Breaking Routine

February Photo Collage + Poem

I've kept quiet
when I should've let 
the rind of my 
truth ripen.
Sipped my tea
while rainstorms
brewed inside.
Strained myself 
filtering raw thoughts.
Made a ritual of
soaking words
to soften them.
Pushed away 
the child in me 
tugging at the arm
of permission.

Grace is an invisible 
hand just strong enough
to steady my falter.
Far too often, I'd grab
my wallet and keys,
and forget myself 
at the door.
But I found
my voice on the back 
road of a memory,
shifting gears when
change became vital.

The other day, I came home
with groceries and all sizes of 
wicker baskets, arms full 
of woven hope,
not knowing 
what I'd put inside,
but knowing nothing stays 
empty. 
And I put the kettle on
to scream life
into every silent year
I traded for approval.

---

Thank you for being here. Your support of my writing means the world. Every month I release a new Monthly Reflection with a photo collage of my original photography that reflects the mood of that month and a poem that goes with it.

Check out previous Monthly Reflections here:

January - To Surrender

December - To Write Anyway

November - Morning Walks

October - October