Category Archives: Poetry

November 4, 2024 · 11:59 am

Bottle of Resilience

My bottle of resilience sits quietly

Silent witness on a shadowed shelf

Smudged and worn, it’s not much to behold

Scars and traces of simpler smiles

I’ve uncorked it so many times

Tipping it carefully

For just a few drops of resolve

Or more for a toast or a dare

“You’re going to share that potion, right?” I am asked

“It may not work for you,” I whisper sadly, “but we can try”

“Just a drop would help,” she says

“No one has an elixir like yours”

I pull the cork; they hold out their hand

Cradling the tilted bottle carefully

A starlit tear of indigo rolls out

Reflecting every hope to splash into their palm

And resurrect the dead

But it is not meant to be

The liquid wisps into sand

Its tiny crystals, soft and fading

“I’m sorry,” I whisper

“It’s ok,” she says, closing her hand

“Sometimes grit will do. I will plant it like talents”

I smile at the thought as she turns away

Resilience is coveted, but it lives within—

Distilled by the heat of battles and journeys

Each drop born of chasms, and stars, and storms

And a million fates we’d never choose alone

Contemplating the bottle once more, I pause

Etched with character and mercy, its roadmap is revealed

Imprinted by every patience,

Its waters refilled in the overcoming

Gathering strength from every creative spark

Knowing the bottle is me

—
November 4, 2024
11:49pm

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Filed under Inspiration, NaBloPoMo, Poetry, Writing

June 23, 2022 · 1:11 am

Elusive

I want to write.

I’ve craved it for weeks.
An omen welling up. A portent.
Murmurs of words and feelings threaten to howl.

But there is no moon.
And my lungs are bruised.

A song of wisps.

Reaching through the fog.
To take initiative. Evanescent trust.
To seek connection, audience, witness.
To offer comfort.

Ten minutes. That will do.
Duty served. Pledges complete.
She’s ok.

She’s the strongest person I know.

Bloody thorns–to reach out first again and again.
Holding back the event horizon.
I will only be first so many times
before I relax and give in to the waves,
watching you peacefully
from the drifting deep,
at one with the seaweeds.

I will watch and listen from the other room,
remembering our once mingled laughter.
I’ll read your books and treasure your sorrows;
provide sanctuary when you pass through.

I’ll watch you walk away and never return.

The silent cornerstone balanced on a pedestal–
until the earth shakes again. Silly humans.
That’s not how any of this works.

It is challenging to reach out and preserve,
much less nurture a one-sided companionship.

But this is my blog–a reflection.
And I guess that means my struggle
on this one-way street
is with me.

—
June 23, 2022
12:21am

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Filed under Poetry, Random Thoughts, Widowhood, Writing

October 10, 2019 · 12:12 pm

Ember…

The mountains are so pretty at sunset.

I gaze into the light.

Blinded above.

Blinded below.

Beautiful trees in my peripheral.

A warm wind swirls across my cheek and I disconnect from my body for a while.

I focus on the gift of sight.

Please God. I wanted him to see Montana.

It feels just like him. Rocky and beautiful.

Air flows around me, separating the barbs of my feathers.

I feel each loosen as I close my eyes.

Arms surround me from behind,

as a head of soft dark hair leans into my shoulder.

I loosen my soul to blend with his.

An eternal moment, destined to pass.

My skin crackles.

The fire burns so hot now.

I don’t want to go.

I don’t want you to go.

I don’t want to be reborn without you.

Please, hold my hand. Don’t leave me.

Knowing is a consuming crown.

Ashes smoke the air.

Desperately. Don’t. Want. This.

My fearless Force of Nature.

You kissed my tears and told me once that you would find me.

That nothing would stop you.

The Raptor I set free, returned but for a while.

Life without your comfort is unconscionable.

I try to calm the smolder.

Afraid to breathe on the embers of my own heart and soul.

Hold the space a little longer please.

“I’m burning up a sun, just to say goodbye.”

— July 31st, 2017 —
Copyright © 2017 by Julia Meek Chambers, all rights reserved.

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Filed under Glioblastoma, Poetry, Random Thoughts, Writing

November 30, 2017 · 10:32 pm

Dark Side Of The Moon…

For me the storm is not over.

Merely changing its color.

Noise still deafens.

Wind still rages.

My head still tucked,

Bracing against the force and hanging on.

Bleeding wounds still unattended,

My furious storm shifts gears.

Black Hole devoured my Trees,

Swallowed my Sun

And gave black ice.

Dark, blinding, cold.

Vacant spot beside.

I am no longer a shield.

I am solitaire.

—

Written 11-30-2017, 01:30am
Copyright © 2017 by Julia Meek Chambers, all rights reserved.

Alone in the Dark Side of the Storm

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Filed under Glioblastoma, NaBloPoMo, Poetry, Writing

October 26, 2017 · 11:59 pm

Singularity…

A black hole opened within the sun.

