“Pieces of Me”

My dear friend, poet Maggie Watson is a treasure.

One of the most unexpected joys in blogging comes from meeting dear ones all around the world. Talented Maggie delights me with good wishes and waves “across the pond” from Scotland and taught me about a treat I’d never heard of – jelly tots. But the actual treats are her poignantly crafted poems, especially those I embraced in her collection, aptly titled, “Pieces of Me“.

Maggie shows us her wholeheartedness. Her bravery and resolve to rise, despite the pain she’s experienced. To say that she’s a bright light is a whopping understatement. She’s a beacon, a truthteller and I’m proud to call her my friend.

When we’re courageous and reveal our pain it’s not without risk. But when readers generously share that we’re heard…understood…the gratitude is real. I think it comes from relief. The potent and restorative reminder that we’re greater than our wounds – visible or not.

Maggie invites us in without glossing over the anguish and “Pieces of Me” is all the better for it.

There are so many powerful lines, phrases, stanzas in Maggie’s work, but these words, excerpted from her poem, “Project” (p. 45) jumped off the page:

You project your pain onto me.

Does it make you feel better?

A chain forms from one person to the next, as each generation

suffers.

Father to son,

Mother to daughter.

Collateral damage of someone else’s trauma.

Break the chain, or watch your children turn out the same.

Thank you, Maggie.

Vicki 💝

Maggie’s Blog: Ephemeral Encounters – “you will find pieces of me wherever you wander”

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”.

Click here for Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcasts with talented creatives.

Click here for videos of our podcasts. Thank you!



116 responses to ““Pieces of Me””

  1. It is such a poignant collection..necessary reading for many

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Nigel…thank you so much…perfectly expressed. Cheers to Maggie! ❤️

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You’re welcome, Victoria.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Nigel 💕 thank you for your wonderful support my friend !

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Always my dear, Maggie

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Pieces of Me is a stupendous collection. It touched my heart too, it also beautifully baffled me at first… in its rawness but also comforting truth and elegant kind of vulnerability. Maggie alchemized her pain into something so precious. As Nigel mentioned, many more ought to get to read Maggie’s verse.

    Such a wonderful and warm review, Victoria, thank you kindly for it! 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Thank you, Nicole, for your beautiful comments! 🥰

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You’re very welcome, my pleasure! 💖

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Dear Nicole, you are a treasure 💖
      A beautiful soul.
      Thank you so very much 🤗

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I feel the same, Maggie, thank you too! 🤗

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Thank you, Victoria, for your touching review so full of heartfelt appreciation for Maggie’s work.

    I agree that we are “greater than our wounds – visible or not…” and made stronger by their healing scars which resonates with my experience of reading Maggie’s deeply soul touching, “Pieces of Me”. Congratulations, Maggie!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Suzette! Thank you so much. Such a pleasure to connect with you through Maggie. ❤️😉❤️

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You are most welcome, Victoria. Blessings.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Suzette you are a very dear friend to me.
      I appreciate you so much .
      Thank you ❤️🤗

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are most welcome. I feel the same, Maggie, Cheers.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Thank you for introducing us to Maggie and her work, Vicki. There are so many talented people out there in the blogosphere.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. My pleasure, Jane! You among them, my friend! 🥰❤️🥰

      Liked by 3 people

  5. What powerful words! And I love your analysis, Vicki: “When we’re courageous and reveal our pain it’s not without risk. But when readers generously share that we’re heard…understood…the gratitude is real.” That is so true. Writing is cathartic, but being seen and understood by others truly does amplify the feeling. 🥰

    Liked by 3 people

    1. You are so sweet! Yep — it’s one of those connecting threads between us, dear Erin. Sending big hugs to you!
      🥰❤️🥰

      Liked by 2 people

      1. 🥰❤️🥰

        Like

    2. Thank you so much for reading !
      I appreciate it 🤗

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Impressive excerpts from Maggie’s work. I look forward to reading more. Thank you for the introduction, Vicki.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. You are very welcome, Dr. Stein. It’s been my pleasure to get to know Maggie. 💝

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Thank you so much Dr Stein 🤗

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Dear Vicki, tots to the jellies for you my friend.
    From my heart, thank you so very much for this review🥰
    Everyone knows how important this book is to me (I can’t believe it is nearly a year old already).
    I wanted to tell my story instead of it festering away inside me, but also, more importantly to give others the strength to do the same!
    So many have endured this and stay silent 🙄
    We can never stay silent as far as any form of abuse goes .
    Thank you for being part of my journey and your wonderful friendship ❤️xo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Love you, Maggie! Can’t tell you how much it means to me — and to sweet Lisa, too — that you’ve embraced both of us. She loves your hugs…and I appreciate your bravery and friendship, dear one. Tots to the jellies – always! Sisters in solidarity! 💝💝💝

