Every now and then I’ve been inspired to share snippets of my poetry practice here on Victoria Ponders. It’s deeply personal – part of my daily journaling – but when a dear one asked recently for support…wondering how to begin her own practice, she asked a compelling question about my healing journey.
“How do you stay so strong, Vicki?”
I spent some time contemplating her request; I certainly didn’t have a quick response in the moment but as is often the case, words came later. Words drawn from misapprehensions and misgivings – my own and those intuited and absorbed from others. Hardships I am now grateful for because they contributed to my strength and resolve to help others.
Whether the poem that poured out of me answers her question or not, I can’t say, but these were the words at the ready in my version of a therapeutic ‘free write’. I am not invincible, but I have capacity. Hard won. And that? Ah…that. My wish for all.
Her Protective Gear
When she paused to hear the whisper
It grew faint
When she quieted her mind to see,
The world blurred
When she persevered and promised
Herself the effort was worth it
The finish line disappearedWhen she sought acclaim the critics
Came first
And then the shame
The game
Was always the sameWhen she rallied with resilience, no one saw
The growth
Measured in millimeters
Tucked beneath protective layers
Concocted to soften
The hurtful jabs from those who
Saw confidence as arroganceIt was never ego
Always fear and
Fright
About fissures and
Gaps
Canyons in her soulRevealing slights and indiscretions
To those who would traverse the depthTo see beyond
The manicured veneer
Glossy and well-kept
Her protective gear
As is true with anything I write, once the syllables are free and loose, staring back at me, I’m ready to edit and sideline a word or two, repair the rhythm…but that’s not the point of a free write. I told my inner editor to pipe down so I can share it with you here. Maybe I’ll refine; maybe I won’t. The point is getting it outside of myself and I hope my dear friend will see the words “measured in millimeters” in the poem and understand that I’m still a work-in-progress, too.
Oh – and thank you so much for coming along.
Vicki 💝
P.S. Thank you to my dear friend Alegria for her recent post I Met My Younger Self For Coffee – Life with Alegria for providing the inspiration to let poetry flow in the most creative way. Which reminds me of this resource encouraging poetry for wellness.
Interested in the podcast about my favorite form of poetry, “Six Word Stories”? Right here.
Hi – I’m Victoria, Vicki, Dr. Vicki. I hold a doctorate in Adult Education and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and author of Surviving Sue | Eckhartz Press.
Check out this link to learn more about my book “Surviving Sue” – all about resilience and love.
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Victoria Ponders 
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