Poetry

This…is my season.

/ Sandi Knight / Leave a comment

A poem written last September. The sentiments remain the same; fall will forever be my favourite season. Happy Autumn Equinox!

This…
is my season.

When the morning air is crisp and cool;
walks refreshing, invigorating.

When fog rolls across prairie fields,
then slowly lifts as the sun rises.

When steam rises from my morning coffee,
as I pause on my deck to soak in the beauty.

When autumn twirls her brush with a flourish,
her palette rich with gold, amber, scarlet, auburn.

When fashion-forward trees shed their coats of green
we waited so eagerly to see just a few shorts months ago.

When painted leaves dance down to the ground,
as the wind nudges them to let go and fly.

When the greys and brown of tree branches and bark
are highlighted against the fresh autumn canvas.

When flowers deepen and brighten in colour,
hosting hummingbirds and bees for a final fall feast.

When the sky is a deep, clear, azure blue,
filled with migrating birds calling out their goodbyes.

When the sun reluctantly slips away earlier,
but with vibrant hues of harvest orange and red.

When change is in every direction
yet welcome, soothing and comforting.

This…
is my season.

Sandi Knight © 2023

Storms of Life

/ Sandi Knight / 4 Comments

Storms of Life

The storms of life —
no one is immune,
we all must weather them.

Their power catches us off guard —
harsh, brutal, damaging,
yet beautiful, awe-inspiring.

We may come out stronger,
we may feel broken,
always altered, forever changed.

What gets us through is knowing
there is light, always light…
it finds us, leads the way.

We carry on as best we can,
finding hope, healing,
new paths, new beginnings.

Sandi Knight © 2024

Tangled Roots

/ Sandi Knight / 3 Comments

Sandi Knight Photo

Tangled Roots

When we pause
to examine our roots,
are vulnerable and raw,
when we sit with our wounds, our pain…
it creates freedom
to release what doesn’t serve us,
it makes room
for new experiences,
and stories
to flow into our lives.

Sandi Knight © 2024

Shadows dance

/ Sandi Knight / 2 Comments

Morning musings…

Sandi Knight

Shadows dance

Shadows dance
on my bedroom wall.

Branches swaying
in the morning breeze,

create a moving,
monochrome canvas.

I stretch, feel grateful
for the comfort of my bed.

For trusty canine,
curled up beside me.

For the welcome aroma
of freshly brewed coffee.

For awakening at home
to safety, security, and peace.

For simply watching
shadows dance on my bedroom wall.

 

Sandi Knight © 2024

 

“I can smell the moss”

/ Sandi Knight / 1 Comment

January 24, 2024 was a serendipitous, ‘big magic‘ kind of day. I was writing the first draft of a story about a young women wandering into a mossy forest.

“She took a few deep breaths and felt her body relax. She was almost there. Her special place. Her retreat from the world. Where sunlight filtered magically through the towering trees, dancing on the moss and the rocks in the clearing. Where bluebells blossomed. Where she felt at home.“

At the same time Kathy Bradshaw was finishing her captivating piece of art, entitled, “I can smell the moss”. Neither of us knew what the other was doing. Two days later, this ‘creative collision’ opened the door to collaborate and enter the Canadian Encaustic International Online ‘Waxing Poetic’ Exhibition.

From Kathy’s artist statement: “There is nothing like breathing in forest air – its intoxicating mix of moss, earth, decay, cedar and pine. A forest’s lush array of colours and textures weave a visual feast. There is mystery, there is darkness, and oh there is light. It is the sensual, mysterious and dreamy nature of encaustic that allows me to tell this story best. I also consider Sandi Knight’s touching poetry/prose piece to be the perfect extension of my painting.”

Thank you Kathy for your kind words, support and the opportunity to showcase my poem alongside your enchanting, mossy, sunlit forest.

“I can smell the moss” — Kathy Bradshaw

I can smell the moss

She brought the painting to Gran’s room,
hung it where it could be viewed from the comfort of the bed,
remembering the first time they wandered down, what would become, their favourite woodland path…

Large, lush ferns lined the narrow trail,
sentinels to a sacred spot.

The clearing opened before them,
so welcoming, so magical…

Sunlight danced playfully
on the moss-covered forest floor.

Spring was ebbing into summer,
the greens rich, vibrant, varied.

Bluebells softly swayed
in grass beneath the towering trees.

They paused, taking it all in,
entranced by this mystical oasis.

Gran awoke, surprised to see Sarah at her bedside.
Her face lit up, her gaze moving slowly from granddaughter to canvas,
“Oh Sarah dear, it’s as if I’m there! I can see the bluebells. I can feel the breeze. I can smell the moss.”

Sandi Knight © March 2024

The air changed…

/ Sandi Knight / 2 Comments

When a death brings back past trauma and memories, it takes a lot of work to heal. This poem was part of that process. #WorldPoetryDay seems an appropriate time to release it into the wild.

The air changed —

when you opened the door
when you walked into a room
when you sat down at the table…

when we lowered your urn —

the air changed. 

Sandi Knight © 2024

You will rise

/ Sandi Knight / 4 Comments

“With an Open Heart” by Marlies Soltys

You will rise

You will rise 

To the girl at the window —
heart filled with fear, tears streaming down your face.
This is not your fault.

You did nothing wrong.
It’s not your responsibility, not yours to fix.
You will be okay.

Yes, you will remember…
But this will not haunt you, nor define you.
You will heal, you will rise.

You will find solace and peace
with the animals in the pasture and the barn,
in nature, in books, in running.

The outdoors will soothe you.
Your imagination, your creativity, your spirit,
will not be deterred.

You will chart your own course,
with guidance and encouragement from others —
who see, who care, who will help.

You will be determined —
forge ahead with enthusiasm, go through doors
you never imagined opening for you.

Your path will wind,
take you unexpected places, bring new opportunities,
and you will always try, always learn.

Yes, you will stumble —
falter, make mistakes and struggle,
but you will rise and keep moving ahead.

You will build a circle,
of friends, colleagues and strong women
who inspire you, see you and lift you up.

They will accept you —
just as you are, for who, and for all that you are.
They will have your back, in good times and bad.

With them you’re safe —
to express joy, wonder, happiness,
but also sadness and despair.

They will stand by you,
encourage you to share your gifts, your talents
— to shine your light.

In time, you will believe
you are worthy — of acceptance, of celebration,
of love and self-love.

To the girl at the window —
you will find your way past the fear, past the tears.
You will heal, and you will rise.

Sandi Knight © 2021

Swirl

/ Sandi Knight / 2 Comments

Swirl

Words are trapped,
caught in web
of anxiety and fog.

Thoughts, ideas swirl,
entangled
in tightness of my chest.

Blank paper
stares back,
waiting for mind etchings…

Not caring
whether words
educate, inform or inspire.

Just breathe,
unravel the swirl,
let it fall gently on page.

Sandi Knight © 2018