Sparkle in a Dark Corner

Today is National Poetry Day and to mark this event I have two poems for you – one by Judy Martin and one written by me as a sort of answer/conversation in poetry.

The theme this year is FREEDOM.

We’d be very happy if you wanted to join in. You are welcome to use my photo if it sparks a creative response. All I ask is that you leave the watermark on it and link back to this post.

The back story:

A friend of my daughter is a Counsellor and she has set up a Facebook Page dedicated to Self Care. She has invited me to contribute. She looks for Sparkles and invites us to find them in everyday places. This inspired me to go for a walk one morning looking for Sparkles to photograph – what a wonderfully uplifting focus for a walk.

Below is one of the photos I took. A very close friend of mine is going through a hideous bout of depression at the moment and this photo seemed like a metaphor, I took it to send to her. I know Judy Martin has been visited by the dark days of Depression as she has written about it, poignantly and beautifully, on her blog: Edwina’s Episodes. Time for us to team up again. Judy wrote this poem in response to my photo:

Sparkle in a Dark Corner

In the depths of darkness and despair

I feel so alone, like no-one is there

Surrounded by dangers unseen and unheard

Trapped and frightened, like a caged bird

Thoughts so jumbled, make no sense

But pain and heartache are so intense

From the world, I just want to hide

And keep my feelings bottled up inside

 

But wait, there is something that has caught my eye

It looks blurry through the tears I cry

Yes, it’s shimmering and shining bright

A distant glimmer, shaft of light

It seems so very far away

But I know I can draw closer day by day

 

From my dark corner there is hope

And support to help me cope

The light grows brighter every day

My world has gone from black to grey

I continue onwards, spirits rising

My soul had started re-energizing

I came through the other side

With just a sparkle as my guide.

poem by Judy E. Martin

of Edwinas Episodes

~

When I read this it brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. I too have experienced depression (many years ago) and so have members of my family, whilst musing on this, a poem started to write itself to go alongside Judy’s poem

 

Even Then

 

Even on the darkest days

Even in the darkest hours

Even in the deep dark corners

Where the sharpness causes pain

Even when the demons lurk

Even then

Even then

There is a sheen

A tiny gleam

A spark of light

Even then

poem by Sandra Dorey

 

~

It feels so good to find Freedom from Depression, but the memory of the demon never totally goes away.

If you find yourself responding to either picture or poem please feel free to share with us. It might be a poem, a story, a helpful saying, a photo or a picture. Sometimes it feels good to link up.

Happy National Poetry Day!