May You Continue

My wish for you is to claim witness to your own beauty
To continue to see yourself well beyond the filter of humanity
To nourish the subtle energy that flows through you
That sustains you
That transports you
That loves you
That is you

My wish is that you continue to offer yourself unfettered love
That you honor your practices of self care
The reverent practices of self sustenance
The practices that are kind allowing you to splash that kindness outward

My wish for you is that you take your long spine out into your world
That you continue to stand proudly root to crown in your gracefully aging body
To stand tall releasing the petulant kinks that inhibit pranic flow
That you ground like the pines deeply and securely
That you never topple despite the threatening storm
Being a balanced inspiration for she who is untethered

My wish for you is that you continue to honor your unique power
Gently bestowing it outward
Pouring it into the inevitable pockets of weakness you will open
And to continue to be the steady
Unwavering
Beauty-drenched soul you are

These are my wishes for you today
And for the rest of your days
 

Tricia Schwaba 8 28 2024
honoring the strong, northwoods women of the mat

Cold

It wasn’t a cool breeze like that on an evening in the Northwoods

But a fear- laden, icy attempt to freeze her own discomfort

She plays hide-and-seek with her bitchiness finding it in those

Convenient times when faced with reality of her past actions

I see her— she cowers at the thought of attempted healing

I know her— she shrinks at the thought of contrition

I’ve been there— that land of self pity

It is rocky, cold

No good can take seed and grow

Feigning comfort, she keeps herself wrapped

In a fluffy blanket of deception harboring her delusions

And only those that validate them

With her self-loathing she deceives

Not others as is her intention

Only herself

She is me before I soaked in the warmth of my flawed life

That now brims with love

Tricia Schwaba

An Ethereal Shout

Here I am standing— over 7 decades old
Wondering if I’ll clear all the hurdles
My pace has been steady up to this point 
And my dreams have yet to curdle

I know of others in this same class
That have fallen to their knees
Their hearts, their livers, or their wills give out
No longer able to appease

The terrain gets rocky at unexpected bends
Storms stir up after making tough amends
Must breathe into pain, stretch away from doubt
Finish the race with an ethereal shout

I know I’ll swirl in the freedom of knowing
Any nagging doubts were amiss
It was really about trusting my guts lead
And never shunning the bliss

The segments of my life well lived
Will travel well beyond me
I’ll climb onto the medal stand
As the Gold is laid upon me

Now I’m a free flying spirit,
No chains of humanity bind me
Will I move up with a cosmic thrust
Or will the next plane unwind me?

We’ll see

Tricia Schwaba, 2024