Reframe

Two perspective shifting poems

Hello! I wrote in depth about my relationship with surprise/the unexpected in my January blog hop post, Don’t Need to Know. Instead of rehashing these ideas, I thought it would be fun to play with two surprising poetry structures for this month’s blog hop on the theme of surprise.

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First up, I have a poem on depression—that sneaky, lying jerk that I fortunately haven’t dealt with in over a decade when I had undiagnosed OCD. This poem is adapted from the brilliant Lindsay Sledge’s poem, Just a Mother that appeared on Coffee + Crumbs.

I am useless

So please don’t try to convince me

That a person can change

Everyone knows

Bad days last forever

You cannot persuade me that

I will feel joy again

The truth is

I have nothing to offer the world

I refuse to presume

My suffering is not my fault

I assure you

The mistakes I’ve committed

Overshadow

My humble contributions

I have learned that

It is possible to be beyond repair

You can’t tell me

There is beauty to come

I am confident that

My life is over

I no longer believe

I can make a difference

Now re-read the poem in reverse.

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My second poem was inspired by K.J. Ramsey’s post Things Your Pastor [Probably] Won’t Tell You About Pain.

I was struck especially by her point that “Honesty about pain—not positivity nor praise—is the path to peace.” I have found this to be true in my own life. I used to think I needed to praise God in all things—and truly feel grateful and praiseworthy in every moment—or that was sin. I have learned disappointment and pain and resentment is not sin, but a part of being human. We only further wound ourselves when we try to bypass or dismiss these feelings. Like K.J., I have discovered that joy and gratitude always find me, unbidden, after I allow myself to the space to be honest.

On to the poem:

I am hurting, pain throbs with each breath

–But God is good!

I am scared, worst case scenarios spiral in my mind

–But it could be worse!

I am defeated, ready to give up

–But I will focus on the positive!

I am doubting, unsure of myself, my God, the future

–But I will trust!

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Let’s try this again

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I am hurting, pain throbs with each breath

–And God draws near to the broken hearted

I am scared, worst case scenarios spiral in my mind

–And God can handle my fear

I am defeated, ready to give up

–And defeat is not failure

I am doubting, unsure of myself, my God, the future

–And doubt leaves room for faith

I am willing to be honest about my pain and disappointments

This is trust, too

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I’d love to know if either poem spoke to you. What’s surprising you lately?

This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series "Surprise."