Sun and Candles

by Cheryl Merrick

I tried to fit
into the system,
or maybe I just
tried to fit it to me.

I wanted to help
children grow–
and I did.

I want to continue
helping children–
and I will.

Sharing

by Cheryl Merrick

Mine to share are gifts
that cannot be touched or held,
the glimmering, ethereal gifts
of the mind and heart.

Through intense empathy,
I’m able to sense potential
mentoring it into fruit.

From hours spent
in study and thought,
I draw out solutions to problems

From prayer and meditation
I discover principles
to light our way.

And so, in loving concern,
I share my faith
and hope for the future.

Personality

by Cheryl Merrick

Potentials
Progression

Perceptive
Penetrating

Personal
Persuasive

Poetry
Prose

Appreciating Differences

by Cheryl Merrick

Young, still focused
on myself
I naively, yearned for
reassurance of my worth
in sameness
by trying to remake
my husband, mother, children,
friends and neighbors
in my image

Now, many years later,
as I see my children
wanting to “improve” me.
I just smile and remember.

At last, accepting my own uniqueness,
I can finally truly appreciate
other’s differences
and thoroughly enjoy
just being me.

Mirror Image

by Cheryl Merrick

She never pauses. She always interrupts.
She stands too close. She hangs back too far.
She speaks too loudly. She needs to speak up.

She should change.

She runs around too much. She should get out more.
She is inefficient. She needs to get busy.
She need to plan more. She needs to be more social.

She should change.

She talks too superficially. She is much too broody.
She needs to share her She should be more outgoing
feelings with others. with people.

She should change,
           And become more like me.

Living Life

by Cheryl Merrick

Some spontaneously enjoy
each sensation
as they move through life
with boundless enthusiasm.

While others,
with careful deliberation,
   evaluate life,
finding deep satisfaction
in bringing order and security to the world.

Accepting Him

by Cheryl Merrick

Have I been too depressed,
dependent, and demanding?
Have I just not accepted him
for who he is?
He is a detail person.
He is happy dealing with facts
and doing concrete things.
He feels uncomfortable with expressions of emotion,
but wants some physical closeness
and silent companionship.

Uniting

by Cheryl Merrick

His ability to see possible problems
Her ability to see possible solutions

His strength and stamina
Her vision and faith

His attentiveness to details
Her focus on the whole picture

Should

by Cheryl Merrick

He “should . . .”,
She “should . . .”

We clumsily navigate through marriage
entangled in our fantasies
like ribbons gone mad
tripping our feet and
hindering our progression.

Instead of enjoying each other
for who we are,
we fret and somehow feel cheated.
Our mate “should” be more perfect.

Seeing Love

by Cheryl Merrick

With limited vision
I didn’t see his love.

I only saw love as
the sharing of thoughts and feelings

As I began to see his love,
I was amazed
for it was all around me:---
in the front step he
repaired so I wouldn’t fall,
in the encouraging me
to take classes at college
though we had little money
and in many daily small things
like carrying in the groceries
and emptying the trash

All I had to do
was open my eyes
and see his love

His Element

by Cheryl Merrick

Let him deal with details.
It’s his element.

He will know success
as he precisely preforms
and efficiently achieves.

Allow him to handle minutia.
He does it astoundingly well.

Frustration or FulFillment

by Cheryl Merrick

Longing for close family relationships

Seeking understanding and acceptance

Needing to improve the world

Hoping to do meaningful service

Feeling ideals and goals thwarted

Frustration slowly drained my energy

and destroyed my health

Accepting others responsibility

for their own lives

Enjoying and nurturing

all the positive relationships I do have

Accepting who I am

and sharing my talents

Influencing others for good

Enjoying being out in the world

Fulfillment energized my soul

and filled my life with contentment

Frustration or Fulfillment

the choice was always mine

Marthas

by Cheryl Merrick

In a society of Marthas,
where expectations are defined
     by their strengths,
a homemaking standard is set.

Required are exhausting hours
     of cooking, cleaning, and errand running.

Marching

by Cheryl Merrick

Like a call to arms
“It must be done!”
Is shouted from each front door.

Inside each busy, orderly home,
they begin their day
of caring for their superfluous possessions,
and managing their complicated schedules.

Letting Go!

by Cheryl Merrick

I thought my husband wouldn’t want to do it.
I thought it was all my responsibility,
and feared failing in my duty if I didn’t do everything myself.
Pridefully, I thought only I could keep up our home;
that only I knew what needed to be done and how to do it.

Filled with a desire to feel competent, independent, 
in control of my life, and needed,
I despairingly compared my efforts 
with all the cumulative accomplishments of other women.

Half Empty or Half Full?

by Cheryl Merrick

Do I see the cup as half empty,
     Or half full?
Am I grateful for what I can do,
     Or am I resentful of my limitations?
Do I feel thankful for all the kind things
     My husband does for me,
     Or feel frustrated about what he doesn’t do?

Appreciate

by Cheryl Merrick

Remembering that,

though I’m tired and ache,

It could always be far worse,

I pray to appreciate

all I have

for being able to move and see

to think and remember

to laugh and serve

for being alive

Letting Go of Fantasies

by Cheryl Merrick

With an acceptance
which comes from
years of love,
we finally allow
the other to
be themselves.

Appreciating his passion
for projects,
I no longer expect him

Appreciating Differences

by Cheryl Merrick

Young, still focused
on myself
I naively, yearned for
reassurance of my worth
in sameness
by trying to remake
my husband, mother, children, 
friends and neighbors
in my image

Appreciation

by Cheryl Merrick


Wishing for someone like ourselves,
but needing a complement 
to bring us wholeness,
we narrowly squint at our mate,
enumerating his “faults”.