Sorrow

Sorrow

I long to be wrapped

With comfort

When the world feels

Hard

Instead I allow sorrow

To blanket my

Wayward

Heart

I see the truth

Within it

Honesty

Abounds

My heart

Sensitivity

Clear ringing

Making sound

So

I let the sorrow

Take me

Guides me

Left and right

Up and down

All around

Until I reach

The light

I do not try

To push it

Far away

To flee

Instead I

Call it in

Welcome

It to me

Sorrow brings

Me close

To my

Darkest parts

To help me

Understand

The Caverns

Of my heart

Those parts

That burn for quiet

Coveting

My claim

Sensitively feel

Peoples words

Go up

In flame

Sorrow is

My tool

Slowly chipping

Towards the Sun

Inching my way

Through

Slow to walk

And then to run

Towards the parts

That brighten

The bleak

And dismal day

Knowing that

My truth

Will help me

Win my way

Sorrow

Is not bad

To feel

Within our shell

Reminds us

On the other side

Joy resides

As well

When the joy

Jumps forth

The sweeter

It is still

Because the

Sorrow extracted

That dazzling

Little quill

So when you feel

The dark

Remember

Quick with me

That

Sorrow is a part

like

Water is to sea

We are all the things

Dark

Bright

And goodness too

You are perfect

As you are

It’s all inside

Of you

Feel those feelings

Out

All of them and

More

Peek behind

The darkest parts

Stand firm

Upon the floor

Hopefully

You’ll find

That sorrow

In your soul

Give it love

And many hugs

Tell it

It is whole

Lull it with

Your voice

Shhhhh shhhhh

Till it starts to feel

Allowing it

To understand

It helps our hearts

To heal

Sorrow is a part

Of you

it boosts

Your human

Heart

Giving you

Compassion

For all peoples

Darkest

Parts

Island

island

The water rolled around it

Caressing every place

I used to want to hide

made me want to hate

Hate it for its presence

And for what it didn’t do

wanted it to disappear

Wanted to make it new

Because it wasn’t built

By tiny little bones

Wispy willowed limbs

Within a slimness owned

As the air it moves

In and out it goes

Rise and fall easily

I humble in my bones

It became an island

In my train of thought

What if it was stronger than

Made of soil and rock

I saw it as the earth

Strong within my hands

Soft and moving too

Like living breathing land

Changing all the time

Directed by the moon

So I sat and loved it

I mostly never do

As I floated Gracefully

In the water blue

A thought came rushing in my mind

The body knows the truth

My belly is an island

Water floating all around

My legs were two long bridges

Connected underground

My arms became the shore

Hands holding it together

Fingers splayed out sweetly

Taking in the weather

Catching in the scene

Breathing in the knowing

I caught this body tooth and nail

Was always scared of showing

All the love that it deserved

I wish that I had known

This body is an island

Full of love to grow

In and all around

Has been forever more

My body is an island

My belly is the shore

My arms and hands

Stronger still

Stretching

to the sky

My legs long

Big muscular

Help my feet

To fly

Finger tips

touch softly

Get course

From work and grit

Tongue to taste

Eyes to see

Tender lips

To kiss

This body is a tool

Gets me all around

Miracle the senses too

So lucky I’ve been crowned

For this precious body

Beaming with pure light

No longer be upset with

I now see the light

I’ll love her deep and wide

Learning everyday

My body is an island

I never want to hate

Easy To Love

Easy to Love

I hope that you know

You are

Easy to love

To me and the world

You are Whole

I see how lovely

The brightness

You shine

Most times when you

Can’t see at all

Come let me show

You how much you

Are worth

By all who know you

And more

Come take my hand

And I’ll show you the way

I’ll help

Open all of the

Doors

I See

The world

Calls out your sweet name

The natural voice

Tells the truth

The sky it whispered

Into the day

Just How much

It Adores

You

The lake and the river

Speak in your ear

Every time

You

Walk by

The ocean waves

Tend the same way

Devotion

Where water

Meets sky

All of these things

Need no reason

To love

They Are

Just as they are

No explanation

Its because

You are you

And you are

Beauty by far

So don’t you forget

The the world

Gets so mean

Cause you to question

And doubt

Humanity screams

And courses with pain

To easily snuff

Your

Flame out

In moments small

I can stop….to take

A  very

Deep look

At your heart

To remind it

It’s perfect…

And whole…

Much more than the sum

Of its parts

Then I’ll lean in

Just close enough

To deliver it words

From above

I’ll hold it so sweet

In gentlest of hands

And whisper

You are

Easy to Love

My Dearest

You are

Easy to Love

My Sweet

You are

Easy

To

Love

You

Are

Easy

To

Love

I just wrote this

Mostly for me….

