jennifer pruitt
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I watch from my kitchen windowas a female cardinalwith her muted brown featherslands at the birdfeeder hanging from the snow-covered branchshe shakes her feathers as she settles and eatsthen quietly lifts her small head looks aroundand flies awayshe is not made of brilliant plumagelike her showy male counterpartwho stands proudly in his bright red suita…
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I tried to weave myself into a sensible patternto fashion a warm blanket of silks and colorsthat would protect my fragilebody and spiritfrom the unsettling ways of this worldover the yearsmy thread had grown sotattered and frayedit would no longer fit intothe eye of the needlethat I gripped like a tiny swordno matter how deeply…
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you are made in the image of Godbut it is not what you may thinkit is not the shape of your bodythe symmetry of your faceor the color of your skinyou carry the image of Goddeep within youheld safe underneaththe pulse of breath and blooda sacred connection to the divineyou are a holy creationcherished and…
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poetrya stack of lines on a pagewritten in aesthetic verseto evoke an awareness of meaning inside youa language of its ownthat resonates beautyin a broken worldbut must it be writtenand read from a book,a literary masterpiece that connects you to your deeper self?can it be the song that gives you chills the crackle of a…
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it is said in yoga we store strong emotions within our hipsas they protect us by holding it all insideunprocessedit isn’t unusual in deep hip opening poses to suddenly cryor feel a surprising sense of ragefear shame grief trauma angerall reside rent-free within our hipsstuffed down and packed up tighta yoga teacher once told methat…
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under the sunshine the sounds of the waves tumbleas they gently paint the sandlike an artist’s brushstrokethe birds run as they give chase to the wateron tiny legs in search of a snackI meander down the shorelinelistening to the symphony of musicwithin the ebb and flow of the tideI lift a stick that has been…
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sometimes the earth quakes in fearsometimes it quakes in angeras the tall and fancy buildingsthat we have builtcrumble into dustI have learned to build my home low and wideunder the shelter of the treeswhose roots will hold the earth secure enoughto keep it intactas I invite the broken insideto be helduntil the shaking stops
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the peonies return each year in late springlarger than all of the other flowerserupting in radiant ruffles of creamy pinkcatching my eye with their brilliant lusterand striking splendorafter only a few days of sunlit beautythey flop over toward the dirt in defeattoo heavy for the stems to bearthe flowers lose their majestyin solemn surrenderyou are…
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when my daughter was a toddlerI remember pushing her through a crowded storein her stroller as she sangSomeday My Prince Will Comeat the top of her lungsthe ladies around us chuckledat her cute, little voiceon that day I thought it was adorablebut now it turns my stomachto ashesmy baby girl loved Snow Whitethe one who…
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savasana is the most important pose in your practicelie on your backallow your feet to fall open to the sidesrest your hands by your hips palms up to receiveclose your eyes and breathesavasana is more a misleading secret than a restful end to classit is the hardest pose to holdin stillness your mind will rebelyour…
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as I drive around the bend in the roadI notice the majestic tree ahead on the rightthe trunk is so tall and straightbranches spreading evenly out from the centeras they reach for the sunin a glorious eruption of greenI smile at its beautyI turn my car down the next streetand notice another tree to my…
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(my take on the classic in poetic form for little girls everywhere) follow the yellow brick roadall the way to that emerald cityglistening in the sunshineyou need the help of the wizardto forgive you and send you homeyou accidently killed a witch and all you could save were her shoesyou will stumble on the wayas…
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I ran into Jesus yesterdaynear the homeless shelterhe looked tired and his hands were dirtyfrom washing the feet of a drunken manwho had stepped on a broken, discarded bottlethe glass lodged up insidethe tattered sole of his shoehe smiled and laughedand saidhe preferred the dirt it connected him to the earthand reminded him he was…
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why are you suddenly so threatened by women?do you really feel that powerlessthat you need to assert your control and influenceover another gender that you perceive as weak?are you so mistaken and frightenedthat you need to twist the scriptureto support your pathetic and fragile little egos?I was not made only to carry a man’s childand…
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during the hardest monthsof an unhappy marriageI would escape to my yoga classesas my peaceful placebut one morning after flowing through my posesI relaxed on my backand closed my eyesthe instructor told us to let the past goto not think about the futurebut to just exist in the presentand I panickedtears began to burn my…
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yoga means unionthe union of the mind and bodythrough the breathyour mat provides the spacebetween four cornersto move and connect as you breathe deeplynot to master perfectionin posturesbut to practice livingin the present momentas humans we tendto live in the mindwhere yesterday and tomorrowtake up residencein regret and guilt over previous actions and wordsor in…
