2016 Weekly Writing Experience: February 1st - February 7th

Write a poem about a beginning, a middle and an end

The Beginning

In the beginning there was nothing.

Nothing to behold or touch or feel.

There was a not knowing of what,

Or who, or even why.

In the beginning there was no sensation

Of what was to come so soon

(so much sooner than expected)

And yet the waiting was agony.

In the beginning there was fear of the unknown

And a nervousness which filled me with butterflies –

So many that my stomach turned in knots

To try to expel them from their cell.

In the beginning there was hope,

A soft, reserved hope that dared not speak

But only dream a magnificent, multi-coloured dream

Of wide-eyed wonder and cosmic expression.

In the beginning, it was the beginning,

Where all things must begin,

When time begins afresh, anew, anon

And the other beginnings are gone.

The Middle

The butterflies were turfed out

By something of more substance –

Perhaps a tiny boxing kangaroo

Warming up for the prize fight.

I caught my breath more than once

For reasons too many to list,

Most often just through a wandering mind

Imagining all the possibilities.

I am woman, hear me roar?

I haven’t earned my tiger stripes.

Though I feel completely transformed,

I have barely changed at all.

I wake almost every night,

Sheets soaked through with sweat,

With images haunting my mind

From behind eyelids closed so tight.

I feel so very alive,

As if I could live forever.

I want to live forever,

To keep this feeling forever.

The End

I may have earned those tiger stripes

But I cannot manage a whimper.

Maybe I should have fought harder

For my little joey once fighting strong.

I would have given anything for 21 years,

But 21 weeks was all I knew,

Along with these few brief moments

Face to tear-stained face.

All we ever wished for,

You delivered in almost every way –

Ten little fingers, ten little toes;

Two bright eyes, one button nose.

Those breaths I so struggled for –

I would gladly give up every one

To allow you all that was promised

But never followed through.

My heart could fill the room I’m in

And you have filled my heart.

I will treasure you every day

Because time begins afresh, anew, anon.