Because long ago

There were

Times….

When I didn’t feel easy to love

And then I figured

Chances are….

There probably were times

When you don’t or didn’t either.

So I thought we could all use the reminder

That

It’s not the truth

So today I want us to know

We are pretty dang loveable

And most times

We are really really

Easy to love.

Some people might not know it

But we are

And

I can rest in that today.

Clarity

Clarity

Please give us clarity

To see what we can’t see

All the stories hidden

Buried deep beneath

Give the gift of sight

When we feel so blind

To the struggles faced

By those left behind

Tasting ever needed

Choking just to breathe

Societies unfaded

People live to seethe

Moments that are lost

In history ever more

May we not forget

The open swinging door

Of those that let you in

To take a look around

Never one direction

Lost yet hopeful found

As the world it thickens

The dark can see no light

Pleased to turn blind eyes

Blocking shadowed life

This I ask with heartfelt love

Deep into my soul

That calm and clarity

Come knocking on your door

Humanity it begs you

To hold it as a gift

Open eyes move all around

We can make it fit

So many divided

If we see each others eyes

We feel there is relation

Under this the greatest sky

And in this pure connection

May it bring for you

Grit and understanding

To seek out the truth

It’s unconscious people

That refuse to do the work

Never see the other side

Head stuck in the dirt

If you are one side only

I beg take a look around

Dally on the other side

Information will be found

Dig in deep to your beliefs

Ask questions many more

Why do the richest lie and take

Why do we go to war

For if you see both sides

Clarity will show

That we are all connected

The more we see

The more we grow

Wonder

Wonder

I sit tall

In my body

Holding wonder

Like a cup

Though nothing

In my hands

I can dream

It up

It’s the magic

All around

That sets

Our heart ablaze

It’s so

Gentle quiet

Setting in

Your gaze

Though it

May be small

Raging fire

It ignights

Reminding you

To bring

Your love

Straight Into the light

So be brave

My friend

And let your

Wonder shine

Let others

Know it does

Exist

Let it be a sign

For those

Lost and lonely

Hearts searching

For home

Souls want to

Believe

Tenderness

Their throne

Because we cannot

See it

Doesn’t mean

It isn’t there

We have to

Believe that it is

Hanging in

Thin air

The reason is

To wonder

To look

All around

And know too

The magic is you

From

Tip

Toes

To

Crown

Yup all of you.....

The whole thing.....

Trust

Trust

Trust is all directions

Pointing in a way

That will always bring you home

After traveling for days

It’s truest form

And it’s truest self

Wild and thrashing through

Something in the great unknown

Something that is new

Something you can’t taste

Or Touch

But something you can feel

A loving thing

that is such

Someone that is real

Guiding you to their heart

A sanctuary sound

The sacred place that you can sit

Always to be found

A gentle knock upon the door

Of your upended heart

A simple place in which to land

When you are in the dark

The hand to hold

When things get tough

A heart to sing your praise

Kind words that spill out

From the mouth

That help you find your way

The silence that is kinder still

When the words get hard

A hand woven tapestry

A shining work of art

A firm but gentle holding

A Sceptre in the soul

Pure eyes that hold the key

And the letting go

Surrender of the sweetest type

The trust of truest trues

Giving it to someone else

And they

In

Kind

To

You

by arley

In Gratitude for the knowing that trust can be learned again, found again, and earned again in the most gracious and generous of ways.

For guiding me gently and kindly back into a place I didn’t think existed......and for showing me that I had it in there all along.

