Susanne
Bowen
Building Connection & Community
New Poems
Bus Stop
Driving down the road
The sun in my eyes
Feeling a bit irritable
With traffic aside
Then I caught a glimpse
Of a woman torn weary
Waiting for a bus
Three bags in tow
Making note, I turned
Pulling into a
Precision-marked row
I opened my door
And then it came to me
This woman I saw
I’d like to make her day better
To whatever degree
I approached her at a distance
Hello, how are you?
Are you coming or going,
Do you have a moment, please?
I noticed you as I drove by
I thought you might enjoy a rest
From all you do
Would you be my guest?
Across the way, there is a shop
It would be my honor
What do you say?
She looked at me with surprise
And a sparkle in her smile
Are my ears hearing right?
You’re asking me to join you
Bless your heart
Yes, I would
My feet, what a sight
When we entered the shop
I nodded and said
We are together
This is my friend as you see
Then we each took a seat
And waited our turn
To be called back and assigned
Within a few minutes
We would soon learn
They were ready for two
So we settled in our chairs
The technician asked,
How do you do?
A simple polish for me
As for my friend here
Please do as she shares
As our nails were buffed and polished
We exchanged niceties of family and such
How life impacts us all
Being mindful not to trespass
On my guest’s personal space
That she may enjoy as she wishes
And at her own pace
I was soon prompted to pay
Yes, I replied for two
l slipped on my shoes
And slowly moved
Then turning, I smiled
And waved good-by
Thank you for accepting
You have a good day
Rest Assured
I sat upon the bench last night
And watched
My fingers speed across the keys
I thought to myself how can this be?
I practice with such ease
And then a smile came across my face
I knew just then the source
You worked at this and kept the faith
It’s your refuge, your life force
Listen to your heart, that’s where I’ll be
Nurturing you onward, helping you see
You’re never alone
As quiet as it may seem
My love for you runs deep
Without measure, nor degree
I’ve been there when you’ve wept
Uncertain where to go
And walked with you to see you through
When shadows obscured your view
But days are brighter now
Vision, clarity, too
The future is a blank canvas
Let your spirit guide the way
Brunch on Amsterdam
Walking briskly
Down Amsterdam
On Sunday mid-day
He spies the restaurant
I hear good things
What do you say?
We step inside
Have a look around
Can you seat us outside?
It’s an amazing day
Taking our seats
Alongside the street
We soon are greeted
At this idyllic café
My son is my date
My day is complete
On this clear, breezy day
The table is set
Crisp linen, silver too
Life teaming around us
A mosaic of colors
Vibrations and hues
Occasional conversations
Are hard to ignore
We smile and carry on
Mindful of time & chores
Oh if I could just bottle
This moment as it were
To later reflect on
I’d love just a bit more
There is nothing so cherished
Then the time with my child
When I can look in their eyes
See their depth, their style
Memories imprinted
From the past, I explore
Of their triumphs,
And independence
Their happiness
I want nothing more
Quite of the Night
Listen to your heart
Your heart knows best
It is your compass
It will right your path
And give you rest
When coached to seek the shiny coin
We don’t question or challenge
It’s the time-honored way to go
Opportunities seem endless, we say
It is the way, let it be so
In the quiet of the night
When alone with your thoughts
You may find an ache that’s been ignored
For the wrong it tried to right
A feeling so familiar
One can feel it’s safety and warmth
It represents the truth
But we chose to look the other way
Because the shiny coin has been our guide
Since our youth
Life comes easy as laid out today
Why confront what we know
When the path seems so right, this way
But then when you pause and become still
There is a whisper
It is the quiet voice, a reflection of your soul
The bridge to peace that will make you whole
For time passes quickly
and what was once, soon will pass
Honor your quiet voice
It’s your essence, your being
It is your choice
Providence
1)The Beginning
12 years since the finding
Based on subjective evidence alone
To guide in decision-making
In an authoritative tone
I was told, your future, well it doesn’t
Look good
But please don’t you worry
Let me do that instead
This statement, it caused me to pause
And think a bit
What in my reaction
Was not easily read?
And so began my journey
Frightened and unprepared
Never suspecting for a moment
Someone so active could be
So impaired
2) The Middle Years
I put faith in experts
To uncover reasons why
In a world of little understanding
Inconclusive evidence goes awry
Two providers suspected
That what was seen was not as it seemed
And that it did not align with veracity
And for those most egregious,
Among the well-known
I sent back documents with red ink
And comments
You’ve got it all wrong
The years passed quickly
Travel, weddings, work, too
Suspecting I could do better
My journey continued
And I sought someone new
3) Providence
Then Providence enters in her timely way
You were recommended to me
By a colleague, a sea away
I researched and quickly knew
You were someone to pursue
And wondered
Might you make a difference?
