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

I Made it!

by Cheryl Merrick
Stepping into the large hall,
I am bombarded by the
movement, noise, and feelings
of a multitude of people.

Tightening my muscles,
I will myself to stand still
and not bolt out of the room.

Seeing a couple of older women I know,
I make myself walk over
and chat for a few moments.

Immovable

by Cheryl Merrick

Like waves endlessly crashing
upon the stone cliff,
the mother's relentless taunts
selfishly strive to pull her daughter,
and all that she has, out to sea - to her.

The Matriarch,
claiming that she has the "right" to all family resources,
and that it is her children's duty to meet her needs
and enable her to live in her "deserved" affluent lifestyle,
relentlessly pounds upon her daughter
trying to use the love and faith of her daughter
as weapons to enslave her.

The Road

by Cheryl Merrick

Those on the road
rush home each evening
to waste their time,
either sitting mesmerized in front of their TV,
 or flitting from post to post,
caught like moths in their computer's glow.

Each morning they arise and begin another day
stuffed with fast food, rush hours, throbbing music,
appointments, lessons,  work, and shopping
till their closets bulge with unneeded things,
their heads spin and their eyes glaze.

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.

Why I Need to Write

by Cheryl Merrick

I need to write because it is my element
It is how I relax
It keeps me from becoming over-tired
Writing helps clarify my thoughts
It strengthens my spirit
and helps me come closer to the Lord
It helps me to have the Holy Ghost with me
It is my responsibility to magnify the talent I have been given
Writing is a gift to be shared
It is how I inspire others and share the Gospel
It brings my husband and me closer
Writing is my journal
It is how I express my thoughts
I use it to work out problems,
which brings peace to my soul
Writing is how I express feelings and love.
It is how I be me.

Weary

by Cheryl Merrick

I am weary of people who,
in their immaturity,
expect me to shoulder their consequences.
I am weary of people who,
making poor choices,
expect me to make it right.
I am weary of people who,
expending no effort,
expect me to make them happy.
I am weary of people who,
neglecting to plan,
expect me to make exceptions for them.
Yes, this is a weary load,
But it is not mine to carry.

End of an Era

by Cheryl Merrick

Soon an era will close.
For ten years the teacher and I
have worked together
loving each of her third grade classes.

We’ve tried having me correct papers, present vocabulary,
help with crafts, give writing lessons,
substitute for her, do poetry units,
and lead writing groups.

Full Day

by Cheryl Merrick

Doing what is right for me,
Planning ahead to avoid pressure,
Spending my time and energies
on what is most important to me,
Sharing my love with others,
Mentoring eight year old writers,
Keeping my home clean and in order,
Having plenty of prepared food to rotate,
Hours to study scriptures
and work on family history,
Time to talk with my husband
and visit with friends,
Moments of meditation
to sort out my thoughts,
Time to relax, to enjoy beauty, to write.

Simple days, with room to breathe
and stretch the mind and soul,
A day full and overflowing.

Blessed

by Cheryl Merrick

Blessed to be on the earth
to see mountains and smiles
to hear birds and friends voices
to feel warm sunshine and hugs
to smell and taste an apple
to touch soft corduroy or smooth wood
and to move, reach, and walk on my own

Blessed to have true principles to guide me
to know what is right and the purpose of life
to understand how to have peace and happiness
to change and grow through the atonement
and to have the Holy Ghost, scriptures,
prayer and prophets, ordinances, and temples
all to help me return to my heavenly home.

Training Wheels

by Cheryl Merrick

The training wheels,
barely touching now,
as you move farther away
into a home of your own.

The days of us shouting encouragement
and, occasionally, steadying the bike
are nearly over.

You now glide along as a couple.
On two wheels
you whiz around corners,
ably maneuvering the challenges of life.

Just you two,
growing stronger together,
as it is meant to be,
no longer needing
training wheels.

Weaving Hearts

by Cheryl Merrick

One note at a time
Sharing experiences
Back and forth

A word of encouragement
A problem addressed
Back and forth

Concerns expressed
Understanding given
Back and forth

The shuttle goes
Weaving sisters’
Hearts Together

My Maxiums

by Cheryl Merrick

Convention
Finding an well worn rut
     and remaining in it
no matter how miserable
     you become.

Looking Back
If you’re always
looking back,
You’ll never enjoy
where you’re at.

New Gardeners

by Cheryl Merrick

I long for them to always nurture their love,
so that they might avoid years of neglect,
and drought of faith & affection,
May they never allow cares and concerns,
like flourishing weeds
to crowd out their relationship.
And may they always find joy in their garden.

Lovely Days

by Cheryl Merrick

Cool summer morning
Bagpipes playing
Plaids and kilts
Silver pins and swords
Poles & rock throwing contests
Scottish dances
Clans gathering

Home again,
We sit under our tree
Expressing dreams,
Solving problems,
Testifying of truths,
Giving encouragement,
Supporting each other,
Sharing joys,
Our lives being bound together
In Lovely Days

Finding Love

by Cheryl Merrick

The young couple
continued their bickering.
Doubting, they demanded
that the other
prove their love:
“IF you really loved ME,
You would be more understanding.”
“IF you really moved ME,
You would be more passionate.”

Distance

by Cheryl Merrick

Hurt by his
insensitive responses,
I step back.

Intent on some project,
he forgets I exist--
Another step.

A curt reply,
a brusk answer,
and step by step
I move away
to a safe,
but lonely
distance,

Leaving him
to flounder
in an unknown sea
of relationships.

The Time for Ending

by Cheryl Merrick

My heart breaks,
longing for close relationships 
that can never be.

Day after day,
I tried to offer them love and support,
but all they could see was manipulation.

A gift freely given was seen as an attempt
to grasp control of their life, 
or as unconditional surrender to their will.

Pictures of a Marriage

by Cheryl Merrick
Young and beautiful,
     though I didn’t appreciate it then,
I see myself leaning on
     my youthful husband’s shoulder
as, together, 
     we bravely face the unknown.

Smiling I muse,
     the challenges 
     of thirty two years ago
     now seem so simple.

My Studio

by Cheryl Merrick

Going into the studio of my mind,

I clear off the unnecessary

making space to think.

With an sensitive spirit

I prepare the canvass

with a base of true principles.

My purpose clear, I begin to work.

With an artist's eye painstakingly

thought shapes, colors,

and lines are added,

Til their relationships emerge.

Framed with a name

it is complete-

a new idea has been created.