Beautiful Bittersweet Life Poems

Exploring the world of life and grief through poetry.

Category: Self Expression

  • Embracing Imperfection

    Embracing Imperfection

    “Perfect is the enemy of good,” attributed to Voltaire

    How did that sneaky voice slip into my head,
    telling me that perfection was attainable?
    Was it years of hearing, “practice makes perfect”
    that stopped me in my tracks when I longed to
    break out of the expected,
    keeping me caged in conformity?
    Could it have been apprehension
    of what other people might think or say?
    It was a slow journey,
    fighting against self-doubt and feelings of not enough.
    I walked with discomfort as I forged ahead
    on this uncharted path.
    Sometimes the vines of uncertainty
    would wrap around me, wanting me to stay put.
    Soon, they held no sway over me,
    and fell to the wayside.
    When I began to let go
    of the noise in my head that sought to contain me,
    I found a fearless voice waiting to sing,
    the shining me that had been there all along.

  • Rising From The Ashes

    Rising From The Ashes

    I was sure that the ashes of the life that I had
    before my husband died would bury me alive.
    The dull embers of what was left behind,
    were threatened with extinction by the weight of grief
    that encompassed my soul,
    making each step, each decision exhausting,
    as I traveled this world without my partner.

    And yet, with time and tears, the weight began to lift
    as I reentered life.
    No longer the woman I was,
    for she will never exist again.
    Instead, I had to find another me,
    with memories of my previous life
    serving as an anchor,
    and sails to set me on my new course.

    If I had made a vision board,
    none of the endeavors I would try
    would have been within the scope of my imagination.
    It was only when I was willing to say yes to life,
    full of trepidation and anxiety, my world began to grow.
    With each new adventure, I gained confidence.
    My mantra became, “I’ve already lived through the
    most painful episode in my life, how can anything be worse?”
    The grief was still a companion,
    but so was the joy of learning to be creative,
    which has provided the most healing
    for my broken heart.

  • What If

    What If

    On Living With a Chronic Condition

    Sweetheart, it’s okay to stop fighting.
    It’s not giving up, but coming to terms
    with the reality that was not of your choice.
    For if combat was an option against
    a body that refuses to work the way it once did,
    you would be better by now.
    The stash of energy that you could draw on before
    is now depleted and doesn’t recharge easily.
    What if you chose to shower yourself
    with kindness and compassion instead?
    It wouldn’t undo the physical changes,
    but, oh, how it will soothe your weary soul.
    It will give you the space to breathe deeply,
    What if you treat yourself like
    your best friend?
    How gentle you would be,
    holding them in a warm loving embrace,
    meeting them right where they’re at.
    What if you allowed yourself to grieve
    the life you once lived so easily?
    It’s not a sign of weakness or surrender,
    but choosing to find some serenity
    on a journey that is already wearisome.
    I know, sweetheart, that there are days
    when it all feels too much, but what if
    you took a moment, an hour, a day,
    to give yourself a break from the demands in your head
    and just be.

  • Befriending Tears

    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.

  • Stumbled Upon: Embracing Life’s Unplanned Adventures

    Stumbled Upon: Embracing Life’s Unplanned Adventures

    When I sit down to write my autobiography,
    I will title it Stumbled Upon.
    For it is this unplanned life
    that sent me veering onto a path
    of unimaginable adventures.
    Often, I was catapulted by a lifequake*,
    brought on by the death of my husband,
    which left me adrift.
    And yet, I somehow found my footing.
    The steps were heavy amid the grief,
    but I kept walking and my steps grew lighter.
    Photography became a saving grace,
    as a continued bond to my husband,
    and kept me in the present moment
    when my eye was focused in the viewfinder.
    From capturing the beauty of nature to
    going to bars, something I hadn’t done since I was in my twenties,
    to photograph musicians as they played
    opened a forgotten part of my life that brought
    me both joy and finding kind people I call friends.
    By using my photography email, I ended up
    being the photographer for the Phoenix Film Festival.
    I’d never done event photography,
    but my saying yes to the unknown
    opened the world of independent films,
    filmmakers, and new friendships
    with festival attendees and volunteers.
    All these experiences led me to participate in
    a storytelling event on how my life had come
    full circle with my husband, photography and music.
    I stood on a stage where I had spent so many
    hours capturing musicians at work,
    sharing my story by heart
    with a few butterflies stirring in my stomach.
    As time goes on, and I adjust
    to my body’s capabilities,
    I have found new ways to feed the creative beast that lives within.
    Now, I spend my days expressing myself with art and improv.
    The beauty of letting go of a planned life
    is the richness that I never imagined
    and the communities that I have become a part of.

    *Lifequakes is a term coined by Bruce Feiler in his book Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age

    Photo credit: Neil Schwartz