Beautiful Bittersweet Life Poems

Exploring the world of life and grief through poetry.

Tag: Bittersweet Life

  • 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.

  • Memories of Mom’s Red Lipstick

    Memories of Mom’s Red Lipstick

    When I look in the mirror, and uncap the lipstick,
    carefully applying the bright red to my lips,
    I picture my mother looking back at me.
    She was not one to fuss with makeup,
    but always applied her lipstick with care.
    Even as she faded with age, her lips blazed.
    And I, who always wore muted colored gloss if anything,
    now boldly wear true red in honor of my mother,
    shining my light for the world to see.

  • To Bloom Again

    To Bloom Again

    I push against the soil,
    as I seek once again to bloom,
    to feel the warmth of the sun
    upon my sprouts that have laid dormant, buried
    in the depths of the earth.
    My buds creep out into light
    longing to be infused by its energy
    with the vitality that I once took for granted.
    I feel the gentle embrace of the spring breeze,
    beckoning me to relax the petals,
    and open again to the possibilities of living.

  • Reaching for Light in Times of Darkness

    Reaching for Light in Times of Darkness

    Inspired by the Images from the James Webb Telescope

    When this world becomes too much,
    with its barrage of news of cruelty,
    and I’ve done all that is within my power to change,
    I stretch my arms out to the universe,
    and let myself be drawn into the beauty
    of far-off galaxies,
    images that are sent back to earth
    from the space telescope wandering around the sun.
    I lose myself in the brilliance of the nebulae
    that are light years away,
    where stars begin and end their lives in the dust of space.
    The vivid colors dance across the cosmos,
    unconstrained by the pettiness of humankind,
    for we are mere specks in the grand design.
    And yet, I must shine my light, too,
    in this place that I call home.

  • On Visiting a Garden Shop

    On Visiting a Garden Shop

    The task was simple.
    Buy air filters and a tomato cage for my blossoming plant.
    But I forgot about the siren song that would greet me
    upon entering the garden section,
    with its intoxicating array of flowers in bloom,
    singing for me to draw near and bring them home.
    I did not have the wisdom of Odysseus to prepare
    for my voyage along the aisles of yellow and purple daisies,
    pink snapdragons, and fuchsia dianthus.
    The white and rosy cacti blooms,
    beckoned, if only to be photographed.
    For they shine briefly before retreating
    until spring comes again.
    The sweet warm air was a balm for my soul
    as I took in the majestic display of flowers
    before summoning the strength to leave
    with just four flowering containers
    to add to my assortment of
    patio potted plants,
    who are always ready for more company.