Approximate reading time: 5 minutes

Written the 18th April 2021

I woke up this morning

feeling so light

Free from the anxiety 

That has gripped my chest tight

Not one single dream

well not that I remember

Nothing to analyse

(or meticulously dismember)

Just happiness

Relief

I will get through

 I have the tools

I know what to do

Gratitude for all

who stand by my side

So overwhelmed with love

I want to cry

“Oh Hello Carys.

Long-time no see

I thought perhaps

you had abandoned me?”

“Don’t be silly

I’m NEVER apart from you

I was just giving space

to allow your other parts through

*****

So, I head out for a massage

my first in months

So lovely to see

so many people out for lunch

It’s like the world is waking up

 connecting again

laughing happy people

out meeting friends

Flowers are blooming

beauty everywhere

The first time I noticed flowers

was sometime last year

Seriously, how is that possible?

Where have I been?

How could so much worldly splendour

For so long go unseen?

********

Now I’m sitting on the bus

a frail, old man hobbles on

He has bags in his hands

all the seats are gone

I’m right in the back

 I’m too far away

I’m holding my breath

as I’m watching him sway

He walks to a man

 to ask if he can sit

As the man shifts

my heart drops like a brick

The bus starts moving

“Be careful his going to fall”

“Help him with his bags!!”

I desperately want to call

He doesn’t fall, thank God

as I straighten out my frown

I’m conscious of my heart thudding,

“Take a breath Gayle

calm down!”

********

‘Oh, look who came in

a lady with an adorable dog

“Get one of those one day!”

I make a mental log

So happy and content

as I’m walking on the street

I’m listening to a new song

 my head bops out the beat

Random thought that I think

you really SHOULD know

I need to be in my own music video

Like ‘Lost frequencies

and Zonderling’

Their song “Crazy”

just makes my heart sing

An annoying habit

 that I will admit

(It’ll drive my future husband

crazy as shit)

When I fall in love with a song

I will play it on repeat

I can listen to one song

 for days and for weeks

So, while listening to my latest

I’m suddenly conscious of the words

Devastation as the realization occurs

Oh my God!

The song is about suicide

losing your best friend

Taking for granted that someone

would be there till the end

Wondering why he never realised

or saw the signs?

If he’d known his friend was struggling

could he have thrown out a lifeline?

Feeling swamped by emotion

 for the writer of this song

… for the billions of people

 who have lost loved ones…..

I’m suddenly thinking of my parents

and others no longer here

Take another deep breath

wipe away random tears

******

Now I’m walking through a huge park

 happy families everywhere

Energy of exhilaration

 just floats through the air

I see a mother and two children

 a baby and a small child

As she kisses the baby lovingly

 the small child glares eyes wild

Aaaah bless a little sadness

seeps into my skin

Having to share your mum…

What a truly horrid thing

Silent prayer

Thank you God

 for making me the last child

I never had to experience

that emotional exile!

*******

Oh, look at that stunningly

beautiful jacaranda tree….

Aren’t its lavender flowers exquisite?

I’m so happy to be me

Now I’m not quite sure

 What’s the point of this poem

except today I was really conscious

of all that goes on

As a highly sensitive person

whose emotions just fly

From happiness to sadness

 in the blink of an eye

I see it as well

with my online little girl

the one who gave me the hug

(With all the beautiful curls)

A more sensitive child

 I have yet to find

but so unbelievably sweet

and so very kind

She flitters and flutters

from one thought to the next

There are often so many distractions

 she constantly seems vexed

“Gayle the dog is barking!”

“I can smell some food!”

“Oh no my pencil is broken

what can I do?”

“Gayle the wind’s blowing

it’s so very strong!”

“Oh, look the sun is coming out.”

“I like my hair long!”

“I love my little brother

look he has come to say hello!”

“Cute babies

make me smile, you know”

“What’s that noise, Gayle?”

“I am feeling a little scared?”

“My tummy is hurting”

“I really like your hair!”

So maybe my point

if your child is an HSP

Please allow their deluge of emotions

to simply just breathe

They really can’t help it

 that they’re so easily side-tracked

As they constantly process their emotions

 to feel safe and intact

If you have compassion and allow

them their excess thoughts to archive

You will be one step closer

 to helping them flourish and thrive