Heather Pound

You can do your utmost to persuade me

of all the world’s ills, but this, my friend,

you need not do. For I have seen

with my own two eyes–depravity,

malice and greed. I have heard

with my own two ears–the cries of beatings

and the keening wails of grief, of bondage,

of hope defiled. I have held the hands

that death will visit soon and seen children

as shadows begging for bread granted

apathy in return. I have attentively

observed over time what human beings

are capable of and I lament

~~~~

—I am still

But then—

~~~~

The song awakens in my chest,

softly first, but louder grows

and no matter what I’ve seen and heard

or felt with my own frame,

music bursts forth from my soul once again

–alive–and from my lips an Ancient song

And with the hope of a thousand generations

past and of children yet to come, I cry,

~~~~

“There is light, there is light there is light!”

~~~~

And this, no darkness can steal

Call me a dreamer or call me a fool

—-this will always be my song

~~~~

—–Light overcomes darkness at the break of every dawn, constant. No amount of darkness can extinguish even one spark of a flame. This is hope. This is holy work, and gifted by Divine.

©Heather Pound 2022

Once I saw a lady laughing with friends and instinctively

whispered, “If I was like her, I would always be confident.”

Of this I was immediately certain

~~~~

With photos reviewed, I was, however, surprised. This

face would not launch a thousand ships, and her figure

was softer–like mine!

~~~~

And I pondered this awhile

~~~~

It was in the smile. For when eyes twinkled

and teeth said hello, a veil lifted and for that

moment you viewed the glorious garden inside,

full blossomed, fragrant, and free

~~~~

And this woman—she smiled

~~~~

She was a gardener who tended what mattered,

flowers blooming, vines encircling, accepting

both sunshine and rain, and then, bravely, often,

and when she chose, waiving the admission fee

~~~~

She was beautiful,

and I wonder still if she even knows?

~~~~

—–and these days I make sure I tell them, and remember that true beauty is born within

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

Please don’t run from your very own thoughts

While formative and compelling, they are not

in the seat of power–you are. They do

not characterize you, but if left unattended

they can influence your feelings and actions

unnoticed.

~~~~

Thoughts are just thoughts and your marvelous

brain can examine them, try them on for size,

and if they don’t fit just right they can be

replaced by newer and more intentional ones

This process becomes more difficult, however,

the longer you leave them running free

~~~~

Today, if they are telling you lies,

such as worthless, wasted or weak;

rather than running, grab those thoughts

with both hands, hold them up to the light

to find their flaws, toss out the bad,

enhance the good, and just forget some of them

altogether. But whatever, remember

that you are in the driver’s seat,

and you are in command

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

If it wasn’t for you I would not have taken

the time and effort to sift through my

thoughts and beliefs, examining them well

and intentionally putting aside the ones

not measuring up to the light of truth,

and I would not have lived years of my life

both healing and free. I could have

endlessly lived one step ahead of myself,

worried, instead of present in the now,

and I would not have practiced the balance

that brings me intentionality and creativity

and peace

~~~~

And while everyone’s stories are entirely

their own, I would not be able to understand

what it is like to live with you and what it takes

to manage and get rid of you, and be able

to walk beside others now doing the same

So, surprisingly while you have been

most unwelcome and utterly cruel,

I thank you for the ways that you have

made my life both fuller and free, and how,

in the end, you have enriched and produced

depth and have opened the door to lasting

joy

~~~~

—An open letter to anxiety and depression. I am surprised to find, with perspective, that you may actually be one of my longest and truest friends.

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

If today your heart requires you to

breathe deep and rail at the Heavens,

then this you can most certainly do

God, who is inextricably linked to

your every single breath is not worried

about this emotional release

In fact, he already knows

just how you feel

~~~~

The worst thing that you can do

is to hold it all in for days and years

Letting it out to start a healing

conversation is what the psalmist

did–and this is how he found

resolution and peace

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

©Heather Pound 2022

backgound by Canva

The blackbird chirping outside knows that his

song, while fine, will never be the nightingale,

but still he lifts his song to dusk and daybreak

full-voiced, impassioned and free

Humans, however, tend to compare  

and wither in the doing

~~~~

Why don’t we, like the blackbird,

gaze upon the dawn instead

–and remember

there is enough beauty for us all

and our own unique presentation

is exquisite and worthy and fine

~~~~

Unless we learn to embrace ourselves,

competition, while sometimes inspiring,

is the killer of connection, authenticity,

creativity and many other things

that the human heart craves

participation in

~~~~

So, I wish you well in all that you create,

and do, and are. I will focus on my very own

flavor of things to be the best ‘me’ that I can

become, and together we will make the world

an even more beautiful place to be

through appreciation

rather than comparison  

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

I went outside into nature to ponder and found I was sitting on empty,

scooped out like watermelon rind, flesh devoured on a hot summer day

and discarded in the sun

~~~~

The next moment fear began to whisper tight and cruel that I would not have

what it takes for the very next wave that life might bring,

or even the very next day

~~~~

Fear mushroomed, sucked out my breath and wailed, “Meaningless, empty,

fruitless and useless.” Words like these are quicksand to the human heart

if any attention is given

~~~~

But then I remembered, that a vessel that is empty can always catch the rain,

simply by embracing its shape

–of hollow

~~~~

And instead of a prison, ‘empty’ became a container to be filled,

and I looked beyond myself and saw all the wondrous things about

waiting to be chosen

~~~~~

—-’empty’ is not a final destination, it is the beginning of being filled with something new.

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022