Tuesday, January 31, 2023

a work in progress: self-portrait

 

i didn't know it then 

but youth was quicksilver in time-


i still talk to my young self


who is self-conscious, rebellious 

& anxious, as if carrying the world atlas

on empty pockets 


in the mirror


my forehead is now furrowed like my dad 

my hands are wrinkled like my mom


i am aging into their likeness 

though i am also drawing my own portrait


the young girl is still here

curious & resilient with the tides of

work & technology


every day is a day of rising to bloom,

not being a thunderstorm or lightning 

in a bottle, but to be


someone who is (still) finding her voice

between her ambitous knuckles & mushy heart,

striving to merge her excel left brain with her artsy right side


with gratitude, she has

made a house to her own liking


in the wall, she writes a note:

your self-worth is not in your inbox


you are where the light rests

against the winter darkness, it is where your children

find you, serene as seagrass


neatly folding laundry at the end of the day



Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics - Resolving to Resolve, hosted by Punam.

I have used 2 themes/advice for my post:   Your self-worth is not in your inbox.  

At the end of each day fold your clothes and put them away, no matter how tired you are.

Join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.  Thanks for joining us.


13 comments:

  1. I love the way you describe the way you evolve, in part your younger self in part your parents... and I can sympathize with your excel left.... having taught myself a lot with both powerquery and DAX

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  2. This is wonderful, Grace. I love how you responded to the prompt!

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  3. Yes, yes, yes... you said it very well. We all emerge as our own being shaped by the past yet carving out our future!

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  4. Ah yes, growing old mimicing the elders but claiming self. Its a process.

    Much❤love

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  5. 'Serene as seagrass'- gorgeous imagery. I feel your calm :)

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  6. I love this, Grace and it so resonates with me! In my mind too, I am always my young self.
    The imagery as always is breathtaking.

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  7. Serene is the word I'd use to describe this poem. Resolve to be serene. It's probably enough for anyone.

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  8. beautiful self-awareness and a flavour of contentment, self-acceptance, shone through with youthfulness re-arising like sap

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  9. How lovely, Grace ... you are where the light rests captured my fancy. Completely.

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  10. I echo Helen's sentiments for that line - you are where the light rests - stood out to me, and as a mom attempting to fold the laundry each night, no matter what, the whole poem resonated too...
    My dVerse post is here

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  11. I wonder where my comment disappeared, Grace! I so loved this verse of self- acceptance and those last lines, " you are where....end of the day"! A beautiful write that deeply resonated with me.

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