Poems, 100-word stories, memoirs, vignettes and other French words
We fit together
Like a pitchfork
And a balloon
….
About the poem:
Some matches aren’t a good fit. These we can let go of. Or we can continue to try every possible thing we know of, again and again to force it, get frustrated, pissed off, angry, sad, and depressed, and eventually let go.
The point is that we can acknowledge what doesn’t serve us, then let go when we decide to do so.
(p.s. I’m not sure if I’m the pitchfork or the balloon!)
Even strawberries
Dipped in dark chocolate
Aren’t actually love
About the poem:
Food is food. Some may argue with me about this one. It’s pretty easy to confuse food and love, which creates a lot of problems. As parents, teachers and friends, being more careful about this requires an open mind, relearning and strength!
About the author:
Joan wants you to accept reality and enjoy life as soon as right now! Books on Amazon and Kindle!
Even in the heat of the day
A shady spot
Is not far away
About the poem:
Peace is always within our reach. But we do need to make the effort to reach it. To be it.
Today, I’m asking you to share your life with me
But I really just want five minutes
When the alarm clock rings, I want five minutes
To remember
That you chose me
And I chose you
I want to rest my arm on you
And listen to you breathing next to me
And when I call you at lunchtime
I want five minutes
To hear your voice
To hear your laugh
For you to hear mine
And when we meet at the end of the day
I want five minutes
Without worry or complaint
Just a hug
And maybe a mug, of tea
And when we turn off the light
I want to notice
That we are side by side
That we are already here
That you chose me
And I chose you
I want five minutes
Or sometimes more
About the poem:
My friend asked me to write a poem for his wedding. How’s this?
If I want to talk about making money, that’s okay
But about making love…
That’s strange?
If I meet you and I dislike you, that’s okay
But if I love you immediately…
That’s strange?
If I worry about the future, that’s okay
But I want to talk about death, and the fact that we may die anytime, even today…
And that’s strange?
Really?
Hmmm.
That’s strange!
Bumped into you
I’m discombobulated
Give me just a sec
To freshen up
–
About the poem:
In Sahaja meditation I learned about something I’d experienced a lot, but never named. That is, that when we aren’t solid, we tend to pick up negative energy from others. I think of it as having a leak in my force field.
This happens normally throughout the day. But when I’m dealing with an addict, a serious mental illness, or a confused intimate relationship, I’m even more likely to get out of balance.
There are two strategies: One is to protect myself before I meet others by balancing and protecting my own force field. The second is to acknowledge that it’s natural to get a bit unbalanced as I move through your day.
I can strengthen and restore my inner peace through quiet time, meditation, nature, music, dance, art, nutrition, play and exercise.
I like the idea of excusing myself to freshen up, because I don’t need to pick up bad juju then spread it around. When I’m not feeling peaceful, beautiful, it takes just a sec to freshen up.
p.s. Isn’t discombobulated a fabulous word!
About the author:
Joan Gregerson wrote some books for you! They’re on Amazon and Kindle. Buy them!
The same argument every day
Who is the better person
Who is more loving
Cloaked in words like
Dishes and laundry, and bills
And when will you be home
Frustrated
She was sure she was right
Sure that he’d soon agree
But he didn’t
She ran out of words
All that was left was
One tomato sitting on the counter
Not ripe yet, which was better than she’d hoped
A bit large though, which was worse than she’d hoped
She threw it at him anyway
With a scream added in for dramatic effect
Today’s argument was over
But not as she’d hoped
About the poem:
It’s hard to prove that we’re all that, when all we got is anger. This is true for spanking or yelling at our kids, spouses, students, anyone. Anger is not being strong. It is a lack of skills or creativity, or both. Let’s develop those skills and use our creativity to come up with a better world.
I am weak
Too hot!
I roll myself into a small ball
And onto your palms
You pick me up
Care for me
In the shade of your words
In the serenity of your pondering
I cool down
I gain my strength
Then, I pick myself up
Able now to do
What I’d been too weak to do.
What I knew I had to do
All along
I can do now
About the poem:
You don’t have to be strong or smart all the time. But if when you are weak, you acknowledge this and go to friends that you know are good with what you need, you’ll be fine. As I did today, as I am today.
Three bows to Buddha
Bibimbap, rice cake, melon
Shady spot of peace
–
About the poem:
Buddha’s Birthday is a national holiday in South Korea. On my day off of work, I went to a nearby Buddhist Temple, Yongunsa, here in Samcheonpo. First we visited the main prayer space, slipped off our shoes and bowed three times to the main Buddha statue. These are full bows, meaning that for each you start standing, then kneel down and bend forward, touching your forehead to the ground, then come up.
