Category: poetry

Hostess challenge

Why do we invite

Disagreeable things

Into our heart

People, memories, thoughts

We sweep them out a space

Hang pictures on the wall

Make them all nice and cozy

Play the perfect host

For a guest who rips to shreds

It’s abode

Until it’s an unrecognizable space

Why do we listen

To such an inconsiderate thing

Why do we allow

The damage it brings

Remodeling us from the inside

Refusing to leave

Until we find it difficult

To recognize ourselves

Or return

To a former joyful state

Realizing too late

All we have to do

When a disagreeable thing

Knocks on the door of our heart

Is refuse to let it in

Throw the locking bolt in place

Protect our sacred space

Let someone else win

The hostess award

E.A. Fussell

10.08.2020

The darkness hides

You think you know her

But you really have no idea

How much pain and hurt

She hides behind that smile

You see one side

Of a multi-faceted gem

The darkest side is hidden

Deep within

You see the side

The light gets in

Her darkness isn’t sinister

It’s forged by her children

From the still born ones

To the ones who have chosen

Addiction to drugs

Had she chosen not to be a mother

Her smile might be a little brighter

Her heart might be a little more full

Being a mother has taught her

Sometimes women should just

Say no

And not follow society’s path

Of love, marriage, children

Had she rebelled

When she was young

Had she chosen back then

To walk alone

Instead of hitching her horse

To someone else’s wagon

She may not have had to watch

Her children

Facing dragons

Some devoured before birth

Or worse

Those being eaten alive

Right before her very eyes

E.A. Fussell

10.07.2020

Musical Memories of Granny

Spinning

Round and round

I started listening to your sound

When I first hit this ground

Called earth

And as I grew

My little toddler legs danced around

In my Granny’s living room

To your delightful tunes

She had music playing

Almost every day

She would sing along

To an old country song

As she went about her chores

She instilled in me a need

To hear your beats

And listen to your melodies

In the listening

I am reminded of her love

E.A. Fussell

10.06.2020

The senior years

The sunset of life is approaching

Where will it take me

How long will it last

Will I row my boat alone

Or will a partner help

I don’t know

It really doesn’t matter

The sunset will come

Regardless of my relationship status

And life has taught me

That no matter how much I plan

Plans don’t always work out

So I will try to be still

And enjoy the beauty

Of every moment

Of whatever comes

Knowing that it’s my sunset

And regardless

Of who may be with me

Only I can see it

E.A. Fussell

10.04.2020

Hiding the true you

Who is living your life

The image your parents created

The image your partner created

The image your children created

The image your co-workers created

The image your ego mind created

Who is living your life

When you were born

You came here as nobody

Then somebody put a name on you

Somebody started telling you

Who you are

And it continued throughout your life

Maybe the you

That you portray

Really is the inner you

But some

Have never expressed their true self

They keep it hidden

Under what the world

Tells them they should be

Knowing our true selves

Is the simplest thing we can do

But definitely not the easiest

To empty the ego mind

Of all its senseless chatter

In order to hold our core mind

In the heart center

Takes a strong desire

To get rid of

All the veils of identity

This doesn’t mean the veils

Can’t be put back on

All of them or selected ones

To allow the world to see us

As it thinks we are

It simply means

That we are no longer

Triggered by thoughts or emotions

We are no longer bound

By what others think

They can think whatever they want

They can see whatever they want

As we rest in the center of our being

Knowing who we are

Regardless of which hat

We chose to wear

E.A. Fussell

10.04.2020

What will get you farther

Once upon a time

Two stubborn beings

Crossed path

The thinker decided

They could get farther

If they rode together

One upon the other

The stronger one agreed

To this partnership

And offered up its back

The thinker climbed aboard

Then desire to lead took over

The thinker squirmed and kicked

The stronger one stood still

Amused at the thinker’s

Lack of riding skill

The thinker became annoyed

Demanded the stronger one move

Heels kicked up

The thinker flew through the air

Meeting the ground with a thud

The stronger stood still

Waiting for the response

The thinker slowly arose

Brushed off itself from head to toe

Stomped over to the stronger

Stood for a moment

Thought about going on alone

Looked up the path that now

Seemed somehow longer

Then turned to the stronger

Okay, you can lead

The stronger gave

A delighted bray

The thinker climbed aboard

Letting the reins fall loosely

And easily they departed

E.A. Fussell

10.03.2020

Ponder this:

the thinker is like our ego mind

the stronger is like our inner being

Existence

Photo by Anfield Photography

Longing for a time simpler

When life existed of

Basic chores

Gardening

Cooking

Cleaning

Neighborly acts

No scheduled meetings

No clock to punch

No negotiations

No analysis of facts

The mind is a master manipulator

Making us think we want more

When all we need

Are the basic chores

E.A. Fussell

10.01.2020