Grief ~~

Bent Over Antidote 

Some days I feel bent over

unsure and weighted down

by grief until I reach inside

for the young woman within

and step into her agile skin

where I can stand tall again

JoMae

1/30/18

*My friend Mary Steensma captured Franz Metzner's evocative sculpture depicting grief in this drawing she sent with words of encouragement that inspired this poem.  Thanks again, Mary.

Grief - Franz Metzner Sculpture 

Mantle of Hugs

Mantle of Hugs

A mantle of hugs this home is to me.

wrapped softly on my shoulders

a shelter each and every day

It soothes the chill of fear

reminds my heart of joy

and hands me hope 

wrapped snug in

memories

JoMae
1/30/18

Winter Night

Winter Night Window

Sit here in the rocker in the dark a few minutes before you go to bed

enjoy the still silence of the night. The snow covering everything

the old oak, arms outstretched holding heavy loads of snow

people flow, walking their dogs even in the frigid air

street lights glow, white roads and sidewalks 

driveways plowed, yet painted white

a few last cars carefully crawl

 home respectful of the ice 

all is blanketed asleep

 not a breath stirs

The soothing quiet will ease into good sleep.

I’ll leave the curtain drawn aside tonight so the light can creep in early

 and brush its hand against my cheek to wake me 

then I might sit right here another while 

before I gently start my day

JoMae
1/16/18

Blizzard

 ~ Blizzard ~ 

You’d think I lived on a country 

path for all the traffic going by

Our city street pristine in white

its trees and shrubbery encased 

in heavy loads of fluff, tufts of

which blow by in windy gusts

 on this sub zero morning too  

quiet for an urban Saturday.

Cars at the curb almost 

invisibly blending with 

landscape all buried in 

Snow

JoMae

1/6/18