surviving vs thriving - one woman's perspective

my most recent elephant journal publication can be found here

hold on

Hold on to what is good

even if it is

a handful of earth.

Hold on to what you believe

even if it is

a tree which stands by itself.

Hold on to what you must do

even if it is

a long way from here.

Hold on to life even when

it is easier letting go.

Hold on to my hand even when

I have gone away from you.

hold on to what is good - nancy wood - 1974

what magic is this?

how do you know 

to touch so feather light

causing my body to pulse

in carnal delight?

(c)s.cooper

10-28-19

i know this to be true

abject

i don't want to be
just a stop along the way
a memory to look upon
when life's in disarray

(c)s.cooper
10-27-19

wisdom of skin horse

"...once you are real you can't become unreal again. it lasts for always." -The Velveteen Rabbit

just a reminder

sometimes i cry when we're together...

...because you get me and i get you.  we know each other on such a deep and intimate level and we seek to know and understand more.

...because I see such tenderness and love in your eyes, yet in moments of passion, the hunger.

...because you show up, remain present and allow yourself to be free and vulnerable with me.

i cry because i  feel so very loved and safe, knowing i can be vulnerable as well and that you'll never run from my tears.  instead you will remain and hold me.

i cry because the connection we feel and experience is so incredibly beautiful and real.   i feel so much that it can't be contained so it runs down my cheeks in the form of tears.

with you i let go and find myself in a mystical place where time slows and magic happens.

sometimes i cry when we're together simply because we are together.

on a country road

i can't tell you how many times i walked this road. sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the wee hours of night. sometimes to visit a neighbor, sometimes to clear my head, sometimes to simply commune with nature.

5 years ago today my daughter took this photo looking west on township road 1210 in ashland county. this is where coop and i lived (twice!) and later she lived, and where my kids were primarily raised. our house can't be seen in the photo. it was an old 2 story farm house on the right side of the road, on the curve.

it was not uncommon to see deer frolicking in the field to the left or crossing through our yard to the gully and creek behind the house. that was where they gathered for a drink of water and to rest, out of sight to passers by, yet i could always see them from my kitchen window. often i would watch a flock of wild turkey wander through or a mamma turkey leading her young ones up the road.

life has changed and changed me a lot, but so many of the memories i treasure most were made while living on this country road.

nailed it!

a note from The Captain who nails it just about every time.

now

here they stand one year later

on the precipice

no longer questioning

all it is is 

or what it is

and neither knows

where it goes

  but it goes

and grows

in caring 

  sharing

   deeper 

    stronger

much sweeter the hunger

(c)s.cooper

10-2-19

3 days in october

she waits

anticipating his return

and all the wonder he brings

to her quiet world

electric currents run through her

the secrets of her body

she holds tightly

to be shared only with him

theirs is a spiritual journey

of passion and play

of love and romance

known only to them

it will leave them

filled and emptied

it will leave them

healed and broken

yet they will return

over and over

to feel, to love, to know

the only truth there is

(c)s.cooper

10-8-19