Behind the purple door….
Sadness knocked on my purple door,
my cheery door embraced
by thickset jasmine
and roses tumbling over themselves
in living laughter
that quiets the past
and sings over today.
I like this door
~strong to stand behind,
protective from the harsh outside,
me tucked away safe
and enfolded in soft linen
in every shade of forgetting.
But wisdom nudged me
near the knocking
“open the door”
and so I greeted sadness
and stepped outside
for just awhile.
Welcome, pain of my heart.
Not too far…..just to here on the stoop
and I’ll sit
with this uninvited visitor
on the front porch of my soul.
Surprised by the grace
to be in this and stay,
not darting away
with trite explanations
or numbing diversions
I let the sadness talk
and teach
and I heard her
without panic
and it was okay.
The memories shared rocked me like a landslide
but here on this porch,
watching ants marching somewhere
like soldiers on a mission
I let sorrow get on with hers.
As I grew bold enough
to look up and meet the eyes of my pain
I was surprised by the beauty
I’d drowned out before
and allowed it near,
unmanipulated,
and found it left me softer,
less afraid,
and something else altogether new and different
…….more whole.
And so I ushered sorrow to my garden gate
and thanked her for dropping by
and said how I’m glad that she came
and noticed in her hands
a travel bag
and forced an awkward laugh
and joked “had you planned to stay?”
Sorrow tilted her head and smiled
without any judgement at all
and gently explained
she’d be leaving now
and as she departed
and I felt the lighter spaces
I realized she’d been with me all along
behind the purple door.
Jennifer, thanks for sharing your thoughts so eloquently written. Your poetry is so deep and wise. It's always a pleasure to read. JB
This is so touchingly beautiful, Jennifer. Yes, sadness is always a part of life, but thank goodness beauty and love and strength and friends are, too! I love how you write. I am glad you share. I hope you have a wonderful new week. ~Kath
Jennifer, your words touch a deep place inside me……and I am reminded of "Hinds Feet for High Places" where the companions of pain and sorrow turned into joy and peace……..This seems to have happened in your poem…..
I hope you realize the gift you have with words and how deeply you touch so many people with your heart felt expressions……You touch me every time I visit and I am very thankful for you…….
Hugs
hello,
s o f t e r jennifer,
oh yes, to be w/sadness & not also
joined by panic..
& to open to the conversation
that is painful & that also
changes you & wholes you.
i do know this place, my friend.
loooooooove to beautiful you. xoxox
so glad she packed her bags this time …
perfection. beautifully expressed, the power of such moments in our lives. I'd say you must be close to having the draft of your first book written, add this one to it 🙂
What I love about visiting you Jennifer, is that I really stop and contemplate your writings. I take a pause and think about your beautiful word combinations and how they fit with me. I also enjoy reading the many comments left by your friends, and admire how connected they feel to you. Your writing is so real and raw. I'm envious of the way you are able to express yourself with words and art.
xo
dulcy
Oh Jen very beautiful. Your words and their meaning never disappoint me in what you are sharing deep within. Blessings.
you are a gifted writer of the truth . so special to embrace all the feelings of life . your garden blooms
oh how i love the way you weave words into pictures…pictures of truth and grace, and love…even the hard parts of it…
grace and peace to you dear friend
this made me cry today…..and i needed that……
You touch my heart and soul, and cause me to sing out loud (must close my windows as a neighbor is walking by with her big white fluffy strutting standard poodle).
Keep writing and I'll keep singing–with the window closed of course.
Knowing you, my friend, you will now write a poem about singing out loud with the windows open for all to hear!!!
Love you more than your words, Sharon
You just have a very special way Jennifer! You get to the heart right away with your beautiful thoughts put into words. A rare beauty YOU are! Facing the pain is so dog gone difficult but when you share the real side of you with others, you are helped and so are WE. (ME!)
Hugs,
Lee Ann
You just have a very special way Jennifer! You get to the heart right away with your beautiful thoughts put into words. A rare beauty YOU are! Facing the pain is so dog gone difficult but when you share the real side of you with others, you are helped and so are WE. (ME!)
Hugs,
Lee Ann
what a profound and timely lesson for me today, Jen…….needed this…..
thank you, as always,
Liz
the sweet sadness in this- so poignant. the feeling of loss for me is always there knowing that each moment I treasure is passing and will never come again. knowing that I will lose time, people and my health eventually. it's always there but sometimes it comes to invade and trample, rather than to visit and remind me that it is also a part of my life.
love these colors and i like how you take your photos in the garden.