The Journey Inward

I'm nearly bursting at the seams,
(At last that's how it seems),
So many ideas and thoughts,
Some of which are fraught(!),
I read and write and think,
Run experiments in my sink,
Puzzle, call and talk,
Run and lift and walk,
The excitement in me grows,
And the inspiration flows,
My Self is coming clear,
Envisioning more this year,
I don't know what it means,
But I'm bursting at the seams.

Also...

Will I ever be restored?
To the little girl I was before?
I’m so tired of being “nice”,
So fearful to roll the dice,
Doing all the things I should,
While wishing that I could,
Tune in to what I need,
Not what society wants to see,
Of how women should behave,
A life in which we gave,
To parents, husband, kids,
I'd like to make a bid,
For finding my own voice,
For making my own choice,
And listening to the beat,
Of a drum played just for me,
Where will it have me go?
I admit, I do not know,
But isn't that the thrill,
Not knowing how life will,
Produce a magic smorgasbord?
Will I ever be restored?

The lines "I'm bursting at the seams" and "Will I ever be restored?" were lifted from Michelle Cook's poems, "Wilted" and "Fifty Two."  I passed out copies of her work at my writing class tonight and we read them aloud.  We talked about what they sparked in us, then we each "lifted a line" and wrote our own pieces.  The shares were amazing.  I chose a line from each poem to show the yin and yang of my feelings right now.  Thank you to Michelle for her inspiration tonight!

Photo:  Peddler's Village, 1.4.25 by LA