I came across this old poem--I did not remember it until I read it again, but it still resonates for me, even after more than a decade. I wrote it shortly after we left Sucktown, which I recently wrote a series of stories about on this blog. We lived there for five years and two weeks.
5 years and 2 weeks
is how long it takes
to be dragged to
the edge
and forced
to contemplate
the nothing
that lies below.
5 years and 2 weeks
is how long it takes
to consider
whether one more
tiny movement
over that edge
might just be quicker
and less painful
than this.
5 years and 2 weeks
is how long it takes
to decide otherwise.
To stand up.
To walk away
from nothing
and toward something
that might--
possibly--
turn into
a life.
Shari Burke
10 comments:
Bitter-sweet.
I wonder why we do this. I lived in three horri... not-so-nice places for way too long, also. Ingo even joined (weekend-relationship).
Not that long but I repeated this, crazy.
Glad we´re out of that, right?!
Well, in the aftermath all in all more than 5 years and 2 weeks, just with very nice breaks...
I retrospect, I wish we'd made a different choice when leaving Alaska instead of going there.
On the other hand, I learned a lot and came out a stronger person than when I went in--pain is a harsh teacher.
I've never lived in a place I couldn't stand and after reading your posts about Sucktown I'm very thankful for that.
It's not an experience I'd care to repeat, that's for sure!
"It's not an experience I'd care to repeat, that's for sure!"
After reading the earlier posts and your poem, I can understand your thoughts here!
All the best Jan
I learned a lot the hard way!
You and Bill are survivors in the truest sense of the words.
I love the way you write Shari ❤
Thank you, Jan :-)
We've been through some tough times in our almost 41 years together, but thankfully, the good times have been far more abundant than the bad :-) I am grateful.
Touching poem...love your blog.
Thanks, Brenda!
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