decide

to rest

to heal

to create

to share

to help

to protect 

rhetorical

How lucky am I to see/notice/witness 
rainbows and moonbeams simultaneously :)

i tried..

I tried.. I tried.. I tried.. I understood.. I tolerated.. I bore the brunt of their unprocessed grief,
of their denial, of their conditioning.. I carried it for them as long as I could.. because
they weren’t ready — and maybe they’ll never be.. but that’s for them now, as it always was..
it was for them to hold, to carry, to grieve, to feel, to release.. it was always theirs but they
didn’t know how — I tried to show them.. they piled more on.. and left me with their.. their

I transformed their grief into joy, 

I transformed their hatred into motivation,

I transformed their pain into healing,

I transformed their hostility into imagination,

I transformed their sadness into creativity,

I did everything I could.. I tried.. until I couldn’t carry the weight any longer

I asked them to help pick up the slack

I told them I couldn’t shrink myself anymore

I tried

(Yes, you did.)

(you did everything you could)

(you did enough)

(you tried to show them how to transmute,

  you tried to show them how to be kind,

you tried to show them how to —

you were a child.. 

      they were supposed to take care of you

they were supposed to —

you did everything you could

you tried)

and that’s enough.

"free¿..dom..

Macro-society and micro-“family” force-fed you a tangled mesh of barbed-wire, 

      screaming, bleeding, crying, they continued to shove it down your throat

they tied your hands behind your back, your legs to the chairs’

they muted your screams with their hands, with dirty dish towels,

they ‘washed out your mouth’ with soap,

they punished you for repeating their words,

they blamed you for their in/actions,

they shamed you for bleeding when they cut you,

they mocked you when you cried,

they walked away and left you alone,

they —

And somehow.. somehow you were still able to ‘break free’

tattered, shattered, fractured, cut, bruised,

they broke “you”

and You were able to slip out of their bonds

you shifted and moved until the ties loosened,

you shrunk and slinked away,

They asked you to get back in the chair,

to tie yourself back up,

you said “no”

you ran,

they chased you,

they attacked you,

they dragged you back..

into their "home" lair

so you smiled and played along,

so they wouldn’t tie you up again

so they wouldn’t hurt you more than necessary..

                      [none of it was necessary]

you fawned to survive

you fawned to escape

they tried to guilt you to return,

but you escaped

You escaped.

they cannot hurt you anymore,

you are free.

they cannot hurt you anymore

only memories..

so much to untangle,

so much to release,

so much to grieve and heal, but

You are free now.

an abundance of love

I have a LOT of love to give
I have an abundance of love to give
and I understand how some people can feel overwhelmed by that.. I do
and I hope it helps to know that
      some of my love is for you, yes.. and
      some of my love is for me, and
      some of my love is for cats, and
      some of my love is for the stars, and
      some of my love is for the moon, and
      some of my love is for trees, and

      some of my love is for rain, and
      some of my love is for clouds, and
      some of my love is for dragonflies, and
      some of my love is for birds, and
      some of my love is for flowers, and
      some of my love is for bubbles, and
      some of my love is for food, and
      some of my love is for crafts, and 
      some of my love is for people who live near me (“neighbors”), and
      some of my love is for people who live far away from me
                                         (incl. those I may never meet), and

      some of my love is for people who cook and serve or deliver me food, and
      some of my love is for people who clean shared/public spaces, and 
      some of my love is for people who I only see once
                                         as we pass by each other on the street, and

      some of my love is for people who are thriving/celebrating, and
      some of my love is for people who are grieving, and
      some of my love is for people who are healing from
                                         similar circumstances as me, and

      some of my love is for people who are healing from
                                         different circumstances than me, and
      some of my love is for people who seem like they are stuck
                                         (who haven’t recognized their own ability.. yet), and

I have a LOT of love to give,
and that’s pretty darn awesome :)

enough

 i am enough,

and so are you.

 i have enough, i give enough, i do enough, i think enough, i rest enough,

and so do you.

we are enough.

How to Connect

Tick - tick

Press, click

port, then aft

Underneath

Three tips to the window

One spin up the wall

The velcro bits

stick - stick

Stuck

Don’t forget the glue

Extra sticky 

between the nails

peel and paste

Together we are one

and altogether now

One we are together

With hinges and bolts,

Strings and clips

Hanging

loosely attached

loosely we move and 

**WARNING: risk of damage

tumble, separate, fall

Strongly connected

Connected to support and allow

balance and flow

Not too tight, not too

too much, too little

right-left-right-left

Right there!

just right.

Just enough

The perfect goldilocks amount.

well done.

Created by Rose A. Fitzgerald during a Therapeutic Poetry Workshop courtesy of SocietyX with Lisa Ann Markuson regarding 'Conceptual Surrealism.'

Not again..

Not another massacre

At the hands of men, 

No one is bulletproof

Death becomes us

Violence and fear.

Fear begets fear

Unnecessary murders

everywhere..

When will it end?

