YESTERDAY TODAY TOMORROW
Last night slumped in an armchair
A barely lucid lump of woman
Juiced up on cough syrup to quell
the oncoming bronchial nasties
This morning, hastily dressing for church
Chipper, ready to play both carols
and hipper tunes for kids as they
pieced together ornaments for the church’s tree
Tomorrow is whatever it will be
Be it fancy free or down in the dumps
Crummy weather or fair smattering of sun, it’s still
the gray matter under my gray hair that gets the final say
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
Jingle
what a changing life.
well put, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Jingle, and yes. When you are manic depressive, every day is an adventure… and when you’re NOT manic depressive, every day is still an adventure = if you’re paying attention! Peace, Amy
Reflections
Lovely piece, thoughts of tomorrow await, always for us to decipher in the grey matter of our world.
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, the gray matter, the gray hair… and the grays in between the supposed “black and white” world folks insist we live in. Artists know, as do many caring folks, that those polar opposites exists only to house the many shades in between. Thanks for a thoughtful response. Peace, Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Love it, witty and sharp – which is as it should be, for a sharp little pencil!!:)
Sharp Little Pencil
Aw, Sherry, (blush) thanks! Think I told you, the irony is that these days, I actually write in pen!! ;^)
Debbie
Praying for His goodness over all of your days!
I loved the poem and the lack of punctuation. It works for me!
Sharp Little Pencil
Debbie, thx for that observation and the assurance of God’s grace. Have to say, I go back and forth on punctuation, and this did seem to flow better without it.
Peace, Amy
April Belle
Amy,
It is fascinating to me how we were on the same wavelength… Your “gray matter” is the equivalent to my take on “thoughts” and how they try so hard “to have the final say.” Thank God for those days of smattering sun! You have such a fabulous way of expressing your creative self. Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving!
Sharp Little Pencil
April, I agree, we share a wavelength, and I have found that with only a couple of poets on a regular basis. “Having the final say,” always an interesting battle, right?
And yes, although the sun has been peeking out only occasionally this week, I always lean out the door and say “Howdy!”
Wishing you a peaceful Thanksgiving, Amy
Jae Rose
Hi Amy – I see no grey in your profile photo 🙂 Lovely poem – the first verse particularly threw up some great images and raised a smile of familiarity for me! Jae
Sharp Little Pencil
Ha ha, Jae – my profile photo is, like, my EYE, because WordPress made my actual photo small. You can’t see the healthy grey streak at the part in my hair. I dig it, I tell women, don’t dye your hair – it’s like getting free highlights from God!!
So glad you connected with the poem, Jae. It came to me all of a piece, just like that. A flash, and it was written. Well, then a little edit – and THEN I posted it! ;^)
Amy
Faith
Loved this! It’s so true – our attitude really is what makes the difference. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
I love the back and forth of our takes on that prompt this week, Faith. You are well named! Amy
Carina
Very true! The day will have its clouds and its sun. It is up to us to decide what to do with it.
Sharp Little Pencil
Carina, sent a comment to your email re: your take on prompt. Yes, we make the choice, you’re right! Amy
Ceebie
Nice take on the prompt – “Tomorrow is whatever it will be” – a great reminder to let go and stop worrying about the future and the “what ifs”…Instead, to live in the now.
Sharp Little Pencil
Ceebie, I was delighted by your take as well; see my comment on your blog. Yeah, the “what ifs” can leave you housebound if you let them, right? Life is all about the journey… and I’ve got my hiking boots on! Amy
Old Egg
“A barely lucid lump of woman” How brave you are to describe yourself so. You must give me the the name of the cough syrup that gave you such a miraculous recovery! You have demonstrated clearly how resilient us humans are. This was a most enjoyable read.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Old Egg. Hey, I see myself in all my guises – some are glorious butterflies, and some are simply lumps. Cold ones, like in leftover oatmeal. I’ve learned, in my experience with manic depression, that the lump has all the value of the butterfly – maybe more, because the lump in humbled.
The cough syrup was good old over-the-counter generic crap with a little alcohol and a lot of expectorant! Thanks, and hoping my comments give you something to ponder on ways in which some of us who have mental disorders have to keep that “resilience” muscle flexed! Peace, Amy
miskmask
Very special. Just like you. Hope you’re well.
Sharp Little Pencil
Aw, Misk, thanks for this. Miss writing PA and reading you, so I’ll run over to your blog right now and see what you’re up to!
And yes, I am better than well. Just in transition, more details to come! Amy
Debbie
Hi Amy . . .just been reading the comments and the poem again. Wondered if you’d like to check out a site sometime. It’s not poetry, but poetic in other ways. He blesses me. The site is http://www.brokenbelievers.com. Thinking of you and thankful for you too!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you so much for this link, Debbie. I put it on my Bookmarks and will check in with it from time to time. Peace to you, my friend, Amy
nimaruichi
Way to go, girl!
Sharp Little Pencil
Just saw and commented on your site, lovely work, right back atcha! Amy