Thirteen Ways to Begin Again (a poem)
Thirteen Ways to Begin Again
I.
open a new notebook, crack the spine as you lay it flat
run your finger over the fresh new page
inscribe the book with a devotion
begin
II.
awake before the alarm
sunlight creeping around the curtain
ignore the urge to grab your phone
open your eyes, bow in prayer
begin
III.
solid gold dance party with an 80’s soundtrack
drag, drinks, being touched by strangers
the countdown until midnight
the ball drops
begin
IV.
blow out all the candles in one breath
as your eyelids linger closed for a long blink
eyes wide open again in gratitude
begin
V.
move through regret, shake hands with shame
kneel at the altar of grief
say it without breaking eye contact and with no qualifiers:
i am so very sorry
begin
VI.
tucked nearly unseen in the back middle amongst the dancers
after your languished phrase, a mediocre chorus
feel the drumbeat all the way to your bones
on the downbeat
begin
VII.
weekend freedom beckons
creativity no longer fleeting
chase rays of sunshine as
time passes at her own pace
veel alive
begin
VIII.
mundane tasks performed with presence and grace
sponge to the dish, washcloth to the face, broom on the floor
dusting each thing you own with all the thanks in the world
folding the bath towels in half and then again into thirds
showering it all away
begin
IX.
grieve what was lost
mourn what could have been
rage at what never was
make your own funeral
light shit on fire
begin
X.
unfold the road map and plot the course
snack on gas station treats
listen to the familiar crackle as local radio stations tune in
wide-open spaces, new vistas invite daydreams of delight
begin
XI.
mind the waxing and waning
there is always a subtle shift in the light
change is the only constant
when full and when new
begin
XII.
blow dandelion seeds in a single breath
capture the fallen eyelash on a fingertip
find a four-leaf clover
dry out the wishbone
save the king cake baby
begin
XIII.
an hour forward, an hour back
reset the clocks
change the batteries in the smoke detectors
get a new toothbrush
begin
Inspired by Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird by Wallace Stevens as a prompt given by Amy Turn Sharp during Secret Sunday Poetry Club.