First Snow

by Cheryl Merrick

Gazing out at the cool, gray morning,

I am startled to see snowflakes

drifting down.

Unwilling to give up my autumn strolls

by the river,

I stare at the silent falling snow;

Til mesmerized by the delicate beauty,

My mind fills, flake by flake,

with Christmas memories.  

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.

Closing Doors

by Cheryl Merrick

With hope I kept my door open,
trying to comfort, teach, and love
those who were weak and in pain.

With an empathetic heart I listened
and sometimes cried with them.
I longed to help them.

When the years passed
and my health began to fail,
I took a look around my room.

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.

My Poems

My poems are my journal; a record of my feelings, fears, hopes, dreams, challenges, and joys.

They have been written over many years and some of the concerns I had then do not worry me now. I am always changing. My poems are a record of my journey.

Surprise!

by Cheryl Merrick

Who would have guessed
that such a serious thinker
would have so much fun
managing a home?

Thriving on the challenge
of making all go smoothly,
expressing my creativity,
gratefully enjoying the opportunity
to nurture and study,
a new fulfillment is growing.

Preparing a Feast

by Cheryl Merrick

Like freshly baked bread,
     the book lies open 
     upon the table,
the afternoon spent
     in carefully preparing
     its ideas to share.
A few bits of food 
     are hastily added,
     and the feast is ready.    

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.

In between Age

by Cheryl Merrick

I’m at that in between age.
Though being a teen
is something I’ve not recently seen,
I am in between.

My children have grown,
and nearly all flown.
But married they’re not,
and grandchildren I have not.
So till then, 
I stay in between.