Tend

Tend

I got my hands into the earth

It has been years for me

A student of the land

I sowed some little seeds

It didn’t look like much at first

No pushing from the ground

I watched it closely every day

Hoping for the sound

Of those little seeds

That always knew they’d be

Creeping up to the sun

A lush garden green

Hope at the beginning

You think they never aught

Until one day like magic

That seed has found its sought

They know intrinsically

What they have to do

When loved with sweet intention

Those little seeds they grew

Out of earth they spring

Like a gift they be

Every year is different

Like magic to me

Reaching high up to the sun

Warm the weather gets

Some they work out very well

Some you take a bet

Soon enough you peek

Beneath a few new leaves

Surprise the fruit it bears

Sharing it with me

Then I thought this year

I’ve tended many things

Creative on the inside

Up through the ground it springs

Things burrowed hidden

That needed tender thought

A warm and safe place to land

Emotions to be caught

Things that needed love and care

Understanding too

Things I needed space from

To know what I should do

Tending all the little parts

That get left behind

A point of light in the dark

Something to be mined

Weeding out the rows

Pinching off dead leaves

We can tend our insides too

Of things or bad beliefs

The more that we take off

Roots grow deeper still

Hard work on the inside

Tending is a skill

If we tend with love

Abundance it will show

Garden from the heart

Always love will grow

So if you want to see

Magnificence around

Tend your inner garden too

Learning from the ground

If you take that extra time

To care for what’s in need

Your inner landscape blooms

Lush without the weeds

I’m tending everyday

And learning as I go

That what you give attention to

Soon will finely grow

So I’m tending all the spots

That need some extra care

Knowing that abundance grows

With things that I can share

So tend today with love

Place sweet within your heart

You are worth the time my dear

Let

Tending

Be

Your

Art

by arley

Nothing and Everything

Nothing And Everything

You can be

In parts of you

Nothing and everything

Once you realize

More doors will open

The bells around you ring

You are bits of light

And dust

You are always whole

You are right and wrong

At times

You show so much soul

Don’t be fooled

That you can’t be

Everything you want

You can be

Light and dark

In stark contrast you taunt

You can write

And sing and laugh

To your hearts content

You can be Mother

Father Brother

Sister Friend

Everything

Is part of you.....

You can be

Sweet and true

Sunny skies of blue

The deepest darkness

Still can Dwell

Inside of you

You are made

To live this one

Sweet and tender life

So take a sip of water

From the coolest

Stream

Dance with

Wild abandon

Remember you can dream

Look straight through

All at once

Flying on the wing

Use the power

In your voice

Wildly you can sing

Maybe also

something still

Will suit your tender heart

Quiet places

Made for you

Comforts who you are

Nothingness

From your toes

To your golden crown

It’s ok to be quiet

calming all around

Who you are

Let’s you choose

Many bits to bring

You can be

In parts of you

Both

Nothing

and

Everything

Sometimes It’s Hard

Sometimes it’s Hard

Sometimes it’s hard

To feel the things

That sit inside your chest

Even though

Every time

You try your level best

To be all things

To everyone

Time and time again

I see your heart

Struggling and beating

To pretend

“That’s not true”

You’ll tell me

“Everything’s ok”

“Just buck up

I’ll get through it

Move on with my day”

