Rest in That Love

African Violet and heart rocks

I don't usually 'stage' my pictures. But this is an African Violet that Barry gave to me on February 14,  2002. It has survived my not-so-green thumb, a house renovation and tipping over a few times in my car. The heart rocks are just a few from my collection. The left one is from the coast of Maine, the middle one is from the Sandy River (found in the water, partially covered with sand) and the one on the right is my most recent from Burnt Island. This montage just seemed appropriate to the following poem:

Rest in That Love

I felt it today,
but in a different, more profound way.
That complete circuit
of beautiful, intricate bonds between
mother and child,
soulmate and soulmate,
Untainted by the aches and pains
of heartache and loss,
before grief and sorrow
found a handhold and
clouded the purity
of the connection.
I’m so happy, so relieved
to recognize even more deeply
that it’s still there.
A force so strong that it surfaces
amid the confusion and angst
that can accompany
the sorting and shifting
of the process of healing.
The fact of the matter is -
I love them with all my heart and soul.
Though I do not profess to
have been a perfect wife or mother,
I know that I surrounded them with,
immersed them in,
 love.
And they me.
Gentle, caring man who
saw the me that I am all along.
Blue-eyed, thoughtful boy
free with his questions and hugs.
Tender-hearted, adorable girl
who smiles and cries
with her whole being.
It’s vital now for me to allow myself
to rest in that love,
trust that we will continue to find our way.
No judgment, no stress.
Simply allowing this widow, this mom
to lay back, take a deep breath
and soak in the sweet sensations of love shared
with a man, a boy and a girl.
It's time now

to calmly and quietly

rest in that love.

Sarah Carlson

July 5, 2017