Boundary Waters
A free verse poem by Keila Aartila
A short poem about creating & maintaining personal boundaries …
I can get swept away by the current,
or I can stay on my own bank.
***
The choice is not yours
for where I place my feet,
but your strength of flow
is.
***
I will not be soothed again
by portrayal of calm waters
on the surface,
running swiftly over rocks
hidden carefully beneath.
***
The lonesome path is beautiful,
my company complete;
***
I will find another way across.
The boundaries I set are about maintaining my own safety, my own peace of mind, and protection of my own created family. My boundaries are not about controlling or punishing another. How a person decides to react is not my choice.
Thank you for reading! For reference, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) is a Wilderness area with thousands of miles for canoeing, hiking and camping in northern Minnesota. It’s not far from where I live, yet, unfortunately, I’ve never been there.
About the Creator
KJ Aartila
A writer of words in northern WI with a small family and a large menagerie.
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Standing While Falling
Quotation from Friedrich Nietzsche "He who wrestles long with monsters should beware lest he himself become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. Man is not destroyed by suffering, but by the meaning he makes of it."
By LUCCIAN LAYTH7 days ago in Critique
Comments (12)
I love the movement of water used to show the internal movement of the speaker! Great job!
This is great. Personal boundaries are so important. I struggle with setting boundaries myself.
Really beautiful and powerful
This was spunk filled! I love it. I struggle with boundaries and beat myself up for caving. This is inspirational
In my loneliness, I find nspiration. Your words spoke to me. Thank you
Yes, it's not easy sometimes to set those boundaries! It can ruffle feathers and put people off, especially those that think you should be accessible all the time. Glad you're able to do this for yourself and your family :) Great poetry!
For so many years I never set my boundaries, setting them does greatly help ones peace of mind. Great Poem
Very beautiful! Love ❤️
Beautiful piece. Well done.
Nice work. Well worded.
Thank you💕 I was in the BWCA 3 times a year for many years. All while my 3 children were growing up. They love the BWCA as much as I do. I still get up there but not in the same way. I last camped out in the BWCA when I went up there with my youngest. It was 3 or 4 years ago now. I have been up there though with friends and stayed in cabins on the water the last few. I plan to keep doing that for as long as I can! We missed this year as the friend I was going up with contracted covid a few days before.
Beautiful!!! Loving it!!!