But oh your heart is heavy

Dear

Come hush it for a trial

You don’t need

To hold so much

I’ll bear it for a while

It’s moments just

Like this you know

Where you could straight let go

Of your sweet

And heavy head

Your heart together sews

The greatest weaving

Works of art

Still and listen in

Trust that voice

Inside your being

Cellared in your skin

It whispers soft

And sweet to you

Longing you attend

See to the very

Underneath

Where it all began

Hooked in your soul

Where it got lost

Many moons ago

Got turned into

Some dark crooks

Where it roots to grow

Do not ignore

The meager dark

Hiding in the corners

Cloak it in

With tenderness

Helps to keep it warmer

It gets slight

With sympathy

You can show yourself

Do not ignore

Those dark spots

Or put them on a shelf

Sometimes it’s hard

To remind yourself

Load gentle on your heart

And soon enough

These precious things

Will

Never

Fall

Apart

The Topic Of Darkness

The Topic of Darkness

Did you know

That you’re allowed

To feel everything

Inside

Lots of times

We are told

To hide our

Darker side

Living in light

Is easier

Some refuse

To be

Bothered with

The dark emotions

On the inside

Seen

Because we get

Uncomfortable

When the dark abounds

We think that

In the darker parts

No light can be found

And that’s not

Really true

There’s not one without the other

Light cannot

Survive without a

Darker cover

So celebrate the parts

In shadow

And the bright ones too

Light and dark

Both have a place

Loved inside of you

Run Away

Run Away

Within the thick

Of trying to say

What’s on your mind

And the invalidation

Starts

You can choose

To listen to your heart

And run away

Run away from the holding

Of what once was

Because all the new is

On the horizon

You can say thank you

And know

Deep down you will never be understood

But it matters not

Now because

You are good

You are good

All parts of you

Head to toes

You don’t need their love or their

Words

Cause you can make it

I know that you can

You don’t need their acceptance

In order to land

In a spot that feels safe

And ready to expand

You don’t need their opinion anymore

You are growing each day

When you grow in all ways

You don’t need to

Runaway

by arley April 12 2021

I found this one hiding in the corners of my phone.

Sometimes I get my eyes on them and can catch them before they run

Sometimes they are good

Most times they are not

That’s what practice is

My writing has quickly become one of my most favourite things to do.

I’m taking a bit of a rest from music

So I can sit in this new inviting place

Before the pandemic

My body was burnt out

I played and sang for hours a week with my students. And I loved every minute of that I played and sang on the weekends too at the pubs.

It turns out that 30 hours a week of playing does not a fine body make

My hands ached

My neck was outta whack

I had developed tendinitis in my elbow And my shoulders (rotator cuffs) were pooched

My voice was strong

But everything else was starting to get really tired. My body needed a rest...Bad

So I’m taking that rest

And my body is healing itself

With lots of love. It has wisdom and knowledge and it knows what to do

I’m going to continue to rest and strengthen it until it tells me to jump in again fully....It feels good.....

Thank you to those of you who always show up in lovely ways for me as I stumble around and practice new things.

It does not go unnoticed

I know in my heart I have to

Listen to my body. And before long We will all be back together again

Maybe tucked away in my cozy studio Or At the local pub

I can hear it and I can feel it

And I’m getting so excited

Let It Die

Let It Die

Can we let it die

Can we let it go

Into the greater darkness

To be swallowed whole

Can we sing it to the sky

Let the wild unite

Can trust become the beacon

Can love become the light

Will you stand steady whole

Take it up with me

So I can calm the swells

On my rough and raging sea

Can I let it die for good

So the past can rest

Never feel the darkness

Pounding through my chest

That always calls and coddles me

“I am your comfort dear.”

“Don’t you remember?”

“I held you close and near?”

“I taught you all the things you know.”

“To make you fear the light.”

“Darkness is much easier.”

“My arms will hold you tight.”

“Stroke your head and tell you.”

“All lies what people do.”

“To hurt your heart in present.”

“The former...haunting you.”

“Forever it will weigh you down.”

“Like bags of heavy bricks.”

“Every time you make a lap.”

“I’ll add one more to it.”

“Load you down so you can’t see

The precious light of day.”

“So the past will grip you.”

“You’ll never have a say.”

“You will never let it die

As it become your face.”

“Chaos is your friend.”

“Untrusting is your place.”

So this voice is a lie

It wants you to believe

That your darkest tempest

Is something you will grieve

If you learn to let it die

It has no room to grow

Illuminating shadow things

Lets the realness show

And even when it’s hard my love

To know you let dark die

No holding onto past once done

Let it go a wry

Let it bend and weave and move

Like each breath you take

To sing a light and stoic tune

Heart and bone won’t break

Cause if you find that middle place

Where nothing’s wrong or right

There’s no living for the future

Only......

for tonight

The burdens they get lighter dear

Your mind has time to rest

Because the now is ever clear

And bursting out your breast

And that is where the answer lies

It’s in the here and now

So it’s time to erase

That furrow off your brow

Prospective future is unknown

To the naked eye

The past.....

all done......

behind us....

It’s alright

To

Let

It

Die

I wrote this one for us

All of us

And mostly because I listen way too intently to the trickster voice

I’m sure you know the one.....

It tells you lies about yourself that you start to believe over time.

And after a while you start to believe everything it says

I’m here to tell you it’s not the truth.

None of it.

You are enough and you are worthy of love, gentle and kind.

And if we can stay in the present

Right here Right now.....

Not in the past

Not in the future

Safety can exist in small spaces....

