I love this Karri! And I can relate so much! Every time I linger, at the ocean or on a mountaintop, in bed or just in doing nothing, the timeless voice that can raise guilt, feelings of laziness, unproductity, judgement and more comes roaring back, as it is never really vanquished. You have lots of colleague poets in this struggle with you! Thank you for giving it voice!
This is beautiful Rachel. I love the lyrical flow of your words, the vivid imagery, and the sweet combinations like "tiny feet tipsy in the plush sand" and "only hope and wonder in her eyes." What a gem of a poem!
This is exquisite, A. The rhythm you create with the four line stanzas is sweet, and your lines are so lyrical I kept feeling like they were rhyming. They are not literally, but certainly are in heart and spirit sense.
This topic is one I have been thinking about a lot - even realising in conversation with a friend how the 'we are not allowed to' rules from childhood are so ingrained that we still keep to them (even when no -one is watching). So my poem today is a bit of a mix of serious and silly!
A giant "bravo" to you Jane! Your poem resonates so deeply for me. Ah, the power of no and how it gets ingrained in our bodies and emotional states, and also becomes a default option for so many of us. May your mornings be permission free zones!
This is powerful and poignant, Jennifer. I like the way you use the phrase "permossion to grieve" as refrain. I hear the use of "permission to ___" in a military context, and that adds to the impact your poem has on me. Thank you for sharing.
This is so lovely and timely, Kaitlin. It makes me want to find a hammock right this moment, or later today, to just rest and be. Thank you for the permission to do so, which I didn't need, but in your kindness, you so freely offer to each of us.
Just want you all to know how much I love your poetry. Even if I'm not commenting on them, I'm so grateful for each of you!
Thank you, Kaitlin, for giving us this permission. I had no idea I needed it until I stopped to let your permission soak in.
Permission
How long was it
before you realized
that it wasn’t just
what you needed
from someone else;
that, in order to be
a healthy being,
you need to practice
giving it to yourself?
So often, we spend
our lives focused
on obtaining permission
to “do”; moving,
acting, working,
thinking our way
into a worth defined
by productivity.
Starting today,
I’m going to find time
and make room
to identify what I need
to be more whole and healthful,
and give myself permission
to be just that:
*quiet breathing space*
*wordlessness —
both aural and visual *
*fun — in whatever
form and shape
that feels good today*
*sensory attentiveness —
at whatever levels
make me smile*
How ‘bout you?
Good words.
My dad was a preacher and I watched him never give permission to himself.
Amen to that, Chuck!
I struggle this morning
Over whether to give myself permission
To go back to bed
To rest
To relax
To (although it feels impossible) renew
Or whether what I really need is
To get busy and take my mind off of me
To walk
To clean
To be (that most heinous of words) productive.
No permission needed for those expectations.
heinous
.. yup.
I love this Karri! And I can relate so much! Every time I linger, at the ocean or on a mountaintop, in bed or just in doing nothing, the timeless voice that can raise guilt, feelings of laziness, unproductity, judgement and more comes roaring back, as it is never really vanquished. You have lots of colleague poets in this struggle with you! Thank you for giving it voice!
The rise and fall of the waves
In rhythm with the wind
Beckons the gulls who
Knowing what lies beneath the surface,
Dive in and take what is theirs
Rise up, soar, and dive in again.
We witness this miraculous chorus
Of birds and and wind and sea
My daughter and I, her
Ten-month-old fingers
Wrapped around my thumbs,
Tiny feet tipsy in the plush sand
As they move forward, unquestioningly
Only hope and wonder in her eyes
Sparkling in the morning sun,
Determined to join the singing ocean.
'tiny feet tipsy' 💜
I can see them 🥹
This is beautiful Rachel. I love the lyrical flow of your words, the vivid imagery, and the sweet combinations like "tiny feet tipsy in the plush sand" and "only hope and wonder in her eyes." What a gem of a poem!
Permission slip
Like a stray piece of paper
flying from the fingertips
sticking out of school bus windows,
adventure doesn’t wait
for a dotted line signature.
I love this, A.M. I wish I had this poem as a youth, and as a parent when our kids were in school! No signatures required! Thank you!
We do not need
permission to rest
because it is
necessary; notice
.
how our bodies
do not plead
for a more fair
distribution of care,
.
but demand it
by simply shutting
down the systems
that keep us running.
.
They are loud
about being
treated unkindly
because they know
.
that asking politely
will not make it
all right, and they will
fight for the peace
.
they know they
deserve. What more
can we need to learn
about how to fix
.
this burning world?
It is ours
to shut down
and rebuild.
Yes, yes, yes
This is exquisite, A. The rhythm you create with the four line stanzas is sweet, and your lines are so lyrical I kept feeling like they were rhyming. They are not literally, but certainly are in heart and spirit sense.
