Poetry by Diane V.

In the Tide Pool

Tears caress my face,

yet I do not make a sound,

I have learned to weep silently.

Implicit resignation exists,

where, once, I would have made a
plaintive cry,

a questioning of God.

Reproach uses energy,

energy I cannot afford to expend.

It may be needed later on,

in the journey I undertake.

A journey toward myself,

inward bound,

yet,

away.

To a place I cannot imagine now,

which seems so far removed.

There, where time will pass,

without my counting restless
hours.

A cooling tide of understanding,
to ease discomfort,

a gentle wave of self-acceptance,
to erase the pain.

Flowing deep,

somewhere out there.

Journey inward,

yet,

away.

– – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – –

Rebirth

Intrigued, alert,

I wait, wondering what will happen
next.

Half numb, half alive,

watching the world for so long.

A vibrant mind inside a stagnant
body,

observing, but incapable of
action.

A slowly spreading blush,

a greening of the soul begins.

I feel confusion,

wondering if this is yet another
false start.

A flicker of light is buried deep
within me,

I’m afraid to move,

the draft might blow it out.

Extinguish the hope, or fear,

whatever it is,

they seem so much alike.

The sun shines down upon my face,

enticing me away from the cool
deep safety of the shadows.

My personal muse whispers into my
ear,

gently prodding me into action.

I am alive,

that is motivation enough.

I am alive.

– – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – –

On the Contrary

Chaos reigns when self is absent,

you must end,

where I begin.

Once, I trusted too completely,

and gave,

too much from within.

I did not know then,

what I know now,

though it seems so very clear:

identity cannot be bartered,

and pain is not love’s exchange.

To give away,

what is not owned,

is not true love,

but self hate.

Chaos reigns when self is absent,

reclaiming may take time.

But time will pass,

I’ll once again own myself,

then,

I will begin,

again.