Some people call this this ‘silly season,’ but perhaps we can all learn a few things from my cat!
©Heather Pound 2021
It’s taken me a while, but I’m learning to embrace
something that everyone feels,
but some of us live half their lives–or more
not being able to do
It was almost the ending of me
~~~
The expression, or even the recognition of
our very own needs
Did I say ‘own’? Shock and gasp!
Is that even acceptable, selfish at the core?
It’s silly, isn’t it to see everyone else’s,
but ignore our own
~~~~
This. The issue of many women that I know
Issuing out their lives for everyone else, expected
Bleeding for those around them,
but dried out by the doing, yesterday’s tea leaves
left at the bottomÂ
~~~~
We can resent those that we love
because they don’t acknowledge our needs,
but how can they when we
don’t even know what they are?
Or pretend that we’re fine when, really, we’re empty
~~~~
Pour into your own cup first
because we can overflow
but it’s impossible to let others sip
when there’s nothing left there to start with
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2021
Coffee cup in hand, early morning light,
pondering the tasks ahead,
just another day today, right?
But stop, what looms ahead is fresh and
clean and powered by a stunning thing
called—choice
~~~~
A myriad of possibilities ripples up and
down the tunnel of time. Exquisite freedom
and yet responsibility, wrapped up in a
gleaming bow of mist and sunrise,
making each and every day
significant
~~~~
So be present in the things that you choose,
choose them today rather than allowing
the day to choose you
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2021
What does it cost us to be kind?
Not a whole lot really, other than
not fostering offence, or the building up
of anger. Avoiding letting bitterness
take up residence and getting wrinkles in
the process. So, there you go,
unless you want to pay a lot of
cash for face creams and the like,
and vigorously put exhausting effort
into gloom-ridden things,
embrace the less expensive,
less taxing option
of choosing to just be kind,
not only in what you do
but in what goes on inside
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2021
Who are we trying to impress
as we stumble along, faltering
under a gigantic load that we
were never ever meant to bear?
It’s as if we are trying to prove
to the heavens above that we are
strong enough to do each and
every thing completely on our own
—folly
~~~~
Perhaps this is the definition of
a heart filled with the wrong
kind of pride. I can be proud
of you, but if I am puffed up
with pride in me then I won’t
see my feet clearly in front of
me and will quickly tumble
and drop that weight that
I should have asked for
support for right from the start
—community
~~~~
Or maybe we think that we
need to carry the weight to
prove our value, feeling
worthless or ‘less than’
Attempting a feat such as
this is going to damage us
in the end, wearing us down,
doing the opposite. Asking for
assistance might just give
us a glimpse of how others
are actually be prepared to help,
showing us that our value
is not dependent the things that
we do, but on who we are instead
—acceptance
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2021
Welling up inside, unexpected,
an uncomfortable balloon expands
Momentary worry because of wondering
just how big this feeling will become
~~~~
This time it was the angels that come out
once a year to decorate the tree,
each one lovingly penciled with our names
He carved them quite some time ago
with hands that now have been with the angels
for four years past. Him, the person
that first defined ‘safety’ in my world
~~~~
A memory of funny face and playful wave
making light of a terrible moment
knowing that this would be
our very last glimpse
of each other in this life
His body failing, my own family
calling me back to the other side of the world
The wooden angels remind me today
of this last great gift of kindness that he gave
~~~~
Grief is a funny beast, sleeping longer
and longer the older it grows, but then
waking up to roar even if just for a moment
Profound sadness, intertwined and softened
with love and laughter—and memories
~~~~
©Heather Pound 2021
I know what it is like to watch the pain of someone that you love,
wishing with your entire heart and soul that you could,
with your own two hands, reach into every crevice,
each cell and atom of their body—and heal
But alas, while humans can do many amazing things,
we cannot accomplish this.
~~~~
So, I am not here to give you any well-meaning,
planned out words of wisdom or platitudes of hope,
these you have already encountered enough. I am just here
to listen to whatever needs to escape your worn out,
tattered heart, and offer a safe and quiet space
–for rest. If you wonder how I have managed to
keep on breathing in circumstances such as
these, I will happily offer whatever thoughts I can,
but only if you ask. Until then let’s just–be.
~~~~
—What people often need is a kind heart to be there with them. This is a powerful gift. Don’t be afraid to simply offer this.
©Heather Pound 2021
©Heather Pound 2021
Image: Canva
Heather Pound 