EVEN WHALES MOAN by Carolyn Riker

(Editors note:  In honor of National Suicide Prevention Week, the poems we feature this week are meant to contribute to raising awareness toward this cause. All are welcome to participate)

We are so often shamed when bone touches a well of grief or thoughts spin dark and deep... 

Sometimes, it may feel we must always be positive or joyful. People frequently pass us a platitude and we try to smile and pretend when all we truly need is to have our heart held in their hand. I think it is sacred to hear the sound of whale moans and to feel into our blanket of midnight waves. It isn’t easy either, especially when the sky is heavy and thoughts linger in an abyss. Nevertheless, I believe, even in our darkest days, the blackest most precious pearls lead us to emotional integrity. Therefore, I wrote this poem to honor that place within you and me.

Artwork by Amanda Cass

Even Whales Moan

by Carolyn Riker

Stripped to fluted bone

of blue-gray whale

my heart’s pulse

wrapped in a rusty ribcage

I hold a quiet reverie,

my eyelashes ache

it hears my alone;

soft breath fills

to silent-loud storms

I shudder without shame

Such tender-raw heaviness

is knowing

life isn’t always

a perfectly poised paradigm

for my shadows sometimes seek

a faraway shawl of unearthing

And there

I walk along barren shores

to let heart-mind weep

the erosion of my

deeper soul’s longing.

Artwork by Amanda Cass

Carolyn Riker M.A., LMHC is a counselor, teacher, writer and poet. She’s been a regular columnist for Rebelle Societyand prior to that several years at Elephant Journal. A collection of her work is available on her blog, Magic of Stardust and Words. Her poetry and prose has been featured in three books:  Journey of the Heart: An Anthology of Spiritual Poetry by Women. Where Journeys Meet: The Voice of Women's Poetry and Best of Rebelle Society, Volume I: Celebrating the Art of Being Alive. Between sips of coffee or tea and navigating life, Carolyn leads journal writing workshops, tutoring and has a private counseling practice. Additionally, she’s in the process of completing her first collection of poetry and prose. With the hopes of continued lunar inspiration and stars guiding her light, the book will be published in the fall of 2016. Carolyn can be reached via her e-mail address carolynra7@hotmail.com or on facebook here.  

~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~