Some People

by Cheryl Merrick
Some people feel that,
"Life is a banquet, and most
poor suckers are starving to death!"
They pack each moment with as much
"livin'" as possible for,
"There's music to play, places to go,
and people to see!"
Their parties are filled with good food,
and the laughter of many people.
These are the enjoyers of life.

Other choose the quiet path
"less traveled by".
Deeply breathing in the scent of fall,
they savor the soft crunch of leaves under foot
 and the distant call of birds,
as they walk along absorbed in contemplation.
These are those who search for the meaning of life.

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.

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."

Too Many and Not Enough

by Cheryl Merrick

Too many changes
Too many questions
Too many new ideas
Too many problems to solve
and not enough time for him
to recharge

Not enough time to study
Not enough time to write
Not enough time to ponder
Not enough time to relax
Too many details consuming her
time and energy

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.

Moot Point

by Cheryl Merrick

To run and play
all day
in the sun
is fun,
unless you’re
a fish

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.

Horses and Eagles

by Cheryl Merrick

The horses gallop together,
     strong and beautiful,
their hooves firmly striking the earth,
     all senses ever alert,
living fully in the moment.

Overhead, a lone eagle soars
     in a world where unseen currents
     lift him effortlessly to new heights.

The horses and eagle gaze upon each other,
     neither wishing to trade
     their connection to the earth,
     nor their view from the sky.

Conversation

by Cheryl Merrick

Some mount the stage,
taking their turn
to deliver their soliloquy.

While others rush onto the court,
enjoying a rousing game
of short volleys.

Verbal Badmiton

by Cheryl Merrick

Hitting the birdie over the net,
I’d wait for the return.
It didn’t come.
So I’d send another, and another, and another,
Til I saw him ankle deep in birdies.
He’d give me a strained smile.
Though obviously bored and stressed,
he valiantly held his position.
At last I’d leave the court,
frustrated with our attempts
at communication.

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

Love Languages

by Cheryl Merrick

What language do you speak?
Do you show love by baking a special pie?
Not I
Do you build a cabinet or repair a drip?
Do you play ball together
or go to sporting events?
Do you listen to concerts
and attend plays?
Do you climb mountains and go camping?
Do you empathically listen
and offer advice?

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

Of Microscopes and Telescopes

by Cheryl Merrick

With unerring
attentiveness,
you fix upon
the earth,
noticing details.

Opposites

by Cheryl Merrick

How can he be so different from me?
Was this really meant to be?
I’ve heard opposites attract
but isn’t this carrying it too far?