In the darkness of the night,
when my body wants nothing more than to sleep,
I awake to the quiet of my room,
Alone, lonely, tears forming in my eyes.
Unprovoked by dreams,
the sadness shows up,
an unwelcome friend that
doesn’t get the hint they weren’t invited
and it’s time to leave.
“Sweetheart, it’s okay to cry,” they say.
“Not at 4 in the morning!” I shout,
as I try to lull myself back to sleep.
“Okay,” they answer, “I’ll see you later.”
And they evaporate just like the
tears that had escaped.
And I managed to drift off until
the morning light filters through the window.
As promised, they meet me as I open my eyes,
gently stroking my face, reminding me
that the tears will always come,
but so will the joy and laughter.
“It’s because you love, my darling,
that you must feel it all.”
Category: Complex Emotions
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Night Tears
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Befriending Tears
Inspired by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer’s poem, “Gold Medal”
“Don’t cry,” they said. “They wouldn’t want you to be sad.”
So, I hid my tears in the solitude of my room,
away from prying eyes.
Not wanting to upset someone else.
Wanting to appear strong for those who counted on me.
For I remember seeing the infrequent tears of my parents,
and how distressing it was for me.
But hiding my sorrow was a disservice
to those I love and myself.
For crying and strength are compatriots,
part of being human.
And though I’ve been a sensitive soul
who has wept easily most of my life,
I no longer feel the need to be in the closet.
For there are so many things that bring tears to my eyes.
Acts of kindness are always at the top of the list.
The songs that touch my heart,
sometimes for their mere beauty
or because they bring back a bittersweet memory.
The beauty that exists in nature.
Or tears that come unbidden when I ache
for my loved ones who are no longer here.
Being my authentic self means
that not only am I free to express my tears,
but I also laugh from the depth of my being,
and love with the intensity of a million suns. -
Strange Bed Fellows
How they walk, hand in hand,
forever intertwined,
grief and joy,
never knowing who will pop up.
The inexplicable joy that starts
at the crinkles of your eyes caused
by the curving of your lips
as they turn upwards in a smile.
It is the warm, tingly feeling in your chest
as your heart celebrates your friend’s good fortune
or the beauty that surrounds you.
The ecstasy shines out from your body
with the strength of the summer sun.
And you think this bliss will last forever,
only to have grief roar in
with the ferocity of a winter blizzard,
causing whiteout conditions
that make it hard to navigate
what once was a breezy, clear day.
The wind will chill your weary soul
as it grasps to find its footing.
The weight will come,
crashing down on your chest,
making it hard to breathe.
Your eyes will glisten with tears,
as the river spills down your cheeks.
Looking up from the valley floor,
you wonder once again,
“How will I ever get back to the top of the hill?”
And the amazing thing is this all
can happen within minutes of each other.
So, you learn to hold each hand with gentleness,
knowing that love has knit them together
as part of the bargain of living.
Beautiful Bittersweet Life Poems 