Then we chose one of the many bibimbap serving lines. Older ladies served us each a bowl with the veggies and kim (seaweed), we added a dollop of gochu sauce, and in another line we added the rice.
We sat and at the bibimbap, then went for the dessert: watermelon, Korean yellow melon, and rice cake.
It was a very hot day, but there are many shady spots to sit, resting and enjoying the holiday.
Many Korean holidays are family-centered (bowing to ancestors graves). So this was great for me, as I went with my Korean friends and could participate!
Hold it right there!
I want to paint you
To capture you
To memorize you
The blues and blacks
Reds and orange chunks
Yellow and white streaks
Melting across the sky
Spilling onto the water
Wait right there!
I can’t find my brush
My palette is all wrong
Slow down
Swirling around
Dripping from the sun
Into the sea
I can’t catch up
Ah, I give up
I’ll just sit here
Dangle my legs
And kick my feet
Sip you
Slurp you
Suck the last bit from the bottom of the cup
And drink you up
Life’s instruction book
Open it, then remember
It’s blank. Grab a pen.
–
About the poem:
When I’m trying to make a decision, now I’m sure, the answer lies within. And it might not be exactly yes or no, stay or go, right or wrong. It might also be that the answer is less important than the asking. Or some confusing, but delightful puzzle, like that to provide a growth opportunity!
This is why meditation, nature, exercise, quiet time, creative ventures, music, dancing and the like are so important. They are the pathways to hearing your own inner voice.
About the author:
Joan wants you to relax and figure out how to enjoy life. She has learned a thing or two about this in the previous 52 years and is passionate about sharing this. Her books are available on Amazon and Kindle.
Teach Me, Kiwi
Whether others see me
As ugly or beautiful
How
To get sweeter
Juicier
To give joyfully
Without regret
Exquisitely
Until the last drop
Teach me, kiwi
–
About the poem:
This week, I’ve been eating ripe ripe ripe kiwis. I break them open and eat them like a cavewoman. And feel like a woman. I wondered if the kiwi was sad to be finished. But no, it didn’t feel like that at all. It was like it was screaming in triumph. I want to go out like that, juicy and screaming in triumph! “The end!”
About the author:
Life is meant to be fun. If you didn’t notice that day, you died one day early. Books on Amazon and Kindle.
Tea is the only language
We haven’t lied in
The only one
We both understand.
More tea?
–
About the poem:
All I can say is that when you are trying to manage relationships cross-culturally, with different language, gender, age, and backgrounds, sometimes language just isn’t enough. And sometimes, tea is. Thank goodness.
Sugar is not love
It’s just a crutch I lean on
When I am not strong
–
About the poem:
Emotional eating is the vice I have to keep an eye out for. Having gained 30 pounds twice in my life, and lost them, I know it’s sugar, not whiskey, not cocaine, and not cigarettes, that is my weakness.
Today was Teacher’s Day. I usually don’t buy much in the way of cakes, so was kinda looking forward to some. But alas, there was none.
On a day like today, I teach six hours in a row with 5 minute breaks between classes, and handful of almonds to keep me going. So, I’m a bit low sometimes by 9:10 pm when I finish.
So, when I went home, and made myself a little brownie thingy (I have no oven, so I used the skillet), I can label this accurately as emotional eating.
I recently heard Dr. Christian Northrup say, “Emotional eating is the not the problem. It’s the solution.” That’s what it was tonight. I know that eating a brownie has nothing to do with love and appreciation. But, I couldn’t figure out a way to just get past that. So, I added ground whole grain muesli, and egg for more protein, so it was as nutritious as possible.
When I am weak, a brownie is a crutch. It doesn’t give my body what it’s really craving, which is nutrition. And, I know it’s not love and I’m not gonna wax poetic about a gooey processed concoction.
When I am stronger, I eat something that is actually good. Something that actually is love, like some veggie-packed dinner or juice, that helps me get stronger. And that I can wax poetic about, and sometimes do!
Falling in Lonely?
I’m not lonely now
If I fall in love with you
Will I be lonely then?
