Five Poems by Sara

While I’m Here…

While I'm here,
I feel my feet firmly pressed against the wood floor,
A citrus aroma wafts in my space from the orange peel next to me.
The soothing music softly playing from the speaker soothes my soul,
I pour my heart out
from my chest through my hand,
Tightly gripping the pen
as if the tighter I hold it the more emotional release will occur.
The pen dances across my notebook,
Stumbling over letters and words.
A quiet mumble travels from the next room,
Tense muscles remind me of all that I carry,
Whether or not I own the baggage.
The present moment, a time for me, a time for my wellness, and
a time for my recovery.
Rustling of papers and squeaking of chairs remind me
I am not alone.
I am with fellow human beings,
all on their own paths,
But together we are one.

How Many Chances Does One Person Get…

How many chances does one person get?
How many breaths does one take in a day?
How many heartbeats occur in a lifetime?
How many ants shuffle below the surface?
How many birds sing songs of hope and peace?
How many plankton are floating in the sea?
How many bees pollinate our flowers and fruit?
How many leaves sway in the breeze providing shade?
How many snowflakes fall in a blizzard?
How many raindrops gather during floods?
How many grains of sand create the desert?
How many stars are in the galaxy?
How many mountains provide breathtaking views
regardless of one’s perspective – base or summit?
Does anyone know?
Who’s to say?
How many?

Something We Don’t Talk About…

Where to begin.
Some mysterious power has instructed us
what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate to talk about.
What’s appropriate,
Surface level small talk with such little substance and significance.
What’s not appropriate,
Any and all deep, meaningful matters and messages which normalize the messy
and painful and complex and beautiful and awe-inspiring human experience.
Religion. Politics. Socioeconomic Statuses. Gender. Sexual Orientation. Oppression. Exploitation. Colonialism. Genocide. Greed. Sex. Toxic Dynamics. Suicide. Addictions. Trauma. Death.
The list goes on and on and on..
Off limits.
Who has dictated which discussion points are off limits?\
What happens when we resist this notion?
Push back, speak up, and break the silence.

When This "Winter" is Finally Over...

As the darkness fades and the sun rises again
You'll hear the birds singing and the bees buzzing by
You'll feel a sense of energized peace and awakening
You'll smell the freshly thawed Earth full of blooming life
You'll see diverse beauty all around
Full of awe and gratitude
When this "winter" is finally over
Our differences will not be questioned or ridiculed
They will be celebrated and honored
Just as we celebrate and honor the blooming life around us
From crocuses to cottonwoods
From dandelions to daffodils
The snowdrops, tulips, lilacs, and peonies
All pleasing and providing in their own ways
Blooming with unique fragrances, colors, shapes, and sizes
Budding oaks, maples, and magnolias
Creeping creeks and softening soils
Coexistence and interconnectedness will be at the core
Spring will come as the world awakens with bleeding hearts

All It Takes Is...

All it takes is everything you've got
All your fight
All your light
All your might
All your tears
All your fears
All your gears
Recovery isn't easy but it's worth it
Instead of focusing on all it will take
Think about all you will make
Presence
Peace
Productivity
Power
Positivity
Promise
You will feel pain as you gain, for sure
All things that were once numbed will be fully felt
But don't run
Sit in it
As someone once said, you can't selectively numb
Escape the vicious cycle
Give it all you've got
Allow all your feels as you heal
Don't let doubt in
Recovery is real