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“Understand: both sides,

they are equally valid,”

they tell me, “So stop

overreacting.”

As if life and health and death

are mere abstractions.

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Birthday in couplets

Command silence, request a song in shouts,

light the tall candles, blow them all out.

Another year gone, another year gained,

why not fill another cup to drain?

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Duality

I often struggle

With how I present myself

I like ‘all the things’

I like ‘cottage core’

Minimalism is cool

No ‘one’ aesthethic’

Anime is fun

Documentaries are great

I read all genres

I love to travel

‘Homebody’ is also true

‘Wanderlust’ sometimes

Church said to choose one

Society says that too

I do what I please

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May 22, 2022Liked by Kaitlin Curtice

My autistic brain

is constantly at odds with

my ADHD

Always too much, or

not enough. I am never

quite in the middle

Somehow, I'm always

in the in-between. I am

and/or/both/neither

What a frustrating

and interesting way to

experience life

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May 22, 2022Liked by Kaitlin Curtice

Duality asks

Did I make the right choice?

Am I good enough?

Duality says

There is only one right way

And mistakes will hinder

Pressure overwhelms

Suddenly I’m frozen still

What if I choose wrong?

Deep breaths hands on heart

Eyes reflected in mirror

My wholeness whispers

Look closely sweet one

See the wonder of your soul

Feel the warm embrace

Listen closely now

There is nothing to get right

Everything fits here

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May 22, 2022Liked by Kaitlin Curtice

Duality was

weight beneath the last straw for

the camel, and me.

.

I didn't know it

had lead me here, exhausted

needing room to breathe.

.

I didn't know I

could be held by mystery,

goodness in unknowns.

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May 22, 2022Liked by Kaitlin Curtice

Duality

How can it be

When I was three

They told me

God is love

But

I was dirty

On the inside

How can it be

Ones I love

Could hurt me

So much

They lied

or maybe

they didn’t know

And now

I am older

I know

God is love

But

not like that

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May 22, 2022Liked by Kaitlin Curtice

So this one seems to come from personal experience about which I never expected to write a poem!

Duality

A twin still has the

right to be treated as an

Individual

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What you see of me and of

You is what we get of

Each other

But underneath

There is river flowing

Of fears and delights;

It’s all who we are.

Much to be seen

And much to be discovered

It’s not one or the other,

It’s more together.

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I am all myself here

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat

Smooth rhythmic woodpecker pecking

Symphonic alignment

Every thought, idea and dream

I am all myself here

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat

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Morning and evening

Both contain rituals of

Beauty and Being

Coffee, candlelight

Awakening, welcoming

Darkness and daylight

We, dualities

Like this: not whole until the

Opposites collide

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Green or not green tree?

Too many shades in the light.

Both/and, not yes/no

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May 22, 2022·edited May 22, 2022

be my hands and feet.

gimme a gun and a stage,

and fifteen minutes.

be my hands and feet.

gimme love and forgiveness.

Seventy sevens.

You know I love you.

Then its easy, feed my sheep.

Forgot to ask how

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Is it yellow? Blue?

Until we can say, “it’s both”

We cannot see green.

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Is it possible

to feel both empty and full

on a Sunday night?

It’s my end of week

With others I grieved, laughed, ate,

prayed, laughed, cried and sang.

Not just in worship.

Over lunch, on a golf course,

At a musical.

My vocation is

All of this. And I love it.

But gosh, I’m tired.

People both feed me

And take energy from me.

Must take care of me.

It is possible

to feel both full and empty

on a Sunday night.

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May 22, 2022·edited May 22, 2022

Shrodinger's moment

something that I have made up

life is good and bad

momentarily

both exist as possible

giving life flavor

enriching it fully

so taste and see what arises

to start this new time

opportunity

for tears and sighs of sadness

to clear the despair

make room for the joy

that bursts forth rejoicing life

risk creating love

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