Work of Hearts

 Happy Birthday, Bright Light Sixteen weeks ago you found your relief From a world that tried to hide your smile. While I try to heal, I'm restless in grief, I haven't sat still in quite awhile. It's hard to process your sudden goodbye, Closure feels stuck between a fairy tale and a lie. Today your birthday has a heavenly theme! I don't have a gift to top that, Just a simple day dream Of you smiling and wearing your favorite hat. You deserve a glorious celebration, With resounding applause and a standing ovation For all you have endured In your family tree. The prayers you spoke were heard, God finally set you free From generational pain At the hands of the insane. Your blood line may be rotten, But you maintained the peace. You'll never be forgotten, You have given so many a piece From your heart and have touched so many lives. We'll meet again when my homecoming arrives. Your soul made life merry and bright! May the next sunrise or shooting star Remind us to

I Didn’t see you today Or hear you say, "Baby girl, I have a new song for you to play." All I could do was curl Up into a ball to sleep Hoping in my dream we’d meet, But your ghost didn’t make a peep Or snuggle me under my sheet. Saying goodbye would never be my choice. I miss you, you hold my heart. The ache of not hearing your voice Tears me apart. It hurts me that I can’t Hear what you have to say. I’d give anything to listen to you rant About the daily news today. You always put me in the best mood, Helped me focus and made me feel. We've shared so much gratitude, I still don’t think this is real! Thank you for being there for me, Now you’re quiet, forever gone. Is heaven like we imagined it to be? Grief paralyzes me, I can’t move on. S. Ambrose, 2022 For Josh (1977-2022)

Scratched and Scattered Soul I know I bring lovely light With me where I go. Grace always gives me insight, But I wonder if you know-- How I’ve torn off pieces of me To help others feel whole. How I’ve helped them feel free, Keeping my emotions in control. With great affection, I deeply see, feel, and am fully aware I’m depth in a shallow world of disconnection, Running out of pieces of me to share. I need more than a season To keep being the reason Someone lights up when they smile. S. Ambrose, 2022

See Me Whole In relationships people overthink Before they finish a blink Thinking how to upgrade New feelings that won’t fade The grass isn’t greener on the other side It’s green where the water hits the soul inside Real sparks can be found on this side or that When communication is something one works at Works through, works with-hand in hand I just can’t understand How sincere people are let go Because real love grows slow Everyone is in a race to a finish line Plucking fruit off a vine Before its ripped season Without meaningful reason I won’t settle for what doesn’t water my soul I’d rather lay on hot coal And feel something real Than try to live up to an unrealistic ideal Of what perfects connection I’m not perfection Just a work of art in progress That doesn’t want to guess What I mean to another heart Willing to rip mine apart I won’t settle for anything less Than what will undress My mind and heart first Because you can’t quench your thirst On something that fades Or creates b

I used to attract excuses and self doubt Because gratitude was scattered about Expectations of myself were too high Love should've been my only reply Growth silently waited to move ahead For me to breathe, to get out of my head. Trust turned to  stone  Until I realized I wasn't alone Love stood patiently by my side Art became  my reliable guide. Peace met me in grief's canyon Forgiveness held me, a true companion Wherever you roam You are not alone

Healing words Feelings stirred Navigating passion in Poetic fashion Stitching my heart Restarting lost art. S. Ambrose

Life prepares you for where you are going to be before you get there Before I had the courage to leave unhealthy past workplaces, I almost memorized and would often passively aggressively post this quote: "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” T. R. Two school years ago, I remembered my worth and as I walked to m

Nostalgia When my heart feels like stone,  I travel back in time to a childhood home. You loved me unconditionally, steadfast In  every season of my past, Homesick, I peek through Summer fields of fireflies to see you Before fireworks light up and spark a familiar feeling.  You're my favorite memory that needs healing.  Among Autumn's changing colors swirling at my feet,  Crisp air and crackling bonfires meet. Even though I feel protected by your ghost,  The colorful leaves make me miss you the most.  Snowflakes and candlelight fill up holiday midnights. Winter homes twinkle in cozy Christmas delights Of sugar cookies, board games, and peppermints. I snuggle up wishing to feel your faded fingerprints. Springtime hope battles to bloom Out of winter's frostbitten, cold, dark tomb. I love you more today than yesterday,  You're always with me guiding my way. You hold my heart through every season that I roam, I miss you deeply, you're my favorite poem.  How long must I

More Than a Memory I saw your highlight reel. It made me feel Grateful our souls met Before uncertainty set Obstacles in our flow, Turned highs into a low. Our energy made me feel alive,  Creative confidence started to thrive. Pure love burst out from inside, We felt safe to unburden and confide. I left nothing hidden,  Authenticity wasn't forbidden. As you start to leave,  My heart sits on my sleeve. Did it feel too real That you had to kill Something deep and rare Because life didn't play fair? "I miss you, " is hard to say, Harder to let you go, so I pray. At peace, I make room For planted seeds to bloom. Even if it takes a while,  The next time I see you, I'll smile.  Whatever comes our way With thankfulness-We'll be okay. S. Ambrose Deep, connective, and rare friendships or even relationships that don't make sense to the world yet bring out the best in us don't have to be limited to just one season.