Thirty-five

The inspiration for this poem…

I wrote this poem when I was 35, some 32 years ago now. In hindsight I’m not sure I would have kept that title but as a personal point of reference it has been a lovely reminder of how long I’ve been healing through poetry. It is a culmination starting with the fear found in the first poem all the way to ending with the strength I found down “in my bones” to stand tall and look out over the whole valley from where I came. It shows the arc of healing down deep and how that led to a place of being able to stand on my own two feet (one foot, when balancing in tree pose!). This was the perfect way to end the book, following two poems about the beginnings of a long forgiveness journey, ending with a direct connection between my heart and my words as my “backbone clicks into place” like it was meant to. The very last line where “I close my eyes to see” is the inner path I have walked to get to a better place. Nothing captured the progression toward healing for me better than the images set forth in this poem. You will even see in the image above that the words inspired art when it became the centerpiece of a collage. I hope you can capture your own journey by experiencing them as well along with the writing and meditation prompts offered. That is why having a place for those prompts are found with each poem offered. This particular book is all about the healing journey.

Writing/Meditation Prompts:

• Where do you find yourself today on whatever journey or path you are trying to navigate? Are you in the thick of it or are you at the tail end?

• Are you moving in an arc toward healing? You may not see it or feel it, but what would it be like if that were so? Is there anything you would intentionally do that could bend things toward that end? What might be standing in the way (could you draw it)?

• What are you dreaming of? Imagine that it can and it does come true! Make a note of how old you are so you can look back and marvel!

• What if the hardest thing that could happen actually led you to that dream? What does that look like??

• Are you ready to stand tall? What do you need to get there??

• How will you celebrate the milestones along the way or the joy of arriving somewhere you have longed to go? 

Do it up right! Be proud of yourself and don’t forget to share to help light up the path. May it be so.