seeing myself the way that you have always seen me:

competent, kind, talented, even a little bit wise

—and equal, especially this,

something i had never really be offered before.

you chose a partner, someone to share life with

but also, to discuss deep topics and to make decisions 

—together.

~~

this, the precious gift that you presented on the day that we wed

but something that i did not dare to dream that you actually meant 

for quite a few years.

my history, my culture, myself, always in the way,

but you have made me believe 

not only that i have the freedom to do significant things

but that i have the abilities needed as well

and you are happy, nay jubilant, to cheer me on.

~~

and would you believe, that i, who can usually say

just what i want when it comes to thoughts on a page

struggle put into words just how much this means

and how much you mean to this heart set free,

and how deeply and ardently i appreciate

the gift that is being yours, this healing,

and for the relationship that we now have

but you always intended

—as partners

~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Dương Hữu/Unsplash

how incredibly tenacious

as a tree you must be

to sprout, and grow

and even flourish

whist clinging to 

the top of a rock

and battered by 

the wind and waves

~~

–life lessons from nature

©Heather Pound 2022

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