What would you say, or do?
Our initial meeting was thorough
Your fellow made sure
No stone was passed over
No, stone was unturned
Independent and brilliant
Kind, generous too
Are words I would use to describe
This new specialist
High emotional intelligence too
As I considered this individual
Who saw me eye to eye
I took comfort in knowing
His knowledge and experience
And that it was he who was righting
An imbalance
That lasted a decade in stride
In Gratitude
For nature
When the wind blows gently through the trees
And the birds sing
I marvel at the beauty of the flowers
Swaying in the breeze
Each chosen and placed carefully
As I sip my morning tea
For my talents
And the ability to create
Play the piano, write verse and essays
Using words to bridge cultures
Broaden awareness
Educate on a variety of matters
To laugh unexpectedly
At a word, expression or memory
Known only by one
Experienced together
And so very elementary
I’m grateful for the grace of a smile
Directed my way or
The opportunity to brighten
A stranger’s day
By lending a hand
Lightening their way
And for family
Imperfect, busy, scattered by distance and time
Dear and woven into the fabric of my life,
With memories and love
All are mine, we are together
The sky at dusk
Music filling a room
A handwritten note
A child’s laughter
A heartfelt prayer
And another tomorrow
And so, I choose gratitude
Not because life is easy
But because of the beauty and joy it offers
And because the heart,
With it’s many blessings
Finds strength
In what is
Target: Parkinson’s
journey for truth
I’ve traveled far and wide
Researched and reviewed
Challenged and engaged
In lively conversation too
I’m different I say
They smile and nod
Then I’m labeled as others
Be on your way
Can they not entertain
Nor understand
Subtle differences exist
That may pertain
And while not proven
One should not outright
Exclude them
And then one day, I stumble upon
An alternative perspective
Not yet common
Through years of study
Laboratory and books
A new paradigm emerges
A new outlook
The time has come for a new approach
Change is possible, its true
Not all is broke
With science as a foundation
Advances are made
Lives are improved
Where others mistook
The day arrives
When we meet face-to-face
A glowing countenance before me
Exuding calm and grace
We review the numbers
and then the charts
I find you unique
When did this first start?
The findings we review
Never assessed before
But caught in time now
Before problems set in
I know not how
Life now has new meaning
Relevance and depth
A lightness of being
A renewal of breathe
my spirit dances
My spirit’s alight
The piano plays
I explore, its freeing
What can I do?
Where will I go?
Will it be familiar
Or somewhere unknown
In life we must manage
The antagonist, uncertainty
It’s not always easy
But the alternative
It’s not palatable, for you nor me
So raise up, take a step
The next step is easier yet
Soon you’re on your path
The path that sets you free…
Free of constraints
That say, no, you can’t
That hold you back
When you have roads to travel
And flowers to plant
Chest out, nose in the air
Will and determination take ahold
And with a prayer…
Life plays out
Unpredictable that’s true
As it will be
Diverse as humanity
Deep as the sea
So peer, explore
et your being take flight
Let it explore new avenues
Reach new heights
Grace
When life goes sideways
Distractions are many
You think of home
Where friends and family
Extend a hand
And wink, please join us
Just as you can
The mood is easy
You laugh and applaud
Of feats and accomplishments
Otherwise, awed
No calculation for return
Grace leads the way
Its simple, uncomplicated
Live for the day
A lightness of being
Is felt through the space
Genuine and caring
No motive or race
The world can be rough
So to have such friendship,
Family, and grace
Is a gift beyond all others
In time and place
In the circle of life
Giving back to others with care
Is an understanding, a regard
Of all we can share
To lighten a load
And brighten a path
A simple routine
A heartfelt task
We rejoice in the gestures
Of those we unexpectedly meet
They address you by name
There’s a reason you meet
She lends a hand
You acknowledge her smile
Its Grace that binds
All the while
Hope
It’s when long days
Have a moment
Of unexpected joy
That cause you to pause, reflect
A smile unfolds
And your determination
To never give up
You believe, might just be
A turning of the tide
The opening you seek
For the yoke is heavy
And the question becomes
Will this stress resolve
If I pray harder, give more
Will this puzzle,
Be solved?
One’s burden may be silent
Or present for all to see
No matter, life hurries around us
As we carry on to be
Hope may present as a kind gesture
Or independence, and free
Regardless, a guiding light, a beacon
Through the shadow of night
We see
A landscape, a future
Of all that we can be
