Grieving by Sharon Horton

      tears pour down
as I fall to the ground,
  with pain, anger, loss
demanding to be heard
    as the land stands
  broken and burned
      unresolved grief remains.

by Sharon Horton

FACADE by Therese Staples Burton

Ah but the mysteries hidden by the smooth simple lines of a face.
Deeper than diamonds angles and all other multifaceted jewels.
Appearances more deceptive than jaded eyes.
What lies hidden behind a porcelain facade?
A multitude of masks, diverse, some wild, some unassuming.
Applied daily as guardians to hide the secret ever changing self.
Reflecting upon a multitude of mirrors, you will never find all the soul revealed.
Appetizing glimpses tease and tantalize the senses, promising to unveil,
Unmask the treasure that lies hidden inside.
"Hoax," you cry, for all we see on the facade is a lie.

                                    -Image & Words by Therese

DIP

Dip your toes into the water.

Feel it splash.

Take the first step.

Aim your arms toward the heavens,

Reaching beyond your boundaries to 

The other side.

Bend with precision.

On the count, fly to your destiny.

Trust that your body will take you there.

Trepidation ensues with stinging eyes,

Tired muscles,

And adverse waves.

You can do it!

Whoosh!

You’re there.

-Image & Words by Elizabeth Hipwell

Tape by Elzabeth Hipwell

  

Tape and slips of paper,
holding life precariously,
(thread by thread).
It can come loose or remain steady.
Layers are bound to one another
in such a way as to be easily split wide open.
Life can exist within the leaves of paper,
hanging tight
or roughly peeled off--
(torn in pieces).
My life is very fragile
(vulnerable).
I need tape and glue to hold it together,
to keep my insides from being swept away.
I want decorative paper for beauty,
old photos for memories,
and adhesives for cohesiveness of thought.

-Image & Words by Elizabeth Hipwell-

BORN IN by Therese Staples Burton

The pain was born in me the day of my conception.
The spark of energy that gave birth to my soul 
     carried the grief of the unloved.
Deep in the darkness of the womb was a 
     juxtaposition of insecurity and warmth
I grew, rocked gently surrounded by protective waters.
Cradled in a soft silky microcosm.
Sounds carried by encompassing fluids 
     taught me of the world outside.
The beat of an anguished heart shook the walls of my world.
Ripples in the water vibrated with anxiety and fear.
War between hope and despair, joy and anger 
     played out in the bloodstream of my host.
The blood surging through my newly formed veins carried the rage transferred from mother to child.
Through the placental barrier it crossed from 
     one generation to the next.
Planting the rage of an unloved child deep into the center of my soul.
My first tears flowed from eyes that had yet to be opened.
Pain raced on networks of nerves causing me to cry out.
In silence my screams shook the very walls that held me.
Shock waves lapping against my skin caressing.
Lulling me to a deep sleep to escape screams echoing in the dark.
Behind closed eyes dreams beckoned to me,
Promises of maternal love, butter soft kisses,
Gentle voices to sing lullabies in my ears.
Sensations of security and warmth 
    shatter with the reality of being unwanted.
Without words the knowledge burned my newborn soul.
To this day I carry the pain born in me the day of my conception.
-Image & Words by Therese-

I'M SORRY by Elizabeth Hipwell

I'm sorry for your blanket judgement

Catching hold onto my oh-so-naughty vulnerability

God forbid I don't smile when I am sad

When the mask of okayness

Slips and cracks open

To never be put back together in the same way

I am sorry that my excruciating pain

Makes you cringe

Do I see anger?

Do I see fear?

No elicitation of compassion?

I am sorry that my illness

(yes, it is an illness)

Does not manifest itself as tangible, visible proof

If you don't see it,

It doesn't count, right?

I am sorry that you don't see me,

Cracks and all

That you find this imperfection Unlovable

Unacceptable

And not okay.

I'm sorry

So sorry

That you are unable (unwilling) 

To care as I care for you,

That you tolerate,

Rather than celebrate me.

I'm sorry that our relationship

Has fallen short of our expectations and my my hope for us.

Yet,

I love you...

Still...

And for that,

I am not sorry

-Image & Words by Elizabeth Hipwell

GREAT Quote

If you want your life to be a magnificent story, 

then begin by realizing that you are the author 

and everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page.

Mark Houlahan