Like in this moment right now

And the next

And the next

Big Love

You Are (poem)

You are

You are both light and dark

A fullness in your heart

You are so many things

Not one be torn apart

You are the moonlight glow

The rays of sunshine too

You are the Arctic snow

And the ocean blue

You are the raging wind

Howling through the hills

You are a speck of dust

Held up and floating still

Let your valour shine

Bright your trusted youth

May YOU become your compass

Understand YOUR truth

Never please for pleasings sake

Know your gut instead

Let no one pull you under

With harsh words that are said

So

May the ground be there

To hold you when you walk

May the stars behold you

Carrying your song

Sometimes songs of sadness

Grief and strife abound

Or songs of spirit joy

Green growth from the ground

May you know that it’s ok

To talk what’s in your heart

Let no one tell you different

All stories have their part

To play in all around us

You are the gravity

Your voice it holds the pleasure

In raptured melodies

Today if you have nothing

The air....it flows in free

Remembering your nature

As rooted as a tree

Your arms above you wander

Reach up toward the sky

You are something tender

Let life not pass you by

And may you always ask

Those questions in your head

That help you understand

The universal thread

That ties you in so sweet

To all that you can be

You are a total miracle

That is what I see

So let today be yours

look deeply all around

Though the blessings small

You know it can be found

Right within your centre

Underneath your heart

A home inside

Where it can guide

You right

To

Who

*You

*Are

by arley

July 27th 2021

Photography Alison Gigliotti

A blessing for you today

A reminder that we are connected

To so many things beyond our capacity of understanding.

If we look around and see it all for what it is.....

To trust what our inner voice tells us

You are your own compass

You who show the way

It can just about make you well....

I have been up all night sitting with this one......

And it’s just for you

Now to sleep.....

Big Love

To You

And your giant heart

Hungry (poem)

Hungry

(A poem for all of us.....)

All my life

I have been searching

For the place

Where I can be

Satisfied

With exactly

What’s in front of me

When I look

In the mirror

Wishing she would change

Because her body

Never small

Hoped to rearrange

That her thighs

Would be thinner

Bone structure

Could be less

Belly big

Inner arms

Always slim obsessed

Every bite

That went inside

Calculated pain

Wishing she

Could Just live

Body held in vain

Aging soon

Fine lines created

Spending to erase

All the smiles

Shown in lines

So Gorgeous on her face

Do not wish away

My love

This body got you through

All of life’s

Stark Hardships

Darkness

And abuse

Now you....

On the other side

Rejoicing you could be

Wrap your hands

Tight around

Strong thighs

And sweet belly

Liquid as

That curvy hip

That luscious

Line

Does weave

A gorgeous pattern

Woven through

Your body

Can’t believe

Those

Arms that hold

So gently

Legs to wrap around

Soft belly to snuggle into

Two feet upon the ground

A letter to remember

You are more

Than your parts

A mystic magical being

A walking

Work of art

Knowing deep

That swish of hip

Loving belly roll

Each inch of you

Is goddess true

And something to

BEHOLD

You are beauty

Strength and Grace

Let no one

Tell you different

Loving on this changing self

NOT to be kept hidden

You are power

Magnified

Beauty full and true

Let your body be....

Right now

And focus in on you

See yourself

With gentle eyes

A loving kind full self

The voice you talk

To those you love

Speak it

To yourself

And hug deep

That soul within

That you ignored

With hunger

Let those lips

Be satisfied

Honouring the younger

Parts of you

That always knew

It was ok to feed

That gorgeous

Body made of earth

Sowing of the seed

So honour all the juicy bits

That wiggle when You walk

A symphony of softness

Admiration as you talk

So may you say

Just today

“I’ll worship all that’s me

Big and small

I love it all

And

My hunger

I will feed”

And then

Wrap your arms

Around your belly tight

Thankful for the gift

That is....

Cause

You

Were

Made

Just

Right

I wasn’t going to let this one go cause I wrote it just for me.....

Then

I read it again

And realized

It’s actually for every person I know

And for all the people I don’t know too

Socialized Misogyny is a total wanker......and I fight it everyday

And by writing this and sharing it

I want you to know

Me too.....

If your self talk and image have been in the gutter

Me too.....