Permission slip requested for the following activities 05/29/2024:
1. Existing in public
2. Being perceived
3. Taking a breath
4. Making a joke
5. Believing people like me
6. Not saying "yes"
6a. Even though I'm the best person to do it
6b. Even if everything might fall apart without me
7. Not being perfect
8. Not being good
9. Eating what I want
10. Filling out a permission slip for tomorrow
Kinda like a prayer, of sorts?
This is wonderful, Lisa! Permission granted from the universe!
All my life
Rest had to be earned,
And required permission.
There was no play
Until homework was done.
Chores must be complete
Before you have fun.
You can have a nap
Once you’re finished with… that.
Taking a break
While my to do list waited
Only invited
Guilt and shame,
Shoulds and blame.
Until it finally
Occurred to me
That the power had shifted…
To my own damn self
Decades ago.
It was simply a (bad) habit
To tell myself no.
Babe, it’s time to let that go!
Yes, let’s play!
Yes, get some rest!
That is enough for today.
You did your best.
I don’t need permission
And neither do you.
Balance in life
Is our birthright,
Not our contrition.
Very nice, Janine! A splendid manifesto!
From whom do we ask permission
. to go about our lives?
From parents, partners, Deities,
. up spying in the skies?
.
Are we truly free to live
. and go about our days?
I wonder about choices we make,
. the details in a haze.
.
Where do desires arrive from?
. At what point do we draw the line
When my definition of a good life
. places others in a bind?
.
Or takes advantage and profits
. off generational abuse?
The blessings I have, the result
. of poisonous fruit.
.
Who asked my permission,
. to be born this day and age?
To live a life of privilege,
. with others in a cage?
Blessings of poisonous fruit .....yup...
This is excellent, Sarah! I love the powert of it and the creative way you use rhyming to further that power.
This topic is one I have been thinking about a lot - even realising in conversation with a friend how the 'we are not allowed to' rules from childhood are so ingrained that we still keep to them (even when no -one is watching). So my poem today is a bit of a mix of serious and silly!
Permission
For so many years
she asked permission
or didn't even dare to ask,
just quietly accepted the
unspoken
assumed
inevitable
No.
Even as an adult
the need to please
the struggle to keep the peace
held her back
never daring to seek permission
for whatever she might want.
But...
when it all fell apart
and she built her life anew
she realised that
she is the one
who has the power
to give herself
permission.
So,
she sat down
smiled
and turned on the TV -
in the morning!
* the power to give herself permission *
Perhaps the greatest power known to all hermanity!
How dare her!!!!
..ha....
Excellent....
A giant "bravo" to you Jane! Your poem resonates so deeply for me. Ah, the power of no and how it gets ingrained in our bodies and emotional states, and also becomes a default option for so many of us. May your mornings be permission free zones!
‘Finally, finally, she stops
and steps away from every
bit of life that is asking her
for more of herself.’ ❤️👌
permission granted.....🙂
A standing ovation for this, Ange! Thank you.
These were the words that really struck me from Kaitlin’s poem 🫶🏽
Hah! I thought they were your splendid words! Isn’t it amazing how a piece of a poem can seem like its very own poem? Thank you for reframing!
Yes, I know what you mean! There’s something lovely about a few words framed by space 😊
Your work always feels like permission, Kaitlin. Thank you.
Prized magic mojo.
Mom's rare ok, certified.
worth its weight in frogs.
Nice haiku Chuck
As usual I'm confused
Tell me what it means?
I guess its kind of a young boy's ode to those elusive permission slip signatures
yeah.
Frogs.
kinda weird.
Permission to grieve
everything
sits on the edge
of my swollen
tongue
bite wounds pointing
to words unsung
a melody
a wail
held back from
daylight
permission to grieve
everything
could heal
everything
this swollen
tongue
and broken beating
heart
and the rifts, the wide and deep
divides
that keep us from
one another
restored by
simply
permission to grieve
Bless you & your inspiration for us, Kaitlin. Grateful x 1000.
This is powerful and poignant, Jennifer. I like the way you use the phrase "permossion to grieve" as refrain. I hear the use of "permission to ___" in a military context, and that adds to the impact your poem has on me. Thank you for sharing.
This is so lovely and timely, Kaitlin. It makes me want to find a hammock right this moment, or later today, to just rest and be. Thank you for the permission to do so, which I didn't need, but in your kindness, you so freely offer to each of us.
All you need is this breath
your own heart beat
the crickets at sunset
fireflies sparking over summer fields
whatever brings you alive --
that is your permission
this pulse in your veins
your own voice flowing
sing now, the birds are waiting
no approval needed
this world is meant to be
a symphony
(and I have a season ticket) 🙂🙂🙂
I love this.