Created by Rose A. Fitzgerald during a Therapeutic Poetry Workshop courtesy of SocietyX with Lisa Ann Markuson.

Showing Up

I choose to show up for myself

for my life

for the good of and in the world

for the universe

I deserve to show up for myself

as myself

bravely

fiercely

lovingly

I am enough as I am

and so are you.

We who choose to grow, and rest,

and be, and do

We are the beings

capable of magic

spreading it far and wide

or shining it brightly within

We are star dust, you and I;

We are magnificent exactly as we are

All needs doing is the show

Showing up for ourselves

within ourselves

for others

and to

or tell

How do you show up for yourself?

In an extra special moment of mindful peace and quiet

In that extra push of momentous effort to create

Choosing to keep something only for yourself

Choosing to share something with someone else

Show up, show down, show yourself 

You are welcome here.

Created by Rose A. Fitzgerald during a Therapeutic Poetry Workshop courtesy of SocietyX with Lisa Ann Markuson regarding 'Showing Up.'

News to me

Created by Rose A. Fitzgerald during a Therapeutic Poetry Workshop courtesy of SocietyX with Lisa Ann Markuson regarding 'News.'

I am Safe

Safe to be and express exactly who I am
Always prioritize myself—my needs, my comfort, my desires, my safety, my wellbeing
Feel comfortable and at ease in myself and my surroundings
Everything is truly okay, I am safe now

Written by Rose A. Fitzgerald during a Therapeutic Poetry Workshop courtesy of SocietyX with Lisa Ann Markuson regarding 'Word of the Year.'

What is Peace?

A home filled with 

knick-knacks,

filled with laughter, 

filled with delicious smells

and soothing lullabies 

A moment

of stillness

of comfort

of ease

Eyes closed

and heart open

You can feel the world

vibrating around you

and within you

There is nothing but now

Here.

Who you are is enough

and peace embodies 

your entire being

A white dove glides 

above the sea

Rushing water 

cleanses 

our collective soul

Here you are

and you are here

No more, no less

You are enough

Breathe deep

and savor this moment

this safety

You are complete.

Written by Rose A. Fitzgerald during a Therapeutic Poetry Workshop courtesy of SocietyX with Lisa Ann Markuson 'Peace.'

On the Embodiment of Anger

A burst of flames

An omnipotent

Ruby red, seething 

Beautiful and terrifying

Creature arises from

The ruins of 

Too many pin-pricks

Surrounded by fire and

Creating even more
burn it all

Burn it all down
Enough is enough 

Written by Rose A. Fitzgerald during a Therapeutic Poetry Workshop courtesy of SocietyX with Lisa Ann Markuson regarding 'Embodiment' of anger.

Says who?

I give myself permission

To be who I am

To break rules

even my own?

yes.

To live for me

Written by Rose A. Fitzgerald during a Therapeutic Poetry Workshop courtesy of SocietyX with Lisa Ann Markuson regarding 'NO RULES.'

Trust

Allow people
        to show up

As they are

Then choose
        if that is

            acceptable

        enough
for you.

Do not expect them to be someone they are not

Or do something they are unwilling or unable to do

Accept, allow, and receive

Any goodness

Any kindness

Any love

Or presence 

Accept and receive

The information 

people’s actions give you

If you like what they are offering you,

Mesh, meld, support one another;

If you dislike what they are offering you,

Speak up and let them know

If they hear and
    honor you with positive change

in their relevant behavior or choices

You can choose to continue forward together
    if you so desire;

If they “hear” and
    continue to dishonor you:

Remove access from 

either them or yourself

Whenever possible

And move forward without them.

Build trust in yourself,

         for yourself

        to yourself

First.

    Show up for yourself

    Hear yourself

    Honor yourself
    Respect yourself

            your needs, your desires

It will make it that much easier

to decipher your trust in others.

Whether you trust them to show up for you

or whether you trust them to disrespect you

or anything in between.

See their actions.

Recognize the pattern(s)
Choose accordingly. 

Written by Rose A. Fitzgerald during a Therapeutic Poetry Workshop courtesy of SocietyX with Lisa Ann Markuson regarding 'Trust.'

What is love? 🎵Baby don't hurt me / Don't hurt me / No more🎵

Love is a sweet balm

on the stinging, itchy cuts
and wounds of my past

I spread it thinly across

my entire being

the aches and “broken” parts

of which there are many

A veil of truth and light

a beacon of hope for better

It cleanses and calms

the dark swirling storms
overhead

It helps to create a

healing homeostasis

that I can grow into

That I can grow from

into something more

something different

Someone..

who I was always meant to be

Deep down

It fills the cracks and crevices

of my broken heart 

of my torn ligaments

of my sore muscles

of my fractured bones

So that I may feel whole again

maybe even..

for the very first time.

Love is a sweet balm

that brings me back

to who I truly am.

Written by Rose A. Fitzgerald during a Therapeutic Poetry Workshop courtesy of SocietyX with Lisa Ann Markuson inspired by Antoinette Klatzky regarding 'Love.'