Lessons in Patience

Patience is a virtue:the restraint in the chaos,the ticking of clocks heard from a great distanceuntil the sound is only a memory, like the whisper of the windenwrapping the yellow-tinged leavesand tossing them into the sunbaked sky.Patience is the calm beforethe storm; the soothing serenade of moonlight scattered on the bedroom walls;the simple act ofContinue reading “Lessons in Patience”

5 Years Cancer Free: Babies After Breast Cancer

When I first started thinking I’d be lucky enough to celebrate 5 years free of cancer, I imagined that I’d host a huge party with everyone I knew. The 5-year NED (“no evidence of disease”) mark is sort of a magic ticket in the cancer realm, a sign that, if you’ve managed to outrun aContinue reading “5 Years Cancer Free: Babies After Breast Cancer”

Waterways

skip and scurryacross the pathwayslike field mice,searching for the next hideaway,a close and comforting space,a dock’s safe slip of grace These summer days go so quickly! Sometimes I feel like the field mouse I saw racing across the road on our drive to summer school this morning. His little back legs were spinning like tinyContinue reading “Waterways”

Summer Haze

Sneaking snacks on the back porch,sneaking jokes under blankets,we slip away into sweet dreams as the Northern Lights trace patternsacross our sleeping bags. This is just a little poem about summertime thoughts. We have an upcoming camping trip that I’m pretty excited about– the urge to watch the sunset over Lake Superior and roast marshmallowsContinue reading “Summer Haze”

Wide-Open Field

the hallway holds a spiraling blur of blinding light,eternal and etherworldly.I step through with hands shading eyes,trying to glimpse the world ahead.For the longest time, it remainedcordoned off,a heavy blockage impenetrable,the stone path held in place by gatesonly partially of my own making:the limit of struggle,the toxins of trauma,too many brick blocks boarding me up.Now,Continue reading “Wide-Open Field”

The Pinecone’s Story

This bench holds yesterday’s stories, and tomorrow’s unspoken truths.I guard it like a sentry, the protector of the youth. I’ve watched this waterfall splashand splatter every single day; I’ve winked at illegal skateboarders,smiled at children who skip and play. I cast freckled shadows across the groundand let myself dance within the breeze,when I finally landContinue reading “The Pinecone’s Story”

Under the Sky

Bubbles floating freely up to the sky, memories spiraling gently under the sky.Chilly morning calm breaks into sun’s delight,as cumulus, cotton-ball clouds play in the sky.Warmth hovers in the atmosphere, its glowing love,as cerulean calm paints its melody on the sky. Daylight in dance, a playful canvas for loved ones:a home for buzzing bees andContinue reading “Under the Sky”

Bittersweetness

You ask how I know “who is who”today as we page through countless baby picturesIt’s easy to differentiatethe expressions you three make,your homegrown fixturesBut would I be lying if I saidwhat gives it away is my head,my lash-less eyes and slow gestures I wrote this poem for the Wea’ve Written Weekly prompt #143 at theContinue reading “Bittersweetness”

Slip-Slide Time

crossing snowy icewithout worry for the pathsun slip-slides onwardsignatures painted on icedesigns lingering in time I wrote this poem for the Wea’ve Written Weekly prompt #141 at the Skeptic’s Kaddish. This week’s prompt comes from Suzanne, who asks write a poem with the following criteria: Taking advantage of one of the few years where we’veContinue reading “Slip-Slide Time”

5-Year Cancerversary

There is a lot about life that is cyclical. Trends, for instance. The 90s are really “in” right now, or so say my students. We were at a roller rink a few days ago, and every song they played was from 1990-2005. It was definitely creating an intense wave of nostalgia for this Millennial. EvenContinue reading “5-Year Cancerversary”