there is
a rare wild hollyhock,
whose
seeds
lie dormant
in the dark
belly
of the earth,
for up to one hundred years,
waiting. a sleeping fairytale.
and,
when
fierce
flames
set fire to
dreams
and
lives above
the soil,
she sends out
green tendrils of hope, after.
a verdant dove.
her
unshakeable
spirit,
singing
beauty
over
the
earth.
—after affliction. bloom.
.
.
© Liezel Graham 2018.
.
.
The Baker’s Globe Mallow, is a rare plant whose seeds require fire to germinate in the wild.
There are several other types of pyrophytic plants all over the world and many of them have beautiful blooms that are especially vibrant against a fire-damaged landscape.
And in this, I see incredible beauty.
.
.
.
.
#spilledthoughts #spilledink #iweepinink #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #poema #wotd #potd #bakersglobemallow #malvaceae #pyrophytic #afterthefire #hope #bloom #nevergiveup #wordsmith #womenwhowrite #shewritestruth
in my fridge,
in
the
shelf
that
is
designed
to
hold
cheese,
there
are
vials
of hope,
and
a kit
with
pre-filled
hormone,
that
will
bring you back
if you should ever
slip
too
far
away from me.
i,
keep
nocturnal vigils
with
foxes
and other
mothers
who have to
keep
on
keeping
on,
before the day breaks.
i,
punch
a calculator in my head
with
every
meal, and
i sing songs of
no, you cannot eat that now
and
please, you must drink this
now,
or, else...
and,
in this home
we
know
needles
and
we belong to the ones with
sharps containers
on
their
kitchen counters
where others
have
no
such
things.
and,
we
are
intimately
familiar
with
the fear that words can carry,
hypo
hyper
ketones
coma
death.
but,
i
also
know
the hope
in glass vials,
where
every
drop
holds life.
i,
know
that
cells might
forget
how
to
keep
you alive,
but
i
will
not
forget,
or
give
up,
and,
for
you and for life,
i am grateful.
—on mothering diabetes.
.
.
.
© Liezel Graham 2018.
.
.
.
.
Today, 14th November 2018, is World Diabetes Day.
.
.
In our home, we sing a different song and we fight a daily war that involves needles and insulin and fear — if I am honest.
.
.
But, we know hope and we are grateful for the simple miracle of insulin.
.
.
And, life.
.
.
.
.
#diabetes #worlddiabetesday2018 #worlddiabetesday #t1d #t1diabetes #diabetesmum #poetry #amwriting #health #insulin #poetsofinstagram #grace #hope #spilledink #iweepinink #spilledthoughts #indiepoet #suikersiekte
you,
are a life made of seasons.
do not apologise for the starkness of your winter.
—be gentle (with yourself).
.
.
© Liezel Graham 2018.
.
.
It takes a great deal of courage to live transparently.
We are encouraged to put on a brave face, a happy face — think positive, pray more, hand it to God.
But sometimes, these things do not lift the burden.
And, this is ok.
Learn to be gentle with yourself and the season you are in.
Learn to be gentle with others and the season they are in.
Sometimes, a kind word and quiet companship are more powerful and more healing than (well-meant) advice.
.
.
I have been scarce on Instagram lately. I have been writing longer poems that I share on my writer’s page on Facebook and on my website. Please, do join me there if you use Facebook,
Liezel.
.
.
.
.
#wordsofworth #spilledthoughts #indiepoetry #spilledink #iweepinink #liezelgrahampoetry #words #wordsmith #mentalhealth #seasonspoetry #indiepoetry #shewrites #dailyencouragement #poetry #poema #poetryisart #poetryisalive #instagram #livemoremagic #beautyinthemundane #beautyintheeveryday #grace #amwriting #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #womenofhope
