Living from the Inside Out

by Cheryl Merrick

Tapping from deep within,

I feel a warmth, a peace,

a surety of what is right,

true, and real forever.

I sense a knowledge of

what is right for me

to do at that moment.

This is a strength

which can not come

from "to-do" lists,

or from other's opinions,

but comes from within me,

like a bell that rings true. 

It is my anchor to truth,

to the great "big picture",

to what was, is, and will be.

It is more than an emotional feeling.

It is more than reasoned logic.

It is a knowing

that comes from deep within

as I listen to the Spirit

and allow myself to live 

from the inside out.

 

A Poet's View of the World

by Cheryl Merrick

Oh, the noise, noise, noise!*

How can they live in a cacophony of noise,

where energized by interteraction,

they stand too close and speak too loud, 

as their conversation dissolves into a jumble of sound?

How can they breathe smothered in suffocating perfumes,

and the overwhelming odors of foods?

How can they withstand the constant assault

of beeps, dings, and alerts?

In a world constantly moving, how can they endure

the dizzying blur of shapes rushing in upon them?

 I can not. 

See "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr Seuss another quiet, creative person who identified with the Grinch

A Poet's Life

 by Cheryl Merrick

In a place where time has no meaning,
free from the constraints of our finite world,

where possibilities are endless,

my spirit soars

warmed by the light of truth,

experiencing the meaning of patterns below,

creating beauty, I rise into

the hope of the Son.

Walking in Strength

by Cheryl Merrick
Amid confusion,
lost in anger,
hobbled by fears,

a pure note is found.

Joined by others

a song warms my heart

filling it with hope and love.

Peace and purpose

now guide my 

carefully taken steps.

Balancing

my needs and others,

thought and action,

my soul is nourished.

Til at last, I walk in strength,

my light held high,

my errand to fulfill. 

Gazing at Old Photos

by Cheryl Merrick

Seeing my younger self,
I remember when life

stretched endlessly before me

so full of possibilities. 

Filled with sparkling optimism,

I faced forward gazing

into the vastness of my future.

Now, fifty years have passed.

With knowing eyes,

I look back at my younger self

and smile. 

Day Dance

By Cheryl Merrick

Filled with awareness,
my day dance begins

Stillness and Motion

Inside and Outside

Thinking and Doing

Self and Others

Creating and Maintaining

Active and Reflective

Being and Connecting

Feeling and Sensing

Dreams and Projects

Hopes and Goals

All That Really Matters

By Cheryl Merrick

Though I can no longer hike,
I have fun on my electric bike.

Though I can no longer sing or dance,

I am still enchanted by music.

Though my eyes tire quickly,

the words others read to me

nourish my soul.

Though I do not have the energy to travel,

I enjoy our home area and others' trips.

Though I exhaust quickly with household chores,

I delight in the time I have to create.

Though I stumble in this world of reality,

I soar in the realm of imagination.

To my husband on our 49th Valentine's Day by Cheryl Merrick

You are my safe                     shelter from storms

 You are the quiet peace            of a desert landscape

You are the sun breaking               through the clouds

You're the comforting warmth                 of a fire on a rainy day

You are the dependability of               waves returning to the shore

You are the routines which                 provide structure to my life

You are "the listening ear" and the     "caring" heart which supports me

You are the sunshine of hope when my parade has been rained upon

You are the one who knows me better than anyone else and still loves me

You are "the listening ear" and the "caring" heart which supports me

You are the financial manager who makes sure the bills are paid

You are the person who makes sure the little details get done

You are the "Jack-of-all-trades" who keeps our home repaired

You are my best admirer and most enthusiastic cheerleader

You are the "voice of reason" keeping me tethered to reality

You are the implementer who makes my dreams come true

You are my associate in championing the true and good

You are the supplier of the qualities and skills that I lack

You are the "rocks" which fill the "holes" in my head

You are the rock which anchors me in the present

You are my "patron" supporting me as I create

You are the assurance which quiets my fears

You are the one I've chosen above all others

You are my advisor who keeps me balanced

You are my partner and best friend

You are my love and 

I am yours

No Reflection

by Cheryl Merrick

I make a comment
and the room suddenly quiets.
After an awkward moment,
all resumes as before.

I mention I write,

again the embarrassed silence,

followed by a change of subject.

Could I really think so differently

that others have no idea 

how to respond to me?

Sharing my talent,

I watch as others shrink away,

uncomfortable by the unfamiliar,

so that I see no reflection of me

in their eyes.

Inauguration Reflections

by Cheryl Merrick

Like a refreshing breeze

over a parched land,

peace soothes my soul

and hope lights my way.

Words of faith, 

Acts of service, and

Inclusion of blacks and women,

assure me that our

needs will be addressed.

Feeling the warmth of relationships

between people of different races

and between different political parties,

all united in love and hope,

proclaim that Healing has begun.

My thoughts after the 2021 Inauguration of President Biden

A Time for Healing

by Cheryl Merrick

Now is a time for healing - for uniting

A time to remember our shared heritage

and to cherish and protect our differences

Now is a time to put aside political squabbles

and remember the democratic ideals

upon which our nation is founded

Now is the time to still our cries of injustice

and stand behind our new President

so that we can move forward with hope

Now is the time to pledge our best efforts

into making "The American Experiment"

a beacon of liberty in a dark world

Now is the time to prayerfully, and humbly,

remember, and live, so that we can truly be

one nation united under God 

A New Year 2021

 by Cheryl Merrick

Many are rejoicing today

hoping that the New Year

will bring an end 

to their pandemic woes,

and that the mere turning

of a calendar page

can bring a return 

to our old "normal" life.

During this past year 

some have lost family members,

and we have all felt the longing

to be with those we love

and just give them a hug.