O' Yes I Have
Felt "lost-ish" (for unofficial challenge)
As a matter of fact, yes I have felt this way...
When as a child and your parents divorce,
that seems to take you way off course...
*
And then once again in my teenage years,
trying to look pretty, but so full of fears.
*
Becoming a mother for the very first time...
not having a penny, much less a dime.
*
Trying to make that marriage thing work,
"harder than it looks," they said with a smirk.
*
Facing the realities of divorce all your own,
feeling very lost and so terribly alone...
*
Scratching and 'eeking out a new life,
just wanting more peace & less strife.
*
Watching your children grow up and depart,
feeling you've lost the best part of your heart...
*
Saying goodbye for the last time to your mother,
that is a loss unlikely you recover...
*
Wanting retirement but when it finally arrives,
finding out much of your identity it deprives...
*
Now, having way more time than of money,
living somewhere between aging and death isn't funny...
As a matter of fact, yes I have felt this way!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is written for Gabriel Huizenga's unofficial challenge:
About the Creator
Shirley Belk
Mother, Nana, Sister, Cousin, & Aunt who recently retired. RN (Nursing Instructor) who loves to write stories to heal herself and reflect on all the silver linings she has been blessed with :)
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (16)
Absolutely brilliant poem… love its progression and rhythm and rhyme 💖✅. Anyone who can write that can’t be ’Lost’!😵💫🤔
that last line grappled my heart! Shirley, I applaud your candid and open hearted words and hope you dont always feel this way! beautiful work!
Look at you, Agent Shirley 💫 I enjoyed this!
That was fantastic. I'm in love with that last line, because it's so true.
yes, I have, too...great work, Shirley...
Great poem and response to Gabriel's Lost-ish prompt, Shirley. Very vulnerable and heartfelt writing!
The raw and honest reflection resonates deeply. The sense of resilience and the search for peace amidst challenges is beautifully conveyed.
Wow, what a powerful reflection on life's ups and downs! It's bittersweet and so relatable—everyone’s journey has those tough moments that shape us. You’ve really brought those feelings to life in such a thoughtful, poetic way. So much truth packed into this!
Oh my, I've not experienced most of this but it still hit me so hard. Sending you lots of love and hugs ❤️
So have I, Shirley!! Well done❤️❤️
I canot believe how fast you banged this out and it is so GOOD. I like the travel through time you took us on. realism of life. Very well done
I think we all have
My Dear S-Bud - Just between you and me - I have it all 'figured' out. But, they don't let me into challenges so they don't know what I'm all about. j-bud in the other l.a.
This is so relatable. Life , I don't think it's suppose to be figured out.
This captures the heart of aging, the loss of innocence and the mother’s longing for her grown children. This is deeply felt, Shirley and an excellent entry to Gabriel’s challenge!
This is such an honest and profound window into your experience - thank you for sharing this powerful piece, Shirley! I was particularly moved by the line, "feeling you've lost the best part of your heart." Thanks again for submitting this wonderful entry!