A Wonderful Life Poem by Shirley Harrison

When I was born I couldn't speak

so I cried that was the only way I could communicate

after a few months, I learnt how to use my voice for more than just crying

and after a short time

I began to put my first words together

but even though I didn't know it at the time

crying wasn't just to communicate

It was also a way to show my emotions

I learnt that it was ok to cry when I was overwhelmed with sadness

and to cry when I was overjoyed with happiness

a journey from the day I was born

I've been terrified
I've been hungry
I've been hurt

I have learnt how to trust I've also lost my trust in some

distrust will never grow back, on the roots of my soul

and that's where my stubborn streak comes in

I could sulk for days and I can also forgive

but that depends on my heart and my logic

emotions are certainly not what I would call clockwork

I'd say more that they work on the basis of the view, I myself can see

which of course will always be biased to me

don't get me wrong I can also say sorry when I'm wrong

see, each day I believe we can learn something new about ourselves

and there are times I've surprised myself with courage and determination

It's not taught at school in text but

I've been faced with the class bully

looking back, I now call it experience

It's deep within lessons of everyday life

sometimes we don't even notice because like I say it's life

we expect ups and downs and spins and falls

even when we do not like them

and to have all the tools, we need to feel everything

Grief, Love, Hate, Trust

someone in the corner no matter what

and I guess I've been reflecting on these emotions of life a lot of late

and some things I've learned over time

I should always love myself without depending on anyone to love me

I believe in the Sun it will always shine even if some days it's hiding behind a cloud

I've found that sometimes, evil hides behind a smile

Love can sometimes leave me feeling like I'm hung up dripping on a washing line

naked and vulnerable watching the cars with together-people inside

laughing at me until they're not looking where they're going

and bump into the street pole themselves

and lemons and Limes? well they look different but in the end
they are the same.