Cutting Apron Strings

by Cheryl Merrick

Oh! The pain!
Doesn't she love me anymore?
How can he just ignore me?
Why doesn't she even call?

We were so close.
Have I done something wrong?
He passes by me as if I wasn't even there,
and spends his time with others.

Of Ants and Grasshoppers

by Cheryl Merrick

I am an Ant.
I work

I am a Grasshopper.
I play

I am an Ant.
I am responsible.
I make things.

For Us

by Cheryl Merrick

He shops, cleans, does laundry,
and pays bills "for us".
Allowing me the quiet time
I need to study and think,
 so I can write "for us".

A Writer's Life

by Cheryl Merrick

I thought I'd write in my spare time,
perhaps late at night
when everyone is in bed
and all my "work" is done.

So dutifully I pushed though the day,
doing all the little things which "must be done",
until I found myself too exhausted to write
when evening finally came.

Life Fulfilled

by Cheryl Merrick

Simple food

Simple home

Few things, much time

Few commitments, much love

Quiet and peace

Sunshine and beauty

My spirit nourished

A thought shared

A person inspired

My daily work done

I rest calm and still

My life Fulfilled

The Perfectionist Wife

by Cheryl Merrick

Filled with anxious concerns
each day I queried,
"Have you read the scriptures?
"Did you pray today?"
My husband's terse, annoyed reply of, "No",
Escalated my fears.
"Would we be a forever family?"
My attempts at subtle encouragement
failing miserably,
I anguished over my husbands "failings".
Sure that our children would be corrupted
by their father's deficient example,
I despaired.

Granddaughter at 6 Months

by Cheryl Merrick

Smiles of recognition

Thoughtful glances

Shared giggles

Proudly sitting up by herself

Rolling over is mastered

Holding on tightly, she stands

Her few steps hinting of future independence

Fascinated by life

She explores her world

Carefully considering sounds and tastes

Watching children play

Grabbing and shaking all within her reach

Chewing and sampling all that will go into her mouth

Till finally, snuggling into the arms of those who love her,

Her excitement gives way

To exhausted sleep

Serving Differently

by Cheryl Merrick

Church leaders suggested we ask the Lord,

“Who should I help?”

Thoughts filled my mind of writing on my

“Meditations of a Mormon Mom” blog

And of making a new blog to help people

use the LDS.org website.

Then shaking my head sadly, I thought,

“ But that’s not service.”

Suddenly, these new words were

Impressed in my consciousness,

“I have given you different gifts.

 You will serve differently."

Comment on recent Posts

I have just put in all of my old poems. Many I wrote twenty or thirty years ago. I smile now as I see how I struggled with accepting who I am, with being me. It has been challenging having been given a different personality and gifts, but now I stand happily with my head firmly in the clouds - writing, pondering the meaning of life, doing research, and teaching. Finally, I no longer feel I must be a busy homemaker, or bustling professional woman. I appreciate others gifts and no longer expect them to understand or appreciate mine. I am now content watching the clouds moving across the sky, and being who I am. 

Fable of the Chickens

a fable by Cheryl Anne Merrick  written about 1978

Once there was a small chicken. This chicken had lived alone in the field all her life.  One day she saw a whole flock of chickens near a building. Though she was scared, she flew over near them. She was so happy! Now she wouldn’t be lonely ever again! All the other chickens would be her friends, and they would have so much fun together, or so she thought.
But by evening the small hen was not a joyful bird. In a lone corner of the barnyard she sat, a small huddle of dejected feathers. “What went wrong?” she asked herself over and over again. She remembered how she had raced down among the other chickens. How excited she had been about all the seeds to eat. Oh! how she had raced around dashing and grabbing seeds. What fun it had been to beat the big older chickens, and baby chicks to each grain of wheat! When the pan was filled with water, she pushed and shoved and was the first to drink. How proud she was of herself! All the chickens must be impressed with her. She was so strong and fast! Much, much faster than all those older hens and little chicks.