Telling Stories

Relationships and occupations
death in the family
and other amputations
weddings and grocery shopping.
Life offers up bumps and twists
at every stage we travel through.
Racism, sexism,
just I-don’t-want-to-know-you.
Chest pain, stomach ache, swine flu,
and better and worse are the
land mines we negotiate trying
to keep our souls in tact.

Endings, standings,
delivering come-uppings,
births and christenings.
Finding acceptance.
Hugging a bigot or keeping your distance.
Successful surgeries, bed rest
meditation and medications
that pull us from the edge
bringing us back for more of this.

It’s all part of the journey.
To each of us our portions of
crazy and volatile with
a measure of calm mixed in.
Plain sailing then is
a matter of perception
and depends on
what gumption we bring
to each situation.

© 2010 Shari Lynne Smothers

This poem is for the napowrimo prompt #24, find a phrase Visit the post to see the details of this prompt. “Plain sailing” caught and kept my attention.

I looked at my words
The mirror showed me my fear
When did I know this?

©2009 Shari Lynne Smothers

In the light of day
the look of me is harsh
edges too hard.
Not mean, only
too well-defined
making the person
stand too much out
from surroundings
for no good reason.
No meshing edges
flow into community.

In the light of day
the look of me is solitary.

©2009 Shari Lynne Smothers

In my little life
blessed to be sure,
both joy and sorrow
have brought me to tears.

Both drain me of energy
to celebrate
and recuperate.

Both bring me to
gratitude
which replenishes me
and my
journey through life
continues.

©2009 Shari Lynne Smothers

Prompt: Write a renewable poem. This is my poem for Day 13 of the 2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge.

Proposition:
Walk on safari
carrying camera gear
my only help
a telescoping monopod.

Trepidation:
The probability of
halting pain in my hip
seven years repaired
only not tested to
any great extent.

Pressure:
Failing to keep up
means
shortening the walk
for all eight of us
in the party.

Stake:
I won’t return soon
to Kruger National Park
from my hometown
New Orleans, Louisiana;
don’t want to miss my chance.

Outcome:
I made it through
completed the trek.
Now I face long walks
from the perspective of
I can!

©2009 Shari Lynne Smothers

Who has fault, blame
   for the state of my life
other than me,
   so I can point my finger?

Laying off the burden of
   my sorry weakened state
I’ll cuss and swear and rant
   ”That son-of-a-bitch!”

I’ll give that person
   what bitter piece of my mine
I can spare, when I’m not
   cleaning up the mess I’m in.

Of course there’ll be threats
   to tell everyone, loudly,
how much they suck
   and hung me out to dry.

“Don’t trust that fake-ass bastard!”

So, you can understand why
   I’m so frustrated and
having to hold my tongue—
   it’s because my life’s assailant
      is none other than I.

©2009 by Shari Lynne Smothers