Out of sync with life
Her second decade was spent
Her third decade was spent
Her fourth decade was spent
Her fifth decade was spent
And now
THE LAST TIME
When she woke up in the morning
She didn’t know it would be the last time
She didn’t know it would be the last time
She didn’t know it would be the first time
I used to be a shorebird
I used to be a shorebird
I used to be a shorebird
I used to be a shorebird
Now I take flight
MY FIRST HOME
I was 63 years old
Giddy with anticipation
A new life opened to me
From parents’ house
I gathered the few things
I painted my walls
Multi-colored rugs
I wake up happy every morning
_____________________
CHAOS UNBROKEN
When in chaos
Be the eye of the storm
When overwhelmed
Breathe into your heart
Remember the unbroken chain of love
That surrounds you, enfolds you, protects you
When all is lost
Have tea and cookies
Gaze at sunsets
Beat a drum to your heart rhythm
Remember you can never be broken
You are whole
Find your inner light
And turn it up until you remember
You are a radiant being
You are perfectly imperfect
And the lessons are in that imperfection
Honor the chaos as your teacher
Sit with the overwhelm
Let go of what you think you lost
Make space for the next adventure
And embrace this life with joy
GRIEF, REVISITED
Grief is a funny bedfellow
Sneaking up when all is well
Long-lost memories reappear
As if happening again, now
Feeling that all is lost
Even while enjoying the good life
Turning the moment of bliss
Into a catch in my throat
Sharp jabs of unwelcome sensations
Dealt with and put away
But not released
Lest I forget
The lessons learned
From those dreadful times
Burned into physical maps
In my body
Holding pockets of grief
In my muscles, organs
And softly on my skin
To be reactivated
By the knowing touch
Of a competent masseuse
Holding tears and shame
Fear and indignance
Of victim-felt times,
Not in control of my life
Unable to think my way out
Giving-up times
When no other choices
Were apparent
The massage of today
Is meant to be peaceful
Relaxing
Releasing of tension
A tear trails down my face
Until I taste the saltiness
On my tongue
Bringing me back
To this time, this body
With gold nuggets of
My Truths
Which will find their way
Onto the page
Capturing my story
Releasing those knots
To be kept on paper
Burden lifted
I come back to today
Refreshed and ready
To write
FINALLY
I’m finally comfortable in my own skin
I think that’s because it is so loose now
I have room to move around in there
And, when I stretch, it has a lot of give
Why didn’t I think of getting a skin-size bigger, before?
Always worried what I looked like
Hiding the bulges beneath large tops
Wearing lots of black
Now, I’m comfortable in my skin
I look in the mirror and am pleased with the crepes
I always liked that texture before
But didn’t know it would go so well with my soul
_____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
The most important thing I can tell you about aging is this: If you really feel that you want to have an off-the-shoulder blouse and some big beads and thong sandals and a dirndl skirt and a magnolia in your hair, do it. Even if you're wrinkled.
—Maya Angelou
_____________________
Good morning and welcome to a new SnakePal, Gayle Slaten! Gayle Lindsay Slaten was the Poetry Editor for the online magazine, downtownLAlife.com, for three years until it ceased publication this spring. A former guest columnist for the monthly Key Peninsula News in Washington, she shares her writing to help others know that life can change in a moment, just by taking that one step. Gayle is a retired Marriage and Family Therapist and has a teaching credential in Special Education. She lives in Tucson, Arizona with her partner, where she enjoys drum circles, art, cooking, and writing. Her latest book, Self Portraits of a Runaway Wife: a healing journey told through poetry and prose, is available at smile.amazon.com/dp/B08C95PGJT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dLEdFb405V4WG/. Gayle says, “This book is about my journey back to Self, about waking up to life, and staying present long enough to experience the world in a new way.”
Welcome to the Kitchen, Gayle, and don’t be a stranger!
In our area, Poetry Night in Davis presents Trina Drotar, Emily Wallis Hughes, and Jihyun Yun tonight on Zoom at 8pm at ucdavisdss.zoom.us/my/andyojones/. Info: www.facebook.com/events/2003215946481372/.
__________________________
—Medusa
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the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—