The Undertaking

She views the world through autumn eyes

that on this day are cast in gray

as winter tries to tip the scale…

Weeks and months and years have passed

to leave eroded and refined

each moment lived; each bend and turn

etched in crease and smile line.

   And always playing in her mind

   the words that paint the world she sees—

   the people met, emotions felt;

   thoughts that bend and twist within

   and beg escape from their confines

When did such purpose come about—

a want, a need to somehow share

and bare the colors of her soul…

when even casual observation

implores discovery on a page.

   And the words…. always ruminating,

   to form and re-form, while creating

   background music heard by one.

   You’ll see her jot a line or two

   on any scrap or sticky note,

   or back of envelope will do.

   And on rare times when words align

   to culminate with her inflection

   she’ll deem a poem or piece complete

   or at very least well- honed

   to “acceptable” perfection.

She sees her world through autumn eyes

as winter creeps up on her trail.

Time has deepened tone and voice

—so often lost within the forest

of other voices in the chorus—

becoming still as life assails

till call to write once more prevails;

another story whispers, waiting,

   the challenge in the undertaking.

© Ginny Brannan 2016

This was written in 2016, and published in the collection: Poetry as a Spiritual Practice: Illuminating the Awakened Woman—a collection of poems by the Journey of the Heart Poets available at Amazon.com