April Love - Day One - Dear Love

Dear Love

There's a quote that comes to mind when I think of you by the late Maya Angelou - Love doesn't hurt.

I have experienced what I thought was indeed love yet I never felt good. I mistook the pain for something else. I internalised the hurt and thought if I just did more, gave more, tried harder, loved YOU more then somehow the pain would stop. Of course, that's not how you work. Love doesn't hurt. Love feels good but what did I know about good feelings? What was I supposed to do with them? When good things came my way, I would inevitably look over my shoulder to check for the bad, hiding somewhere - ready to pounce.

But then I managed to find you love, in the sweetest and smallest of moments. In the giggles of my niece, the wagging of my dog's tail, holding hands, teaching others to tell their story and seeing them see themselves almost for the first time, in an Autumn sunset and the waves of the beach - there you are, Love - giving and filling me up with no effort on your or my part.

Coming to the conclusion that I deserve you as much as I give you to others is so simple and yet to finally believe that changes everything.

I deserve the kind of love that I give. No explanation needed.

 Thank you Love for carrying me when I thought I had nothing left to give.

2015 April PAD Challenge - Day Fourteen

Today's prompt for the Writer's Digest April 2015 Poem A Day Challenge is: Write a poem about Honesty or Dishonesty. I chose Honesty.


The truth Hurts

I expect nothing less than honesty
But I've lied my way

Out of tricky situations

Used my gender
As an excuse
Not to stand out

Acted like I didn't know
What was going on

Kept my opinions to myself
So that you would accept me
(Not that that ever helped)

Stayed silent and small
So as to not rock the boat

Turned my anger inwards
And blamed you!

The truth hurts
But it was my choice all along.

April 2015 PAD Challenge - Day Thirteen - Confession

Today's prompt for the Writer's Digest Poem A Day challenge is: Write A Confession poem.

Confession

Not being born Catholic
I always liked the idea
Of being able to anonymously
Confess my sins

To sit in the darkness
And let all my secrets out

I love the intimacy of strangers
So I confess to you
On these virtual pages
Which hold my shadows and secrets

Will you forgive me world
For what I have done?

Writer's Digest 2015 April PAD Challenge - Day Eight

Today's prompt for the Poem A Day Challenge is: Write A Dare Poem.

Truth Or Dare?

I Dare You To Get Out Of Your Head.
To stop living in shame of ghosts from your past
I Dare You To Face Your Shadows
To Tell The World Exactly Who You Are
I Dare You To Stop Trying To Prove
How Happy you are to false friends and acquaintances
No amount of Likes will ever be enough
I Dare You To Be Present
Just With the Silence that envelops you
I Dare You To Spend Time Alone
Without A Phone Or A Friend To Distract You from You
I Dare You To Love
Love the world, love your enemies, love the monsters within
I Dare You To Not Shrink From Your Power
To Stand Tall when they try and cut you down
I Dare You To Stop Aiming For Perfect
To Stop Comparing Your Joy Away
I Dare You To Not Just Read These Words But Live Them.

The Truth?
We all want to be loved but we’re just so terrified.
Let go of your fear.

Go on, I Dare You!