An evocative poem, by Christine, where she aspires beauty and reasons that she has not voyaged like her lover. An exclusive for Different Truths.

than I have ever dreamt of being,
on the outside,
Ever.
Though something in your eyes
says we share an unimaginable depth
of beauty,
deep;
way, way deep inside.
BUT…
I haven’t walked in your shoes
Your face unlined by Life,
YET.
forehead unfurrowed by
Loss,
Grief,
Pain;
YET.
lips untwisted by
Disillusion,
Betrayal,
Disgust
Still… your eyes tell me
I haven’t walked in your shoes either.

You’ve known love,
that is clear.
A mother’s tenderness perhaps,
A father’s adoration of his little girl... yes, I think so.
Then, your eyes tell me,
Horrific intruders invaded your world,
crushing almost all your sweet soul believed in...
But somewhere deep inside there’s a locked locket with a tiny red stone shaped like a heart,
and safe inside that treasured heirloom is an unextinguishable light of hope and love.
It’s a lock of a mother’s raven hair; a promise of love and courage to take a beautiful soul
through whatever could ever aspire to damage or destroy,
EVER.

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Christine Larsen

Christine Larsen is an Australian in her seventh decade – writer, farmer, wife, mother, grandmother – living on their retirement farm. Her words have taken on new meaning with her recently confirmed diagnosis of Lung cancer, as her journey begins to conquer this uninvited invader with a formidable strength of character and unique sense of humour. Her website is: www.cdcraftee.com, and her public writings can be read for free by Googling – cdcraftee