Tag Archive | Poetry

On getting older…

Nov14

Perhaps getting older is about letting go
Letting go of the struggle to be right
The struggle to fix everything
The struggle to answer all the questions
One comes upon

Perhaps getting older
Is about seeing the beauty in life
and paying less attention to pain and heartache

Perhaps getting older is like mellowing…
The sharp edges of our personality having been smoothed
By the torrents of life

Perhaps getting older is gaining perspective
Wanting to give back
To give a hand to the next generation
Easing their anxiety
Answering some of their questions
Or helping them be patient enough to find the answers
On their own

Perhaps getting older
Is being a balm to others’ cuts and bruises
Being a shoulder to lean on
Being that warm voice that comforts the one
Who thinks all is lost

And if getting older is all this and more
I’m happy to be getting older too!

Lida Berghuis
November 5th, 2013

Clear as mud!

Nov13

It’s hard to know what I’m feeling
Disappointed?
Sad?
Surprised?
Confused?

I feel a flood of emotion
But the feeling itself is clear as mud!

Someone or something has caused this
I know
But what I exactly feel
I couldn’t tell you

It’s something that is taking up space
In my head and heart
I can’t brush it off
It demands attention
But how can I address it
If I don’t even know
What I’m dealing with

I wonder what to do
Do I keep thinking till I figure it out?
Do I talk to someone?
Or do I just experience the confusion
And move on?

These feelings will be resolved
In time
But for now they are as clear as mud!

Lida Berghuis
November 13th, 2013

They have grown up!

Nov10

When I want to go to bed before my kids
I know that they have grown up!

When Nicki can prepare a power point and I can’t
I know that he has grown up!

When Natalie can wear my clothes
I know that she has grown up

When Nicki can comfort me
I know that he has grown up

When he asks for an Ipod and laptop
I know that he thinks he has grown up!

When I realize Natasha is taller than me
I know that she has grown up

When she writes stories that are
More imaginative than mine
I know that she has grown up!

It seems like yesterday
When we brought them home from the hospital…
How quickly, they have grown up!

2009
Lida Berghuis

Things my kids say…

Nov10

Natasha, could you please clean your room
It’s been messy for a while
“But mom, I don’t need to
I like my room messy right now!
Tidiness is over rated
I can still find all the things I want
My clothes may be on the floor
But I can still find them and put them on”

How was school today, Natasha?
“I didn’t see any hippos in the hall”!
What was your favorite class today?
“Gym, then recess and then lunch!”

“Mommy, please don’t talk to me
I am thinking right now
Not, I don’t want to tell you what I’m thinking about
Can you leave me alone for a while?”

What a rough morning this is
You need to do your homework at night
Now, you are asking me to help you
But I have other things on my mind

“Mommy, you can’t complain
For this, you yourself signed up
No one made you have kids
Don’t ask for sympathy, right now”

“Mommy, can you make me lunch
And make me a good sandwich this time
I’m tired of bagel and cheese and ham
Could you find something else this time?
My friends bring these amazing things for lunch
And I get the same thing all the time
Could I please have some variety…”
Why don’t you make your own lunch!?

And so it goes
Each day something new
Children will always surprise you!

But I’m happy I signed up for this adventure
I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Lida Beghuis
January 28th, 2011

Lipstick blues…

Nov10

Mommy, do you have lipstick on?
Then no kisses
Just a hug!

If you kiss me with those red lips
I will have to wipe off
The lipstick!

Hugs I will give you gladly
But just one kiss
For me
Please!

But mommy
You have lipstick on
I can’t walk around
With a lipstick mark!

You are so yummy
Your hugs so sweet
But a kiss on your cheeks
I can’t resist!

I’ll wipe off the lipstick
I promise
Now can I have
My little kiss?

Lida Berghuis
June 28th, 2004

Puppy dog eyes…

Nov2

Puppy dog eyes
The look of adoration
That pleading look
The look of helplessness
Gentleness
Meekness
The look that says my happiness
Depends on you

Puppy dog eyes
Perfected by dogs
But equally as effective
For us humans
If used right

Puppy dog eyes
The look that says
I love you
I’ll be by your side
I’ll miss you when you’re gone
The look that says
I’ll give you comfort when you’re stressed
You can rub my tummy anytime you want
The look that says I’ll be your most loyal friend
All I need from you in return
Is a little love
My food on time
And my daily walk

Puppy dog eyes
Are not pushy or harsh
They are gentle and mild
Meek and kind
And that’s why it’s hard to say no
To puppy dog eyes…

Lida Berghuis
October 30th, 2013

Sit and stare…

Oct27

Today is a let’s not think day!
Let’s just be day!

Today, I feel tired
My brain needs a rest!

Today I do’t want to solve
The mysteries of the universe!
Today, I’m trying to be content to just sit and stare…

Tiredness is tolerable
If you don’t expect too much of yourself
Tiredness is OK if all you do is sit and stare…

But the problem is that I’m restless, impatient
And I get easily bored
I can’t just sit and stare…

My brain wants to be active
I like to learn, examine, discover, and express myself!
And when I’m tired
Everything comes to a stop and I feel constrained!

Today I need to be like Cashew
Our relaxed, chill dog
Who can sit and stare into space
For a long time…

Needless to say
I don’t understand Cashew’s ways
How she doesn’t get bored…
Nevertheless, today
The best thing to do is not to do much
Not to expect much
Not to complain so much…
Today, I will try to just sit and stare…
And recuperate…

Lida Berghuis
October 24th, 2013

Fire of trials…

Oct25

Can’t feel pain unless we step into the fire
Can’t burn the impurities off our soul
Can’t experience pain just looking at fire
Can’t understand pain intellectually, no!

Once heat has seared our skin
Once our soul has felt the heat of trials
We are transported somewhere else
A place that is hard to describe

But those who have been there can tell you
It is worth the pain, abundant the rewards

Lida Berghuis
October 25th, 2013

Exhaling…

Oct23

I inhale as I experience life
I exhale when I write

I inhale when I read
When I listen to other people
I exhale when I write

Writing, something my well-being depends on
Not writing, something I can’t think of

I inhale sadness, joyfulness, confusion, frustration
I exhale when I write

I inhale as I learn the lessons of life
I exhale when I write

Lida Berghuis
Oct. 16th, 2013

Poetry is a love song…

Oct20

Poetry is the essence of life
The things that count
The things that touch us, move us
Elevate us

Poetry is an emanation of the soul
Our essential self
Our eternal self
Our higher self

Poetry is about the intangible things
Love, compassion, curiosity

Poetry reaches where other things can’t
It penetrates our material shell
And illumines our inner self

Poetry is the expression of love
Love for the Divine
Love for our fellow man

Poetry is other-worldly
Magical, mystical, transformative

Poetry is beauty
A beauty that does not fade

Poetry is a love song