I was staring out the car window daydreaming
about my old childhood hometown.
I thought about the ole’ neighborhood
and all of my senior-aged neighbors,
The evenings I spent playing with
all the kids on the block, while the neighbors watched.
And how those times were simple…
so simple, compared to the chaos today.
We spent hours playing kick ball, baseball, tag
or just running around and talking,
And then we begged for extra time,
so we didn’t have to say goodbye to go in.
And now, so much time is spent
fretting about how we will get by…
And stay safe.
I dream of simpler times to escape the chaos.
I miss those games of kickball, baseball, tag,
and being able to just run around and talk…
Sometimes I pray and beg, just for a minute,
to go back in time.
All we want is more time.
…And then I will zone out behind a
bright blaring computerized screen,
Window shopping online at all the things
that I can’t touch, but can only see.
Because in this certain time,
it isn’t safe to walk around,
touch all the soft fuzzy fabrics,
shop inside those once majestic stores and be carefree.
All that mindless bargain hunting,
the things I might have taken for granted,
It’s all been taken away from me…
And now, so much time is spent fretting,
about how we will get by…
And stay safe.
I dream about those simpler times.
Inside, my home, I raid the special hidden places i
n the kitchen for a treat
that will bring me a few seconds of delight.
Sometimes, that brings me out of that worried
darkness and back into the light.
But it only brings me seconds, instead of minutes,
or hours or even a day,
So, I take a moment in my delight, enjoy the seconds,
and pray for the chaos to go away.
And now, so much time is spent fretting,
about how we will get by…
And stay safe.
I dream about those simpler times.
I hope for a miracle,
I wish for a cure,
I pray for hope…
Without this faith, there’d be no way to cope.
While dreaming away, taking delight in
sugary sweets or shopping on a dime
May not eliminate the chaos surrounding
my once protected globe,
It does bring a sense of an old life of
when things were so much simpler…
And I don’t have to spend time, fretting
about how we will get by,
To stay safe…
As I pray and hope for a miracle,
trying to keep my faith.
Ariana R Cherry August 2020
“Within the depths of our mind, we are battling the duel of light and darkness…good and evil…love and hate…” Between Light and Darkness is Ariana’s most recent collection of poetry… Cherry’s frequent message she delivers throughout her work is, “The journey through the darkness, back into the light.”
Her hope is to let others know that they won’t be in that place of darkness for long – that they indeed can reach the light once again…She also wants her readers to know – that – it is okay if they find themselves in that bleak blackness…Sometimes we feel guilty for going to that dark place – but it is necessary to conquer the demons that battle our souls….
Other books that Cherry has written include "Only If" and "Twisted Paths Poetry." Her epic tale, “Only If,” won the “Reader’s Favorite Award” and a 5 star review…and her collection, “Twisted Paths Poetry,” received a 5 star review from Realistic Poetry International.
She has been writing ever since she was a child. Some of her inspirations include Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Frost, Stephen King, Emily Dickinson, Christopher Pike and Shel Silverstein.
Ariana writes a variety of genres: inspirational, humorous and horror – although writing horror is one of her favorites…. She was 12 years old when she read Poe for the very first time – which inspired her epic poetry tale, “Only If.“
During other parts of her free time, she enjoys taking photos and creating art. Her “day-jobs” include working as a church administrative aide and reporting for a local newspaper.
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Ariana R. Cherry: Poet & Artist 