About the poem:
It takes a strong person to take responsibility for their own emotions. Am I strong enough to do this, when in an intimate relationship? That, I don’t know. I’d say, so far, the results have been inconclusive! Is it fair to enter a relationship, if you can’t? Or does the relationship provide you the way to become strong? Hmm
About the author:
C’mon! Let’s enjoy the day! Joan Gregerson writes books and blogs about her ideas of how to do just that. What is on your to do list that is more important than that?
I’m a u-aholic
And you’re a me-aholic
But with us
It’s like being addicted to
A glass of water
Or a morning stretch
Or sliced cucumber
I’m addicted to you
And you’re addicted to me
But we have no jittery side effects
No plans of kicking the habit
One often says I love you
The other says, I love you, too.
And after a few days
One says, I miss you.
The other says, I miss you too.
One says, Let’s go for a walk!
The other says, Yes, when?
These simple words between us
Make us simply
Best friends
About the poem:
With some people, you just click. With a friend like this, there is no drama, no trauma. Keeping in touch is not a chore. Hanging out is not a bore! It’s sooooo simple, it’s hard to say exactly why. I just know that these easy friendships are the most beautiful: least effort and most rewarding.
Having and giving time for friends is never a small gift. It is always priceless.
About the author:
Joan Gregerson writes about walking, talking and healing in books (on Amazon and Kindle) and on her bloggity-doggity-woohoo-shmoggity. I’m just asaying. Let’s have a little fun before we die. Every day. Please. Thank you!
Bubbles
Wands
Frogs
Ponds
Fingerpaint
Glitter
Frosting
Tire swing
Shel Silverstein
Leaf pile
Tutu style
Squirt gun
Sprinkler run
Nap in the sun
Water balloon
Goodnight Moon
–
About the poem:
I have always felt lucky to be a mommy. Growing up, I never wanted to be an engineer. Just a mommy. So when I found a great guy and had kids, I knew I was lucky! When our kids were growing up, their dad and I took turns staying home with them. Yes, it’s not an easy job being a parent, but it is a damn good job!
Whew, that’s a relief!
No amnesia
No Alzheimers
No car breakdown
No mental breakdown
No broken fingers
No broken phone
No lost wallet
No lost number
No prison stay
No hospital stay
No abductions by kidnappers
No abductions by aliens
Really glad!
(Well, it’d be cool to be abducted by aliens
But other than that)
Uh…
Just wondering though
Why you never called
-
About the poem:
I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. But, finally, when there is no doubt and we realize we’ve been blind, that’s when it’s time to laugh at ourselves. Here’s some optimism and sarcasm, all mixed in one! Opticasm? Sarptimism?
while wandering
the fairy hands massage me
working out the kinks
About the poem:
Unlike running on a treadmill, walking in nature at any speed seems to do the trick. Walking slowly, going nowhere in particular feels just as healing for me, as purposefully heading to the peak.
When I learned meditation, I was surprised that the elements of nature are used in guided meditation, and meditating in nature is best. Duh! Of course, nature helps balance us. But, I didn’t really think about it before. haha. Now I know. Nature is THE natural primo balancer, healer.
About the author:
Joan Gregerson writes about how to enjoy life. tick tick tick. Time’s awasting, start enjoying! Her books are available in paperback and as ebooks on Amazon.com.
Time slows down and
I can see myself
Getting shaky
Beginning to turn red
Eyes starting to water
About to lose my head
I’m letting them get to me
I’m making myself crazy
I’m on the verge of losing it
I have half a second
I hit the pause button
Faces in awkward poses
Are frozen in time
We all look very funny now
I breathe deeply
Chuckle
Cool down
What was nearly lost
Is easily found
–
About the poem:
Are you one of several billion people that still believe that anger has some value? I am not. I think anger is one of the most damaging thing in our lives; it is the one that gouges regrets in our life stories.
Do you have a pause button? Meditation gave me one. I’m not sure how exactly. It’s something about the combination of meditation balancing me so I’m less shaky, and also developing a hypervigilant sensitivity to my state of inner peace so I can adjust and pause when I sense things going downhill. Oh, I haven’t been able to hit that pause button every time, but nearly so. At least, I have a pause button now! That’s been a big help in my life.
It’s also true that when we are yelling and throwing things, it’s hard to prove our point that we are the smart, good people in the discussion. The calm one is the peaceful, powerful one in the discussion.
Finally, when we say, ‘I lost it’, consider… what is ‘it’? This ‘it’ is our cool, calm, collected self. It is our inner peace. We can develop our skills so instead of easily losing it, we can snap back to that peaceful state just as easily.