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Love you too Vickì.
        Honoured to know you my friend.
        Aww of course 🫂💙🫂 I am virtually hugging you both right now !
        Soul sisters 👯‍♂️.always
        So much love ❤️💕❤️ and many tots to the jellies xo
        PS ..I will reblog when I get back on my PC 🤗
        Thank you for everything.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Love and hugs! 🥰❤️🥰

          Liked by 1 person

  8. oh, is that every powerful. and so very true. Maggie has a way of using her words to make us feel a bit of what was felt to help us know that we are not alone, connecting us through hard times and into the times after.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Yes! Helping others know they’re not alone. Thank you so much, Beth! ❤️

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Beth thank you so much for reading and for being part of my journey !💕

      Liked by 1 person

  9. “Collateral damage of someone else’s trauma.

    Break the chain, or watch your children turn out the same.”

    Oh, this really hits me, Vicki. So powerful. In a way that only poetry can so succinctly and precisely pinpoint and surface.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes – Maggie captures so much…so well, Ab! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 💝

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Thank you so much for lovely comment Ab and for reading Vicki’s wonderful review 🙏

      Liked by 2 people

  10. What an incredible review of Maggie’s powerful work. Love the except you included from Project. It’s like an arrow straight to the heart.

    Thank you for this beautiful profile of Maggie and her amazing work! What an incredible community we have!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Yes, indeed! Great point, Wynne. xoxo! 💝🥰💝

      Like

    2. Wynne thank you so very much !
      I am so happy to have connected with you here.
      Your support means a lot 💖

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I love her words you posted. So powerful. I also love your encouragement of her.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Elizabeth…thank you! Appreciate you! 🥰💝🥰

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Thank you so much for your lovely comment Elizabeth 🤗
      I am blessed by the encouragement of this community 🙏

      Liked by 2 people

  12. Wonderful thoughts of Maggie’s fascinating poignant poetry, Victoria.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Many thanks to you, Tim! ❤️

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You’re welcome, Victoria. 😊

        Liked by 2 people

  13. Oh yes. Jelly Tots. So delicious. From time to time, I buy them at the bulk food store. And they taste just as good as they did when I was a kid growing up in England.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh my! Of course you’d know what those are! Such fun, Michelle. Thank you! 🥰

      Liked by 1 person

  14. I admire the bravery of Maggie to put forth pieces of her life in poetry. It’s not easy to do, to write about pain, suffering, and trauma. Thank you for sharing Maggie’s words to inspire us all. 💞

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Many thanks to you, Rose, for your kind and loving recognition of Maggie’s talent. Hugs, hugs! ❤️

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Thank you so very much for your lovely comment Rose 🤗

      Liked by 2 people

  15. Thank you for sharing this, Vicki. You are always generous and open in your support, and that is a great gift to all of us!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Love you, Lori! Feel the same about you! 🥰❤️🥰

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Love you, Vicki! 🩵💕🩵

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Thank you so much for reading Lori 🤗

      Liked by 2 people

  16. I sure hope Maggie’s poems give others an alternative besides staying in an abusive relationship. Ab’s thoughts are similar to mine. It seems like one of the biggest incentives to get out is the long-term effects of direct or indirect abuse and trauma on children.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Pete. Always grateful to you for your thoughtful comments. ❤️

      Liked by 2 people

    2. I hope so too Pete 🙏 thank you.

      Liked by 2 people

  17. Risk. Uh-oh. Ha, ha. You described it perfectly. “But when readers generously share that we’re heard…understood…the gratitude is real.” Oh yes it is. Love your words how Maggie describes breaking the chain. She’s so, so, so right. “Break the chain, or watch your children turn out the same.” Yes! Well said both of you.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you so much, Brian! ❤️

      Liked by 2 people

  18. Thank you for your warm and heartfelt review of Maggie’s poetry collection, Vicki! I appreciate Maggie’s vulnerability to pour her heart out in words.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Miriam 💖 thank you so much for your kind comment.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome, Maggie! ❤

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Grateful to you for reading and for your support of Maggie! ❤️❤️❤️

      Liked by 2 people

  19. I was going to say, if this is anything like the Jewel album of the same name, we’re in for a treat…but then I realized Jewel’s title was “Pieces of You.”