I’m learning to love all of me

It takes so much time

This picture was taken 12 years ago

I thought I was......

Fat back then

It kinda breaks my heart

Because

In reality

I was really STRONG!!!!

And so absolutely stunning

I want to tell

Nay

YELL

To my younger self

“There was absolutely nothing wrong with you”

So please........

Take it from me

A gal who is 43 now and still trying to shake the shackles of control and conformity off.....

As my body shape shifts and morphs....

And moves even father away from the unrealistic beauty standards

I know

Love will come

So

Love yourself if you can

And if you can’t today

I’ll share mine with you

Falling Short (Blog)

This brown haired lass

Didn’t

Get the news

She was hoping for

Falling short....

I am very familiar

With this feeling

It takes a big huge bundle of

Vulnerability to show up to something

Knowing on the other side

A big NO might be waiting

And I have experienced this space

Often enough now

To work though it fairly fast

And come out the other side

With great heaps of clarity

Showing up with integrity

Showing up as yourself in your most vulnerable heart

In front of people who have the power to say yes or no

Based on your art, looks and personality

Is pretty dang gut wrenching

I’m not a fan.............at all........

It is all part of being an artist in any modality though.....

(No matter how hard I try to avoid it

It finds me

Hiding in the corners)

There will be a lot of fails

And No’s

And Not’s

And insecurities

And vulnerabilities

Not good enough’s

It all equals out to learning

And today and everyday

I’m learning so much

To all of my artist friends

Or people who want to be one

I commend your courage

And

Your great big hearts

For continuing to show up

No matter what

You are miraculous

Keep going

No matter how many no’s you receive

I can guarantee

Your art means something

And is more lovely and special than you know

People are very hard on each other

So

Find those gentle spaces in your own soul

Sit there.......

Take it all in

Because

There is no one quite like you!

Your art doesn’t need to be marked or judged

It’s special because you are

It’s just that simple

Big Love

First Show Of The Year (Blog)

First Show Of The Year

I haven’t played for a really long time

My fingers

Usually hard from hours worked

Have lost their calluses.

Yesterday my guitar somehow made its way downstairs.

I really don’t know how.

She just kinda.......Showed up......

I unzipped her from her case

And told myself to bust out a couple

Just for old times sake

A few strums turned into more

And couple of crappy recordings

That led to the decision

To take this rusty show on the road.....

Alllll the way out to the back yard

A few neighbours saw me inching my way out of the house with my

Guitar, water and wine in hand.

They waved happily

(I would have waved back but my arms were full and I was trying really hard to not be noticed)

I felt timid......and shy......

But I did it anyway...........

I put on an epic backyard show

For the birds

The plants

My very surprised sweetheart

(Who was so excited to hear me sing a few because it’s been a really long time)

And some unsuspecting neighbours who sat quietly out in their backyard and listened....

I was nervous

But I sang anyway

I started soft and sweet

By the end........

I was singing

Top volume

Letting the songs flow in like old friends that I haven’t seen for a very long time.

Rolling the wine over my tongue in between tunes.....

And just

Taking it all in

Remembering

Feeling

My voice

The way my guitar felt in my hands

And the way playing music makes me forget for just a moment.

It felt strangely new and good and totally loving.....

And I was so grateful.

Playing this year has been tricky to navigate.....

Online spaces feel glitchy and shakey.

Its a great tool

However

It kinda sucks the life outta the feeling for me.

Sucks the life out of the music.

It’s hard to explain

I hope I can one day

But for now.....

I see the wave on the horizon

The wave of playing again

The wave of asks

and shows and festivals

I don’t feel ready......

And that’s ok.....

I don’t know what my first show back is going to look like........

