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Thursday, October 28, 2021

I Hope When It Happens

 


I hope when it happens
I will have finished all the books
I still want to write, will have shared
what I want to share.

I hope my people will read them,
and say, "We thought we knew her,
but there was a large part of her
we didn't know, and didn't understand -
that part of her that other poets knew,
because they read the words from her heart.

I wanted to make something pretty
of my life, but with the ups and downs,
the lumps and bumps, I made
something interesting instead.
I took those things and polished them up,
put them into my poems and books,
left out most of what was black and traumatic
and full of loss. Instead, I remembered
all I was given, how I was helped
and guided, and the people who loved me
till I was better able to love myself.

I hope when it happens,
there will be time to say
all the "I love yous",
look into the eyes of those
I am leaving, say "thank you"
and "Be happy. Laugh lots."

I hope when it happens,
that it will be peaceful,
a soft tide slipping gently
away from the shore.


Inspired by the poem "I Hope When It Happens" by Diane Seuss. The italicized lines are hers. A prompt from Wild Writing with Laurie Wagner.

4 comments:

  1. OH, Sherry, this is such a heartfelt write. So true about 'the poets.' People who read one's poetry know a person best of all. Your life, with all its lumps and bumps, still is 'pretty' to the poets who read your words! 'Pretty" can also be interpreted as real, I think. I hope when you write another poetry book you will use this one as the grand finale!!

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  2. "that part of her that other poets knew" how much I love that line.. and it is so true.. and I agree with Mary, this poem needs to go into your next book!

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  3. This is wonderful “Sherry-speak” … I wish it for you as well.

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  4. This is a beautiful poem. I think the poet community is connected via words and these words usually come from a place deep inside that only a poet can understand.

    Thank you for your support and friendship.

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