    Oh, well…still sounds like a compelling read!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you!!! You helped me clarify a question — something stuck in the back of my brain about familiarity! That’s it! Jewel!!! 🥰❤️🥰

      Liked by 2 people

      1. What can I say? My brain is a repository for ’90s music.

        Liked by 2 people

  20. Vicki, as a writer, you are such an encouragement to me. I purchased the collection and just began reading through. I was especially struck by Maggie’s description of domestic abuse (no pun intended🥴) and look forward to savoring the poems. Then I went to Maggie’s, site and subscribed. As I was scrolling through her books I stopped at the collection with the little angel on the cover. I’d been thinking about how you appear like an angel for me, and there you were! That’s you! Spreading your wings and light and encouraging writers, like me, to keep speaking up and not give in to the lingering shame. Why is it I still have this need to protect bad behavior? Maggie says it early on in the collection:

    …My pace was slow.
    I was weary.
    No one stopped to query if I was ok.
    My mind in disarray.
    I am to blame.
    It is I who must change…

    But that doesn’t mean we don’t share our truths, spreading the hope that yes, we can overcome.

    Thank you both. ❤️❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Deborah…your kindness sent my heart soaring and I know Maggie will feel the same way. Sending soooo much love to you. Happy to have made this introduction. You and Maggie. So good! Xo!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

      Liked by 2 people

      1. ❤️❤️❤️ yes, so good, and thanks, again. 🥰

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Deborah, please forgive my late response.
      Thank you so very much for your kindness, it means a lot 🙏
      We must always share our truths,especially if we were silenced for a very long time.
      It is hard at first, but it does get easier as those shackles begin to loosen their grip.
      Thank you so very much for buying my collection and subscribing.
      Much love to you and deep gratitude 🦋💙🦋

      Liked by 1 person

  21. How kind of you to share Maggie’s work with us. I am fond of the thought of Jelly Tots!
    Thanks, Vicki Lou!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Love you, Nancy Lou! 🥰❤️🥰

      Liked by 2 people

  22. Thanks for sharing this beautiful review, Vicki! Maggie’s book went straight to my heart. It pains me to think of her or anyone enduring any type of abuse. I appreciate Maggie for sharing her experience in poetic form with us, and I know her strength will help others who are walking in similar shoes. Congratulations to Maggie! I’m so happy that her book is receiving so much well-deserved praise. Her writing always packs a punch, and I never say “Wow” as often as I do after reading one of her poems. I’m happy to call both of you friends. Hugs ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Love you…and your big heart, dear Lauren. You do so much to lift up and support others. Sending love! ❤️❤️❤️

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Aww, you do the same, Vicki. Sending loads of love your way too. 💖💖💖

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Lauren you are a very dear friend like Vicki ❤️🥰❤️ I appreciate both of you and your support and love.
      Thank you for everything 🙏please forgive my late response xoxo

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I feel the same, Maggie, and no apologies. My goodness! There’s a lot going on! Hugs xoxoxoxo

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Aww xoxoxoxo
          There is, and its all good ❤️🥰❤️🥰❤️

          Liked by 1 person

            1. Lauren ❤️🤗❤️🤗 fancy seeing you here 🤗🥰

              Liked by 2 people

              1. 💙🩷💙🩷💙😍😍😍

                Liked by 1 person

  23. Wow! I just read the preview. Powerful and poignant poems. She definitely is a survivor, having written about the abuse and then that powerful, proud poem at the beginning about women as a strong goddess. Congratulations, Maggie!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you so very much Deborah .
      I appreciate your lovely comment so much.
      Blessings to you.🙏

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Congratulations to Maggie. I appreciated this amazing collection too.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you so much, Roberta! 🥰

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Robbie thank you so much for your wonderful support.💖

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Thanks for bringing Maggie to our attention Vicki! That “break the chain“ line is so true!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. My pleasure! Thank you, Todd! 🥰

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Thank you so much for reading Todd 🤗

      Liked by 2 people

  26. This is a wonderful assessment of both Maggie and her book. I feel like my life has been enriched by knowing her and reading her work.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Gosh…perfectly put! Thank you, Dawn. Same, same! 🥰❤️🥰

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Dawn what a lovely thing to say 🤗 thank you so much !
      And thank you for your constant support and encouragement 🙏

      Like

  27. What a wonderful review of Maggie and her book of heartfelt, powerful and painful poetry, Vicki.

    I love the poems you chose to share. She truly is a gift in our community. Bravo to you both!

    💗

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Much love! 🥰❤️🥰

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Cindy 💖 thank you from my heart for your kindness and for being psrt of my journey 🙏

      Like

  28. Wonderful review, Vicki. I love the excerpts that you included.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Edward! ❤️

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You’re welcome, my friend. 🫶🏼

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Thank you so much Edward 🤗 your words mean a lot !

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re very welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

  29. THAT POEM! So profound and so spot on – thank you my sister, V for sharing Maggie’s word…XOV

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Love you, Vickie…and you’re right! Maggie’s work is magnificent. Sending hugs! 💝

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Vickie thank you so much for your lovely comment xo
      I am overwhelmed by the reactions to my words and Vicki’s wonderful review.
      I appreciate every person that reads my verses.
      Many thanks again 🙏

      Like

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