Tripwire

Walking on a tripwire

Feeling secure with my footing

And then I look down

And I begin to falter

 

I put one foot in front of the other

But I lose my footing

And I begin to fall

Tumbling to the floor

 

I am waiting for the thud

When I land on the ground

But instead of that

I am flying again

 

Because you caught me

In your arms as I fell

You reached me,

Before I hit the ground

 

You hold me close

Squeezing me tight

And protect me from the pain

A fall would have caused

 

I thank you for not letting me go

For coming to my rescue

Even though I took my eyes off you

Which caused me to stumble and fall

 

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

Feb 2023

Sanctuary

  

Solace and love

Affirmation and peace

New beginnings

Counting on you

The one who has seen all

Understanding us completely

Always there for us

Ready and willing to listen

Yearning for us to run to him

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

January 2023

Just Like Me

I turn to you

For comfort

For love and affirmation

                                                                                                                      

But when I turn

I can’t see you

As you walked away

 

I wanted you to tell me

That all will be okay

But on you, I cannot rely on

 

In you I want solace

But that you do not give

You offer little rest

 

It's hard for you to be

Exactly what I need

Because you are just like me

 

You need comfort

You need rest

And a place to heal your soul

 

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

January 2023

On the Outside

Living on the outside

Skirting the edges

Of society today

Standing in the corner

Unsure of what to do

And who to speak to

Should I enter the room?

Would I be accepted

Would I be heard

Do they see me

Or am I invisible

To the people around me

Am I an outsider

Do I belong?

And if so where?

Or am I on the inside

Looking out at them

On the outside

Jo Anne Kennedy

January 2023

Watching Me

I can't shake the feeling

That you are standing behind me

Watching my every move

I feel like no matter

Which corner I turn

You would be standing there

It frightens me

And makes me panic

And afraid to move

Because the thought of

Seeing your face again

Sends chills down my spine

The fear consumes me

Of what you would do to me

If you found me again

But no matter what you did

Could not be any worse

Than the actions of the past

You made me this way

Living in a state of anxiety

And jumping at shadows

Jo Anne Kennedy

January 2023

The Light Shines

                                                          

The light shines in the darkness

Rays of the sun can be seen

Through the rain filled clouds

Making the sky inky dark

I close my eyes

And I see a river running

Through emerald green fields

Into a roaring sea

All this brings peace to me

And the knowledge that

In all this time I am not alone

As I am wrapped in love

Jo Anne Kennedy

January 2023

Chosen and Beloved

                                                   

 In the darkness

I stand but I am not afraid

Because there under the door

Is a glint of light

The shadows which once were

Are no longer there

As the door flies open

And the lightness shines in

 

The whispering words

Are not that of hate

They are cries of love

Being spoken like  a prayer

 

The suffering blackness

Is no longer there

Instead, I stand

In a sea of calm

 

I take a step back

And I begin to fall

But instead of hitting the ground

I fall into the arms of love

 

My eyes are open

And I truly see

The person I am

Chosen and Beloved

 

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

December 2022