But I know it’s going to be

So good And So loving And So held

And So welcomed

I’m grateful for this guitar

I’m grateful for this voice

I’m grateful for you

Who Would You Be (poem)

Who Would You Be

Who would you be

If you stopped the talking

The chatter within

Your sweet head

Who would you be

If you halted the worry

Ran far away from

The dread

Who would you be

If you let yourself stand

Right in the middle

Of silence

Who would you be

Who would you be

If you let yourself rest

When your body

Is telling you too

Who would you be

If you let yourself eat

When your belly

Is asking for food

Who would you be

If you took a small chance

To catch the creative

Inside

Who would you be

If you told your truth

Never again

Would you hide

Who would you be

Who would you be

If you listened in hard

And heeded

Your voice from within

Who would you be

If you trusted your gut

Showing you

Where to begin

Who would you be

If you knew your brain

Could show you

What’s right and what’s wrong

Who would you be

If you got really honest

Your heart

Beating out its own song

Who would you be

You would be someone

Mired in truth

Let your voice

Soar to the sky

You would be someone

Others could trust

Your words of

Honesty fly

Your heart would be

Bigger large and so brave

Because of your

Bumps in the road

You would be

You would be light

Shiny within

All people know

How to trust

You would welcome them

Straight to your heart

Turn all their

Worries to dust

You would welcome

Telling the truth

Honest your

Bright shining arch

You would be someone

Others could turn to

When looking to

Light their own spark

You would be

You would be

Someone who

Listened a lot

Help others open the soul

You would be

Someone who knew

Their own limits

Making your own body whole

You would be

Someone who could

Stand In quiet

Letting it calm from within

You would be

Able to quell all the hate

The trouble that

Wants to begin

You would be

You could be

You can be

You are

Everything open

And able to start

You would be

You could be

You can be

You are

Positive motion set

Out from your heart

So let today warm you

My words fall away

Who would you be

If you

Only

Had

One

More

Day

Just finished this one that popped out yesterday.........

I’m practicing letting em go just as they are

Honouring all hearts today

Learning to be honest

Learning to help

Learning to listen

And learning that the truth is important

Learning to listen to a body that has been disconnected

Learning to hear it’s own wisdom

Learning to listen to others

Big Love

Imagination (poem)

Imagination

Imagination is to be

Without shooting

For Reality

All possible

Open doors

Ready waiting wanting more

Future moments

Expanded wide

Blinders set off to the side

Your brain is a

Mighty thing

Always planting seeds

Imagining

A better world

Filling all the need

If you would

Let it through

it’s under our control

Allow it time

To bubble up

Ripples in the soul

Remembering

That you have it

It’s a gift to you

It has potential

To weave itself

In everything you do

A world without

Imagination

Would be dark at best

File each other

Into line

Following the rest

There would be

No colours light

No creative spark

All our talents

Hid inside

Sheltered in the dark

Such a sad

Thought indeed

Life without day dreams

Or being able

To tell you

How much you mean to me

Imagination

Is a gift

Don’t ever let it go

If we lived

Without it

Our world

Would

Never

Grow

Imagination is one thing we can rest in when things around feel uneasy or unsteady.

Rich inner landscapes we can swim in

It’s where I feel most at home

I rely on it often now

There was a time where my imagination was dulled out

because

I allowed someone access to those deep spaces.

They got edited and silenced out of me

A good reminder for today

Those spaces are precious

And all yours......

I hope that you have a bit of space

To take a moment or two

Just for yourself

To dip your toes into the cool water

And let your imagination bloom

P.S

Thank You

to those of you who show up in these spaces.....

Make a comment or simply a like

It really means a lot

To any artist......

Speaking of artists!

These gorgeous earrings were made by @divingloonbeads

I haven’t taken them off

To The Man (poem)

To The Man

(To the man in the

White Volkswagen today.....

Wanting to park beside his girlfriend at Hillcrest

You are not a God)

So

Parking behind some others

Honking your HORN

Expecting them to move

So you can park beside your girlfriend

Was

So weird

and

not

cool

Yelling at them from your

Car window

To move over while

Blocking them in

Made you look like

A Racist.....

Yup there It is

(I hope to god more people saw this)

I rolled down my window

Stared you straight in the face

So as if to say

Today’s not your day

I told my new friends

Who were parked beside us

“You aren’t in the wrong”

He’s causing the fuss

I looked back at him

As he gave me a stare

Rampant with hate

I was fully aware

Of Who

EXACTLY

I Was Dealing With

I’ve seen that before

Closer the fit

Back in the days

I was married to it

The intense stare of a man who

Is so self important he uses intimidation.....

INTIMIDATION!!!!!!

To get his own way

I stared back at him

Right through his face

That’s not the right

Move for today

As I shook my head hard

And shouted “NO”

My friend who was there

Took out her phone

Because it was looking like we might need help

She shouted to him

“MY PHONES COMING OUT”

He yelled at us

As if we would listen

“ROLL UP YOUR WINDOW!!!!”

