Facing Life

by Cheryl Merrick

Armed with only
a large shield,
I cowered behind
its protection,
til, supplied with a 
plethora of apt tools,
I stood forth to
courageously confront
the challenges of life.

Letting Go

by Cheryl Merrick

The time has come
for letting go
of hopes, dreams,
and yearnings
for a relationship
which can not be
in this life.

The time has come
for letting go 
of old lingering hurts,
for ending the manipulation,
and for ceasing to enable 
another to demean me.

Making Whole

by Cheryl Merrick

Though I sorrow 
for the prison you are in
and know you did not choose it,
I am powerless to release you.

Only by opening the door
to Him who stands and knocks
can you be freed.

Only He has the power
to make you whole 
and heal your broken
heart and mind.

Twisted Legacy

by Cheryl Merrick

Lacking a sense of self,
the child-mothers
cling to their daughters.

Frightened by a world
they have no skills
to cope with,
like drowning persons,
they frantically claw their way
up the souls of their daughters.

Lesson from the Elephant

by Cheryl Merrick

Firmly tied to a stake,

the baby elephant

struggles to free himself.

After days of effort, 

the exhausted baby,

surrenders to the belief 

that it can never 

free itself.

Finally grown,

though the adult elephant

now possesses 

immense strength,

it still allows itself 

to be bound by,

its now non-applicable,

childhood memories. 

Saying Goodbye- For Now

(Death of a Parent)
by Cheryl Merrick

How can I say goodbye?
This is too soon.
I'm not ready to live
without you.
How can I go on
without your support?

You, who have unfailingly been there
loving and supporting me,
have left an emptiness in my life
where you have always been.

When I look into the mirror,
how can I not be filled with 
reminiscences of you?
How can I not see reflected 
the heritage you have given me?

A Candle

by Cheryl Merrick

Most flames join
the blazing hearth fire 
adding to 
its merry warmth,

But a few choose 
solitary candlesticks
bringing light to even
the darkest night.

A Poet's Longing

by Cheryl Merrick

In a quiet room with a comfy chair
and large windows overlooking the world,
I found my poet's heart.

Within is a craving to experience 
the hours of intense focus,
and the exquisite beauty 
in the flashes of inspiration 
which connect me to the divine.

I long to be warmed 
by the energy of creating,
and to, at last, enjoy that tender moment
when I gently hold my new insight lantern high
filling it with light and hope,
then watch as it slowly rises 
to sparkle in the world's dark night sky.

Restricted or Nurtured?

by Cheryl Merrick

Feeling restricted 
and concluding that my dreams
were being frustrated,
I begged to be freed.

If only I could get out more
and do the things
"normal" people do,
Then I would be happy.

Years passed
as I quietly sat in my home
longing to be out,
but occasionally,
when I'd be "out and about"
for a few days, 
all I'd feel was an intense longing
to be still and rest.

Being Me

by Cheryl Merrick

Looking through others' eyes,
I tried to be as they saw me:
"sweet little Sherry"
endlessly giving love and support;
the ever "busy homemaker"
rushing around nurturing everyone;
or the "friendly neighbor"
chatty and helpful.

Continuing my act,
I'd push myself 
trying so hard to make myself into
what I thought others wanted and needed;
till, exhausted, my facade falls away
revealing a sensitive idealist
who thrives in those quiet moments
when I touch the heavens
and feel its power directing my words. 

Sunlight

by Cheryl Merrick

Into the cold dark corners

where despair and fear cringe,

Sunlight floods

filling my soul with hope

and surrounding me

with the joyful warmth 

of His love. 

The Law of the Harvest

by Cheryl Merrick

So many times,
reading about
sowing and reaping, 
I bravely reached out
creating new friendships.

But there is more to this law.
Now, sensing of the justness
of the Law of the Harvest,
I no longer surrender
my harvest to another.

Heads Up!

by Cheryl Merrick

Clumsily, I walk the earth.
Awkwardly, I try to do tasks
as their heads wag 
in knowing "sympathy".

Flustered, I try to remember 
so many details.
Exasperated, I try to get 
all the steps in proper order
as their heads wag 
in knowing "sympathy".

Beaten down and overwhelmed
by all my "inadequacies",
I finally remember who I am,
and spreading my wings,
rise into the sky
as their heads look up awe.

Turning on My Light

by Cheryl Merrick

Long have I existed,

conforming to the pull

for momentary harmony,

mirroring back to others

what they wanted to see.

Dejected, I sulked

in this semi-darkness

longing for understanding

and for the approval 

to share my light.

Finally, recognizing that

darkness can not 

comprehend the light,

I resolve to be 

who I am and bravely

turn on My Light.

Being Healed

By Cheryl Merrick

For years I pled
to immediately be healed.
When it didn't happen,
I resignedly accepted
my "learning experiences"
and wearily plodded through life.

Now, after nearly 50 years
of unhappily bemoaning
my burden of "poor health", 
I'm grateful that my requests
for the strength to perform
endless homemaking details
were not granted.

Deepening Understanding

By Cheryl Merrick

Reading through my required 
scripture assignment,
I merely sip the Spirit,
but only when 
I read to understand,
taking time to ponder
related scriptures,
do I truly drink of 
the waters of life.

What Have I Chosen?

by Cheryl Merrick

Rushing through the day, 
I exclaim, 
"There is so much to do--
Meals to prepare,
Kids to take places,
Errands to run, and
House to clean!"

At the day's end,
I collapse into bed,
tired and discouraged,
waking only to face,
another day of the same.

Wearily, as I plead through prayer
for the strength to do all my tasks,
the words, "But one thing is needful:
and Mary hath chosen that good part",
come to my mind,
leaving me to consider,
"What part have I chosen?"

A Delicate Balance

by Cheryl Merrick

Often Falling over,
I struggle to find my balance;
Too much time with people,
and I am drained of energy;
Too much time focused within,
and I lose my voice.

Ever having to choose 
Between socializing,
 and loneliness;
Between empathizing 
 and analyzing;
Between creating in my mind,
 and sharing my insights with others;
Between knowing others,
 and knowing myself;
Between helping others,
 and replenishing my energies;
Between doing details, 
 and generating solutions;
Between the outside world,
 and the inside world;
I must choose
as I seek my own
delicate balance. 

Comparing Apples to Oranges

by Cheryl Merrick
As the oranges declare
that having a thick skin
is the most practical way to be,
I despair aware of my own thin skin.

The bounce competition was a nightmare.
Not only did it not make me juicer,
but instead left me badly bruised.

Out in the Stillness

by Cheryl Merrick

When I was young, 
people who were quiet
were considered "defective".
They were seen as
malformed extraverts, 
"cold and withdrawn".
It was even whispered 
that they were "mentally ill."  
"Good", "mature" people were
friendly extraverts -- 
only they were truly loving.

This Year I'll Be Me

by Cheryl Merrick

Many years ago 
when my children were young, 
I loved being a mom/teacher.
I loved sharing new ideas 
with my children
and watching them develop
their special talents.

What I did not enjoy was 
all the innumerable details.
Though the kids helped,
I often felt overwhelmed
and depressed by all the
places to go, details to remember,
food to cook, clothes to wash,
and things to clean.

You Can't Get There from Here!

by Cheryl Merrick

I sit there staring 
at the blank screen--
mind empty.
Why is nothing coming?

I have waited all day 
for this moment. 
I did all my household tasks;
I answered all my emails;
and now when the time
has arrived--nothing!

For a while,
I sit there quietly, 
then looking up 
I finally know that
You can't get there from here.