These poems are published connected to a series of workshops produced in partnership between Day Eight and the East Rock Creek Senior Village supported by a Creative Spark grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
Housekeeping
I’m beginning the housekeeping; it’s time,
Time to clear out all the cobwebs and grime.
They only masked a truth that needed to be seen,
A reality waiting at my doorstep—unforeseen.
Lies and manipulation, hidden in the corners,
Offenses where you’d never suspect them.
Now, I see clearly—
It was always there,
Hiding in plain sight,
Waiting for reflection.
Those cobwebs clouded my mind,
My judgment skewed, leaving me blind.
Tyranny attacked my thoughts,
Discernment drained my energy, my time.
It’s time to sweep,
To brush away the crumbs of empty relationships,
And those who never fed my soul.
I won’t entertain you anymore.
You’re swept into the trash,
Buried for safekeeping.
Next, I’ll dust the surfaces
Where reckless decisions have settled,
Letting go of results that hold empty promises
And cloud my vision.
I’ll gladly discard those memories—
They held me hostage, left me in need.
Oh, and I won’t forget to dust the fans,
For if forgotten, they’ll spin self-doubt again,
Whipping up illusions,
Clouding my view of what’s real,
What I truly envision.
It’s time to let them go.
I’ll remember—but only as lessons.
No pity parties, no fear of reckoning.
It’s time to let go of regret,
To vacuum up the fear, the doubt,
Making sure I’ve caught every negative thought,
Every heartbreak and disappointment,
Sealing them away—permanently.
Yes, they’re bagged and gone,
Disposed from my midst.
I’m closing this chapter.
No need to revisit the past,
No need to worry about what could have been,
What should have been.
What’s for me shall be,
Even if it can’t be foreseen.
When it’s all said and done,
It’s time to move on.
On from the clutter that no longer serves,
My headspace is now clear
Of cobwebs, dust, and grime.
The circus of chaos has packed up,
Illusions gone,
Confusion stilled.
Peace is what I’m seeking,
And as I take a deep breath—
It’s peace that now fills my being.
Inhale, exhale—
I feel it settle in my bones,
Where confusion once thrived.
The dust has cleared,
And in its place, I find—me.
Yellow Brick Road
Making the most of every moment!
Eager to explore what the future holds
Not allowing my golden years to pass me by because there’s no time to let things run awry
I’m making my bucket list and checking it twice
Rather than thinking about it, I am rolling the dice
Taking a chance, I press on with strength
With great enthusiasm I explore and travel great lengths
In my golden years, I am grateful to God
at the blessings he has sent
For I have tried my best to be faithful
And while my bucket list may not seem ambitious to you these upcoming years are no time to be wasteful
Relocating to the realm of my dreams to explore all the places I’ve dreamt of
You see I really want to see what’s at the end of that rainbow
Folks have said that there, I just may find my King of Pentacles
So be happy for me as I would be for you
There’s no reason to be hating
Forgive me for breaking the barrier of these four walls and the stagnant mindset that’s stressful
As I start my trek down the magical yellow brick road it’s fine if no one accompanies me
Although, I wouldn’t mind a friend or two to share the memories and talk the tea
For I can carry my own load to the next space and time and bask in the light of the future of mankind
Because I’ve come to understand that there’s a vast contrast between being by oneself
Verses being lonely and stuck in self-pity within one’s self
Do Not Disturb
Do not disturb my peace
Walking through life not looking for strife
Do not disturb my peace
If I don’t respond back
Not looking for any flak
Do not disturb my peace
Staying in my lane
Not looking for folks to drive me insane
Nor point fingers or blame
Do not disturb my peace
The world is crazy right now
No leader can take a bow
Do not disturb my peace
A world full of the fake
Out for the take
Do not disturb my peace
We must unite
For there is so much at stake
Do not disturb my peace
The need for more discernment
To avoid disillusionment
Do not disturb my peace
Staying steadfast to my belief
That there will come some relief
Do not disturb my peace
I will have faith
It’s not up for debate
Do not disturb my peace
I pray that integrity will be sustained
God will be with me throughout
This change
“I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”
So
Do not disturb my peace!
His Touch
From the moment,
He put his fingertips,
Upon the temple of my face.
I felt an unexpected feeling of connection. One of mixed emotions,
Of intimacy,
A tingle, yet serenity with each stroke.
His touch soothing, yet sensuous,
As he rolls his hands over each mound of my sacred space.
Forbidden to many, restrictive at best!
Access meant only for the Divine Masculine.
For only he,
May invade,
Only he may trespass,
This Empresse’s sacred space.
Will I allow this one?
Just this one?
To trespass my inner sanctuary.
Because secrets may be revealed.
His touch stirring up memories,
In me of a past connection.
One that was passion filled, with taboo.
Of forbidden love existing in a prior place and time.
Could it be he?
Did we cross paths before?
His touch ever so soothing.
I welcome it with each grasp.
I harbor no fear of him,
As he embraces each curve,
It ignites a fire within me!
Exuding warmth, and gentle care.
Such a pleasurable embrace.
Perfection in one human touch.
Mystical and magical sends chills up my spine!
Perhaps a glimmer of a simmering passion from another place and time.
With each touch, he shows compassion.
As he ever so gently, caresses each and every curve.
Sending healing energy throughout,
Every nerve.
I comply,
For I am jelly in his gentle hands.
Meant to be healing but, ever so titillating.
His touch sparks memories of,
A time not known, to man in the world of 3D.
As he delves into every crevice of my body.
Each caress reveals secrets at the very depth of my soul.
Does he sense this?
Or is it only my imagination?
I keep this feeling concealed.
For only you God, in heaven truly knows.
He stares into my eyes.
I turn away,
For fear, that my eyes will reveal,
The secret of what we both,
May or may not have shared long ago.
Unexplainable, to others
I wonder if he knows?
And if so,
Thou shalt ignite my Soul!
For the anticipation of blissful honey dust powder and pleasure balm delights!
Stirs my imagination of,
Passion filled nights.
Did destiny cross our paths for a karmic meeting?
Will we finally reunite?
Has destiny bestowed upon me this sightly man who could be kryptonite?
Catherine Klein was born in Brooklyn, New York, of West Indian descent. She moved to Washington, D.C. as a young child, completing primary through secondary school followed by an undergraduate degree at American University. Catherine worked as a professional writer and subsequently a Senior Project Control Specialist/Quality Manager. Later, she worked as a Senior Acquisition Specialist. Catherine adopted a little girl in 1993 and is now a grandmother of three. She spends much of her time visiting with her family, exploring new adventures for her bucket list, and using her decades of writing experience to fuel her newfound passion for poetry. In her recent retirement, Catherine has found joy and peace in both the written and spoken word.
Featured image in this post is, “Women Washing Clothes by a Stream” By Daniel Ridgway Knight, licensed creative commons via Wikimedia Commons.