And

“MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS”

You stared me down

Shooting daggers from your eyes

Expecting us

To shut up and hide

To scare us.............

To scare me.......

My new friends tried to back out again.......

AND....

There YOU were

STILL

BLOCKING THEM IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We assured them again

Staying put would be best

Bud In the wagon

Was on the resist

His girlfriend could see

She got out of her car

Exchanged a few words and

They Finally

Drove

Off

I’ll say it again

You

ARE NOT

A GOD

YOU DID NOT OWN THAT

LONE PARKING SPOT

YOU WERE WRONG!!!!!

If you know me at all

If the whites of my eyes

Reveal themselves

TO A MUCH LARGER SIZE

It’s GAME freakin ON!!!!!

I will stare with intent

until my eyes bleed

I WILL TAKE NOTE

Of all nuance and need

AND

I’m not keeping quiet

If you hadn’t heard yet

SILENCE IS VIOLENCE

That you can bet

And

I hope to god your girlfriend runs as far away from you as she possibly can........

because

Judging by your attitude you are a

SMALL SAD MAN

And YOU win the

Gold Medal for being

THE BIGGEST NARC

AND RACIST

IN ALLLLLLLL

OF THE LAND!!!!!!!

Psssssssst

(THATS NOT THE MEDAL MOST PEOPLE WANT!!!!!!!!!

TRUST ME

YOU DON’T WANT THAT ONE.......)

DO BETTER PLEASE

To my new friends trying to get a look at the Giant

I’m sorry you couldn’t have some peace and quiet

I’m hoping you found a bit of silence in your day

And

To the Entitled Buddy in the

White Volkswagen

PLEASE

Get your head straight

I HOPE YOU ARE EMBARRASSED

YOU SAD LITTLE MAN

Moral of the story

Don’t be a racist

Will You Come Home (poem)

Will You Come Home

Will you come home

To yourself sweet one

Will you learn

How to dance

To sway to the music

Inside your gut

To give wild abandon

A chance

Will you look-

To the solemn beyond

Across the forever

And More

Will you come home

And kick off your troubles

Allow yourself in

Through the door

To see all the beauty

One life can bring

To learn to

Play it by ear

To be the conductor

Of your heart chorus

Learning to sing

Till you hear

The sweetest of chords

Brought altogether

“Louder” and “louder”

You shout!!!

This-your life song

Special you made

Let no one

Blow that flame out

For its easy (you see)

To allow all the pain

And the dark

To quickly close in

Till all around

There is no sound

No light in the pale

Grey and din

Some people you know

Will see your good light

And try to dull out

Your flame

And as you shine

They pull the bow back

Get ready to fire

And aim

To take you down

Right at the knees

To watch you sink

Into the mud

They are starving

To feast on your name

Teeth gnashing

And thirsty for blood

Don’t you give into

The darkest parts

You have strength

To fight your way through

You have been mired

In much tougher stuff

You know you are part

Of the truth

That keenly remembers

The hearth shies bright

The warmth again

Welcomes you home

The blaze sweet and tender

Will take the cold

And wring it

Straight out of your bones

So

Will you come home

To yourself sweet one

And try to recall

That you’re strong

Cupping you ear

Close to the wall

To hear the notes

To that song

That long ago

Begged you to dance

Arms to the sky

Wild and free

Your orchestras waiting

For you to conduct

The rest of your

Life’s symphony

Will you come home

To yourself sweet one

Remembering

You used to sing

Plucking the sounds

From deep underground

Placed right as a bow

On a string

Will you come home

To yourself sweet one

Remembering

Deep in your bones

If you can make music

That calls in your strength

You know you have

Found your way home

by arley

poetry by arley

Wednesday May 12 2021

Sending this one out to those of us who need that tiny reminder

That we can find our way home

These days it’s easy to loose sight of that inner compass that points us in the direction

Back to our centres

Back to the places we allowed ourselves

To play

To dance

To sing

It’s where the truth lies

This poem has so many stories that weave through it, I’m having trouble nailing down just one feeling.

And maybe I actually don’t have to explain this one at all......

Yeah.....I think that’s it....

Big Love