Poets logo

Frolicky Foot Free

poetic grace

By Jessica Amber BarnumPublished 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 3 min read
Like
Grace's cardinal.

Sunlit blues, purples and reds,

Birds puttering in wild berry beds.

Vine to vine, wings fluttering in flight,

Beaks uttering ditties in delight.

Fluttering frozen, a frolicky foot chosen,

A sassy snag, flying to lag.

Tangling in a swirly twirly vine,

Fretful and fruitless, trying to untwine.

A tottering, tweedling, squirming bird,

Fire of spirit blazed and stirred.

Awaiting a sign, a song or a rhyme,

Stillness of time …

And silence, no chirp or chime.

Sun settling on horizon’s glade,

Moon nestling on evening’s shade.

A wiggling foot and a jiggling vine,

Startled and stumped in the chill of night.

Weepy eyes and sleepy wings,

Wondering what darkness brings.

The vigilance of stars dotting sky’s expanse,

Earthly sounds propelling prayers to prance.

Endurance of wiggling and jiggling galore,

Soaring faith on halo’s shore.

Whispering chirps to the wildness of waiting,

“Being stuck is irritating!”

Witty and wise in wily pursuit,

Tenacious will taking root.

Hopping, hoping, no pause to ponder,

Bound in courage for wilderness yonder.

Then in the fiery solace of breathing,

Love’s rhapsody softening grieving,

Thickets rustling brawn and believing.

Crickets chirruping a cheery trace,

Branches extending to embrace,

Roots granting a tender pace,

The forest chanting a tale to brace,

“Go with grace …”

A wiggling foot and a jiggling vine,

This time to intertwine,

With a saintly sign, a soul to align.

Tuning tall,

Tweeting a call,

Of love for the vine,

With moonlit shine.

Jitters dwindling,

Grit rekindling,

Beholding grace,

Emboldening the place,

Where a bird sings,

And spreads her wings.

Pulsing in the presence of her story,

Aspiring heart to fly forth shortly.

Moon settling on horizon’s shade,

Sun nestling on dawn’s glade.

Light splintering the gloom of gray,

A fluttering frenzy awakening the day,

Flocks of birds arriving this way,

Ignoring berries, no time for play,

Flapping feathers with this to say,

“Swirly twirly vine, away away!”

Birds swoop-swinging,

Beaks clutch-clinging,

Stubborn vine wringing,

Stuck bird singing,

“May this vine go slinging!”

Birds robustly singing,

Beaks justly clinging,

Stubborn vine releasing its clasp,

Stuck bird heaving a grateful gasp,

“It’s life I grasp! May I fly at last!”

Frolicky foot f-r-e-e-i-n-g in flow,

Stubborn vine agreeing to forgo,

“ ‘Tis time to ebb and fall to earth’s floor …”

So goes the bird flying to explore,

Onward journey of yearning and yore.

Sunrays sailing in sync with song,

Unstuck bird gracing along …

“Frolicky Foot Free” is a poem about a cardinal that experiences a pause-point-life-snag right in the midst of her frolicky flow. This story is inspired by how my Aunt Grace is enduring the aftermath intricacies of a stroke. As the matriarch of our family, Grace’s journey of fear, faith, hope, resilience, patience, perseverance, forgiveness, humor, connection and grace has “graced” us with the depths of what human being means when love and wisdom radiate our pause-point-life-snags. All of the themes (which she self-identified) have empowered her, and the spirit of her frolicky flow has not wavered. Both on the shores and in the surf of this flow, she is discovering the artful dance of drawing and painting. We invite you to embrace the pause-point-life snags that present themselves in your life too, and to reflect on the flutter-putter-utter of your own frolicky flow. Flap your cardinal wings and feel the beat of the poem gracing you in past, present and future.

Thanks for reading, and for considering a clicked heart, comment, Pledge and Tip if you so choose. See more of my writing and info about me here: Jessica Amber Barnum If you would like to purchase the book edition of Frolicky Foot Free, go to Lulu Press, Inc. HERE.

inspirational
Like

About the Creator

Jessica Amber Barnum

I’m a teacher, writer, biker and owner of Wordplay Wilderness, LLC. To read and write is to be alive. To read and write with my students is to thrive. To read and write while riding a bike means people can tell me to "Book it on a bike." :)

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insight

  1. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.