They say they’ll miss you, but they won’t. No way.
The voices will keep you at home if you listen.
There’s much more of the wide world waiting, so don’t believe when it’s
“I can’t live without you,” just turn and go. They’ll forget about you
by the time you’ve crossed the border.
The years will turn over.
Some will say “hey how’s it going?” and some will say “happy 40th.”
A few will say “when are you returning?”
And you’ll know then they are the ones thinking of you.
But you say “oh, not today, not this year, no time soon,” so they too will slowly fall into your past, remembered in photos in a digital cache.
There’s so much before you that’s new to explore and
a long road behind you that led to this door. So open it wide, don’t look back.
You can’t bring your whole life everywhere all the time; let go of what’s gone and see the beautiful present. Wherever you are you’ll never regret it if you’ve followed your heart and stayed true to yourself.
You will do things you never thought possible. Eat and drink things mostly unpronounceable, but always delectable because you’re having a good time following your dreams, being who you’re meant to be.
A Lasting Impression
Because there was color in the light
that poured from your heart,
the sound of you
impressed upon me
like a photograph,
treasured.
What treasure is buried
in my chest
whose timbre glows so soft and white
as the hallowed ghost you left me with?
diamonds and dust
Cells and thrones
smiles and bones
sticks and stones
skies and domes
homes and wars
suns and stars
boys and girls
mine and yours.
bad or good
can’t or should
wine or blood
man or God
power or love
forgiveness is love
defiance and trust
diamonds and dust
The List
And then I remembered I had plans.
Where are they?
Stuffed crumpled deep in the desk drawer.
Dust: crumbled skeletons bugs discarded, some
lightly clinging to webs. My god do old habits die hard!
But there they are, scribbled in pencil, starred,
checked off, underlined, circled.
In some alternate reality surely more have been
crossed out by now.
Daylight falls on The List. How could I have forgotten?
It should be glued to the wall, but the walls are
impermanent.
It should be kept close to the heart, but
the heart flies away, sometimes for long periods,
and then where would it be?
I should keep a closer eye on this; put that on the list.
Clear the webs, smooth the wrinkles, use magnets on the fridge.
Now, where was I?
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About the Author
Pauline Edwards was raised in Victoria, British Columbia. She learned to meditate as a child, and she has been following a spiritual path and composing poems since before she could spell.
Since receiving her B.Sc in Linguistics from the University of Victoria in 2007, Pauline has worked with various indigenous communities on language revitalization projects in Canada, and continues to work as an educator. She is also a certified Reiki master, violinist, and singer-songwriter.
Pauline currently enjoys sipping her morning coffee in the beautiful seaside town of Tainan, on the island of Taiwan.
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Also By Pauline Edwards:
Mineral Kingdom Speaks | Conversations With the Sun And the Moon | Exchanges With Self And Others
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