Some departures do not begin the day we walk away. They begin in the quiet moments no one sees, through hurt swallowed in silence, kindness longed for but not always given, and pieces of the heart breaking little by little. I Left Slowly is for anyone who has endured more than they should have, loved longer than they were loved back, and finally found the strength to carry what remained of themselves into the light.
This is the place I still long to return to, my grandmother’s sweet little cottage, her welcoming front porch, and the comfort of her loving hugs.
I wrote this poem many years ago, and even now, it still feels unfinished. Perhaps that is because grief never truly feels complete. The longing remains, and so does the love.
Still, these words come straight from my heart and speak of the woman I miss so very much, every single day.
On a clear night,
Snow sparkles beneath
A chaste moon,
Casting its glow upon the woods,
A quiet beauty unfolding.
The season of cleansing
Offers hope and restoration
To those who seek new beginnings,
Endless joy,
And the quiet promise of dreams.
Untouched beauty whispers
Of a time that holds
More good days to come,
An untainted promise
Of a heart’s deepest desire.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
A southern glance to a blue silhouette
Delivers a heartfelt message:
Return home to the Ponderosa pines, to scents of vanilla.
Settle into the mountain valley,
Hike the winding trails,
Sit a spell,
Breathe in the earth’s aromas,
Listen to the mountain’s music—
Wind rustling through pine boughs,
Birdsong fills the air.
Watch shadows dance as the sun peeks through,
And wait for the forest folk to appear.
Deer grazing in a mountain meadow,
Chipmunks darting about,
And then, she emerges—
Walking with her cubs.
She hesitates, sensing your presence,
Time slows, eyes meet,
Hearts race.
She takes a step,
Then pauses,
Calling softly to her family.
Climbing to a southern exposure,
She rests while her cubs play,
Content, she purrs.
Time slips by,
Unnoticed.
No green
Little time
Strange ilks
No design
Cult special
Budget fare
Zombie Frenzy
Western wear
Sci-Fi villains
Crime time woes
Godzilla mayhem
Intruder foes
Killer Tomatoes
Grizzly Bears
Monster Closets
Nighttime prayers
Monsters Crash
Pajama Party
Collateral damage
Never a smarty
Oh, would you not really agree?
One never knows when to actually flee!
Poetry Prompt:
For today’s prompt, write a B-movie poem.
Photo by Jose Francisco Morales on Unsplash
Believe in the actions –
The showing of affection.
Do not rely on misleading assurances –
Or false promises –
Of foolish declarations –
For words often deceive.
Wait for the unearthing –
The simple parading –
The brandishing of who you are –
And what you signify.
Reminders of your worth –
A simple thinking of you –
With each call or message –
A steady hand that guides –
Through struggles and discord.
A morning smile that –
Offers liberation and grace.
A simple embrace that proclaims
I will never let you go.
Unspoken actions that
Reveal a tender twining of
Two souls joined in
A thriving symmetry of
Admiration and reverence.
Poetry Prompt:
For today’s prompt, write a foolish poem. The poem could be about a fool, about being fooled, about fooling someone, or whatever other foolish direction you wish to take it.
Photo by Scott Broome on Unsplash
I had eight birds hatcht in one nest,Four Cocks were there, and Hens the rest.I nurst them up with pain and care,No cost nor labour did I spareTill at the last they felt their wing,Mounted the Trees and learned to sing.-Anne Bradstreet
My 8x great grandmother, Anne Bradstreet, wrote poetry during the seventeenth century, and she became known as one of America’s first poets. Although she was born in Northhampton, England, in her later years, she resided in Andover, Massachusetts.
One of her poems, In Reference to her Children, the mother and poet wrote about her her love for eight children.
Her first book of poetry, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung up in America, was published in 1650. It was the only book of her poetry printed in her lifetime.
What endures through the ages?
Is it the classic love tale of two wise souls?
Love notes written on their hearts over the years
Or a child that grows in kindness