Half my heart and soul fell in.

Eclipsed in the palm of the one I love.

Will I ever find him again?

..
Happy Birthday Love….

— October 27th, 2017 —
Copyright © 2017 by Julia Meek Chambers, all rights reserved.

solar_eclipse

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Filed under Glioblastoma, Poetry, Random Thoughts

April 9, 2017 · 7:08 pm

Focus…

Don’t simply fill your life up with busy work
just to feel your wheels in motion.

Be stingy with your energy
and make every choice count.

You’ll find direction faster than
you ever realized possible.

—

Written 04-09-2017, 6:58pm
Copyright © 2017 by Julia Meek Chambers, all rights reserved.

girl-camera-pictures-nature

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Filed under Poetry, Random Thoughts, Writing

November 22, 2016 · 11:55 pm

Love Your Life To The Fullest…

This is a variation of a piece I first penned in 2009.
I find renewed meaning in it, and a good reminder for today.

Love your Life to the Fullest.

For to truly Live,
you must Love.

For Love is in every Act
and in every Breath
and in every Thought
and Word.

Love is both Passive
and Active.
Love is in the state
of ‘Simply Be.’

Love is in
the Abundance
and Clarification
of your Cause
for this Lifetime.

You must both
Love Yourself
as well as
Love your Life.

Without condition.

For the Two are Eternally Twined.

—

Originally written 01-28-2009.
Copyright © 2009 by Julia Meek Chambers, all rights reserved.

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Filed under NaBloPoMo, Poetry, Writing

Tagged as unconditional love

November 7, 2016 · 11:14 am

Young Mama…

Young Mama,

Your role in Motherhood,

It should be sacred, it should be good.

But you’ve twisted it right nice,

Doling misery and malice.

Young Mama,

Instead of Loving

As you should.

—

Written 11-07-2016, 10:58am
Copyright © 2016 by Julia Meek Chambers, all rights reserved.

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Filed under NaBloPoMo, Poetry, Writing

Tagged as motherhood

August 3, 2016 · 2:59 pm

Every Moment…

Every moment is a deep breath and a step forward.

Everything stripped to its simplicity.

A rebirth with each raw heartbeat.

And still…

There is only Love.
—

4 Comments

Filed under Glioblastoma, Poetry, Random Thoughts, Writing

February 10, 2016 · 12:27 pm

Mom Thoughts…

As my kids grow older

and transition into adulthood,

I am ever grateful for 5 little words.

“Mom, I need a hug.”

—

02/10/2016
9:23 am

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Filed under Poetry, Random Thoughts, Writing

November 15, 2015 · 10:56 pm

Memories: Double Haiku…

I would bake a cake
We’d rent a cheap video
One hundred plus came

Pickup truck hot tub
“But bunny rabbits don’t bite!”
Best times forgotten

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Filed under NaBloPoMo, Poetry, Writing

Tagged as haiku

November 7, 2015 · 11:58 pm

Flight…

“I am a leaf on the wind; watch how I soar.” – Wash, Firefly

This is me.

But not in the way you probably think.

I am the chronic overachiever.

The one who commits to too much.

Who steps out and says – sure! I can help you with that!

I can take that on! I’ll be happy to sit down and help you figure this out.

I barely realize my actions, because I’m so into the heart of it.

I catch the current and hitch a ride.

And then I’m Super Man for a while.

Soaring over Capital “T” in a single bound.

Awing even myself with what I’m capable of handling.

Of the difference I can make.

Until I can’t.

Until I’m burnt up like an offering to the gods.

What a sweet savor my smoke and ashes make.

Scattering in the wind like snow.

“You know nothing, John Snow.”

Diffused, I lie dormant for while, unable to breathe, unable to move.

Finally everyone backs off because, well… what can you ask of ashes?

Until one day I gather strength and arise reborn.

Only to repeat the cycle.

Each time I am wiser, but to what end?

The pattern reboots.

Congratulations!

I level up, with now more zombies to overcome.

The problem is pretty simple actually.

I don’t know how to say no.

I always think I do.

But if that were true, I’d be a race car instead.

You know nothing John Snow...

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Filed under NaBloPoMo, Poetry, Random Thoughts, Writing

November 15, 2012 · 11:09 pm

NaBloPoMo Haiku

Jennifer over at Another Jennifer had a great idea for a NaBloPoMo post. A NaBloPoMo haiku! I enjoyed the yarn related haikus back in August, so I had to jump on writing a haiku for another thing I’m passionate about.

Here’s mine:

NaBloPoMo rocks!
It pushes my writing skills.
I’m my own rival.

I wrote it today, so I’m posting it today, even though I already posted earlier. After all, with NaBloPoMo you’re not supposed to bank posts. You must write every single day. That’s the point of the challenge.

So, here we go. A second post for today that does not count for extra credit. Woo hoo! I’m getting wild now!

How about you? What’s your haiku poison?