[Damian and Great-Gramma]
I am the plodding matriarch,
bowed down under the weight
of my decades,
the weight
of those who press me
to carry the burdens
they don't want to carry.
I am the vast and unrestricted
being of light,
born in a thousand galaxies,
made up of particles of stardust,
strong with the wisdom of the ages,
and able to bear all burdens.
I am tired
with the accumulation
of decades of unremitting effort
gone largely unnoticed.
My body falters
on unsteady legs
that collapse
under me
when I walk too far.
I need a cane and,
on some days,
a scooter.
I refuse both.
Determinedly,
I keep on walking.
I am alive with
the energy of the sun,
fanned by the wings
of a thousand fairies.
In the light of the morning,
I rise and traverse the heavens,
like an orb,
like a daytime moon,
like a trajectory
of shimmering radiance,
a prism refracting
incandescence
through the everness of time.
I climb into bed each night
grateful for rest.
I climb out each morning
alive with
the possibilities
of the day.
I keep breathing.
Each breath,
each new morning,
is a gift
for which
I stay
immensely grateful.
The burdens
are not the journey,
just the accessories
to the journey.
The journey is
the Keeping On.
The journey is the
Staying Grateful.
The journey is
Being Alive.
The body
houses the spirit.
The spirit
fuels the body.
The body walks;
the spirit flies Above.
It flies Beyond.
Spirit knows
where we are going.
Nothing earthbound
can stop its flight
except
our refusal
to fly.
Hmmmm.......not totally sure about this new look.....still searching.......
ReplyDeleteSherry,
ReplyDeleteI love this, it is all about the journey.
A very nice read. I am wishing you a wonderful new year filled with love and happiness. I like the new look. And I love the photo.
Pamela
Wow, wow, wow!
ReplyDeleteSo very powerful and inspirational, I love it!
Wonderful writing!
The body walks;
ReplyDeletethe spirit flies Above..
For me, these two lines sum up all I have learnt from your writing, Sherry, and from knowing you.
A great way to look at life.
ReplyDeleteI know I commented when I first read this but on second reading I love it even more!
ReplyDelete'I am alive with
the energy of the sun,
fanned by the wings
of a thousand fairies.
In the light of the morning,
I rise and traverse the heavens,
like an orb,
like a daytime moon,
like a trajectory
of shimmering radiance,
a prism refracting
incandescence
through the everness of time.'
Wow! Sherry, that is beautiful and so powerful too, I love it! :-) x
I love the ebb and flow of this - the weight, the freedom, earth bound but formed of stardust. Beautiful, love it
ReplyDeleteI love this and for me it sums up how I am thinking about the back half these days--beautiful write!
ReplyDeleteWow, I see I had not read this poem before. I love it. (And really like the picture of you and Damien.) I understand the tiredness as well as the determination and the aliveness. I loved the words in the last stanza: "The body walks; the spirit flies Above."
ReplyDeleteDeserving all the respect and homage that was paid to the Elders in years gone by. Sadly not much of that respect around these days. True wisdom gathered over the decades is often rejected rather than accepted with gratitude. But things will turn again.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and prayer-like in its invocation and exhalation. Heavy and light at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThis is way too good Sherry... Powerful images... Awesome choice of Words!
ReplyDeleteremarkable poem Sherry.the individual merges with the above and beyond of the entire cosmos.wonderfully done.
ReplyDeleteand really cute picture too.
Well, Mary already said what I was going to say. Hrmph. I like the way the first stanza is full of triumph and the second tired, then back to determined and strong. And I love that picture of you with Damien.
ReplyDeleteYou come full circle in this poem, from aging body and life's demands to spirit that flies the universe and keeps the body ever grateful for life unending and someday unencumbered. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis is uplifting and wonderful Sherry. I specially like these lines:
ReplyDeleteThe burdens
are not the journey,
just the accessories
to the journey.
The journey is
the Keeping On.
The journey is the
Staying Grateful.
The journey is
Being Alive.
Another powerful write Sherry. I also love that whole last stanza. So true. Life is always a gift and the more we age, the more we know it.
ReplyDeleteThis whole poem shows such a voyage of giving and learning, most of all it shows great love, of family, of people, of all of life.
Stunning write and, read.
Sherry,
ReplyDeleteI see a familiarity in your words and thoughts about life and age and my own thoughts these days.
Sometimes the daily energy supply is not sufficient, or the burden placed by others simply overwhelms us. That seeems to be what comes when holds holds this respectful position of being a mother, grandmother, or even great grandmother. Great titles, but sometimes tiring:)
Happy Sunday Sherry, Eileen
I love that perspective from those who have seen much, experienced much in life. There is much to be learned from them.
ReplyDelete"The journey is
the Keeping On.
The journey is the
Staying Grateful."
Good stuff!
"The burdens
ReplyDeleteare not the journey,
just the accessories
to the journey."
A lovely wisdom song--one from the deep pattern of your life--that I will print out and hang on my wall. I have a few tears, but lots more huge smiles to share with the strong spirit that is you:
"Nothing earthbound
can stop its flight
except
our refusal
to fly."
I love this one Sherry!
ReplyDeleteIt says so much about who you are~
It was beautiful and endearing~
Wonderful...I have to read it again :D
When is the book coming out?!