Walking Through a Crowd

by Cheryl Merrick

Feeling your distress
     I cringe in pain.
You are hurting
     and I can not help.

You try to hide it
     behind a strained smile,
     benumb it with activity,
     or an insulate it with fat,
but you do not feel loved.

You dress to please & impress;
     slinking in your high heals & short shorts,
     or strutting in you bodacious beard & chains,
but love will not be bought.

As I see you trying to grasp happiness
     in a multitude of ineffectual ways,
my heart aches.

Turning Around

by Cheryl Merrick

Filling my time with
study, writing, and contemplation,
I happily enjoy my day,

Occasionally taking a break
from the world of thought,
to accomplish some task,
then returning again
to my element.

But the question remains;
Is my life upside down
or finally
Right side up!

Expectations

by Cheryl Merrick

Their activity is “work”
while mine is merely “play”

They accomplish much,
but I “do nothing” all day

Their work has value
Mine has none

Defining “work” as mere movement
they see themselves as “busy”
while I am “lazy”

Published!

by Cheryl Merrick

Excitedly, I gaze on my story.
There, printed in the Ensign,
is the story of my first experience
as a college student with
family prayer.

I wonder will it inspire someone?
Will sharing my experience
help their life to be better?

Having the privilege
to be a part of an intern project article
written by a BYU ward member
has made this fifth time to be published
something extra special.

Poem Writing

by Cheryl Merrick

Conduit for inspiration
Journal for thoughts
Closure for feelings

Voice of intuition
Expression of creativity
Anvil of ideas

Gift opened and shared

Painting

by Cheryl Merrick 

Like paint
    I apply the layers of words,
choosing just the right
    color and shade,
arranging them carefully
    to form my picture.

New Writing Options

by Cheryl Merrick

To express ideas
articles and reports
To share experiences
Sherry’s Stories blog
To encourage others
notes and letters
To inspire
poems and VT messages
To convey information
adrenal & teaching blogs,

New Song

by Cheryl Merrick

Though I say it,
they won’t hear it,
But put in rhyme
they listen every time

Use a metaphor
and like a new song
it won’t be long
Til they smile
at my style
and carefully consider
my philosophical  ponderings

6/22/13

Like Stew

by Cheryl Merrick

Like Stew
a poem
needs to
aged for a
day or two

Insights

by Cheryl Merrick

Inspiration
in poetic form

Recorded
and acted upon

Daily Exercise

by Cheryl Merrick

Sitting still
I exercise my mind
with paper and pencil

Sleepy thoughts
becoming trim and firm
as they struggle
with weights of words

Composing

by Cheryl Merrick

Savoring sounds,
feeling rhythms,
perceiving patterns,
the poem is composed.

Rising

by Cheryl Merrick

Like bread
a poem
needs time
to rise




12/16/07

Coming Back

by Cheryl Merrick

Like coming back
to a dinner long cold,
is returning to old
unfinished poems

12/11/07

A Poem

by Cheryl Merrick

A poem
is an idea
with all the chaff
blown away.

A poem
is the essence
of a thought
stripped clean.

A poem
is life
boiled down
clear and pure.

A Poem a Day

by Cheryl Merrick

A poem a day
keeps the psychiatrist away.

Obvious

by Cheryl Merrick

As  I choose ONE
most important project
and work on it early
when I have the time and energy,
I’m finally getting
the things I want done.

Now there is no need to push,
because I’m not behind.
I’m astounded at how much
time and energy
I’ve  wasted
by not being focused.

As I pray for help
I’m being blessed
with ideas on how to change.

With His help
It all seems so simple
and obvious,
now.

Blogging

by Cheryl Merrick

Like drawing upon the sand
my thoughts disappear,
wiped away
with each incoming wave of details
as I "get to work". 

"What does it matter?"
I disparagingly mumble, 
"No one cares about my 'great thoughts' anyway".