Another Year

Another year has gone by--

Nearly a blur

Full of triumphs and failures,

Heartache and victory.

It's been a year of transition.

Change has been a constant;

As the year progressed,

Something I could count on--

Because everything else?

More changed than remained.

The Year of Question Marks,

I could call it--for that's 

Exactly what it was:

What? and Why? When?

Not a lot made much sense.

Here I am in late December,

Wondering if I accomplished much--

Did I contribute anything?

Did any of this year make sense?

Late December musings, I suppose.

Another year is days away,

Not sure if I'm ready or not;

But here it comes, as always,

Welcomed or not:  The Future.

Is it just The Future or My Future?

Whether or not I take ownership

Is completely up to ME.

It's coming, whatever I decide;

I must make a determination.

I suppose I'll make it mine.

She wore Grief

She wore Grief for weeks:
-----hardened mask, heavy burden,
-----visage of stone
Pain came to live on the surface
Seeped into her pores
Coursed through her blood
And we were witnesses, all,
To the Damage it was doing.


Grief had stolen her Essence:
-----sweet smile, warm nature,
-----joyous spirit
Traipsed around pompously in surmised Victory
Accompanied by sounds of whimpering
Shrouded in dark clouds of tears
And we were witnesses, all,
To what seemed to be the Inevitable Decline.


And yet, today, I saw her, peering from beneath the mask:
-----kind eyes, forgiving heart
-----quintessence of tranquility
Caught a glimpse of The Woman She Is
The Woman She Was, The Woman She Will Always Be
No longer buried or trapped in Darkness
And we are witnesses, all,
To her reemergence into the Glorious Light of Day.


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This poem is dedicated to Vickie Thompson.