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I miss my grandfather’s laughand his smilethe way he would captivate my attention with wide-eyed wonderas he sang me songsabout teddy bear picnicsI miss the way I would nestleunder his arm and listen to his voice weave magical storieswalks on the beach in Januarycollecting coquina shellsthat I insisted were butterfliesmy favorite childhood memoriesare of time…
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some scars lie under the skinunseen by othersthick bands that wrap themselvesaround my insidessometimes they remain dormantas days passorgans continue to functionbreath flowsregardless of their constricting presencebut sometimes a sudden memorycauses them to stretch taut and pulla painful reminder of the pastwhen the wound broke me openand bledwith time the holes within mestitched and closed…
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rose petals will wiltand fall to the groundone by oneautumn leaves will tumbleas they are blown across the grassby the windpink petals fadebright orange and yellow leavesturn brown and crunchunder my shoespetals melt and soak back into the soilafter a gentle rainwe rake and bag the leavesand send them away to decompose elsewherestop and listento…
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it is the poetsthe paintersthe songwriters who are unafraid of sadnessart exists under the brokennessof fallen dreamsbeauty is found in imperfectionartists live inside melancholyand appreciate tendernesswhich is perceived by othersas weaknessbut it is a mighty strengthto find grace in griefand to create exquisite works out of discomfortpoets speak words to the hurtingpainters hang their works…
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Jesus walks among ushealing the broken with his tired handsrolling his eyes at those who use his nameto justify their arrogant agendaHe came to earth as a sacrifice of loveto teach and connect us to the reason we were madeJesus said,love your neighborfeed my sheep let the children come to meHe did not say,love your…
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I may not know the wordsbut this song sounds familiarso I will hum alongI may not know the storybut the book cover reminds me of a memoryso I will keep readingI may not know the paintingbut the color and texture draw me closer so I will keep lookingI may not know the scentbut it reminds…
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why am I still jumpingover sidewalk cracksto avoid feeling blamefor breaking momma’s back?I am fixatedon careful stepsto avertinsignificant crevices where ants climb out unfazedin search of crumbsthe weight of guiltis heavyand keeps my gaze focused on the groundand the path I’ve laidbehind mewhere I have left my ownbreadcrumbsinstead of looking forwardand up(silly girlyour momma’s backwas…
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as little girls we idolize the princesseswe want to wear the pretty dresses and sing the love songswaiting for our prince to rescue usto lift us onto the back of his horseand ride off into the sunsetbut after the prince confesseshis undying lovehe doesn’t recognize us when we try on the shoe that fitsor he…
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come to the riversit down on its banksand listento the trickling soundsof water winding itself around rocksto travel downstreamnourishing the earthand your heartwhen the goddess Gangawas told to descend to earth from the heavensshe threw herselfdown in anger and absolute powerintent to drench the ground and destroy itbut Shiva stood highbraced himself and caughther fallallowing…
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so many quotes about forgivenesssetting you free,allowing you to heal and find peacebut I will not forgiveI would rather drag my bitternessup a mountainand carry it in my bare, aching handsI refuse to lay it downbecause it was youwho left me damagedand brokenan insubstantial self,a door matthe weight reminds me ofwhat I had to rebuildfrom…
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when an infant enters this lifeshe begins her journeywith her first breathinhaling deeply with her tiny lungsand making her presence knownin this worldit is this breath that keeps us goingfeeding our bodies with the oxygen that fuels our bloodit is the breath that unites uswith all living beingsfrom humans in nations we will never seeto…
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when did Jesus say blessed are the gunowners who believe protecting guns are more important than protecting children?when did Jesus say blessed are the those who refuse border entryto suffering families whose lives are in danger and only want a chance to live freely?when did Jesus say blessed are the book bannerswho believe that free…
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I can’t move mountainsbut I can help you climbdon’t look up at the topit looks unreachableand far awaydon’t look down at the bottomwhere you once laid brokenand bruisedlook right above your handgrip onto that jagged rockand hold tightI can help you lift your footand hold it steadywhile you take a deep breathpress down and rise…
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you are still a saplingwho sways with the breezewhen the wind bends your branchesI fall to my kneesthe storms will sneak inand tear stem and leaf my insides will crumbleas you surrender to griefI must remind myselfthat sadness will strengthenresilience and giftsand your branches will lengthenreaching toward sunlightexploding in bloomI watch in amazementfrom the side…
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the banyan tree roots spread their fingers and burrow down into the earth grasping hold of soil and life as the trunk shoots up toward the sky the branches and leaves are bathed in sunlight reaching upward and outward a canopy under the clouds quietly a tendril begins to drop from one branch then another…
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the Bible cannot hold Godthe Church cannot hold GodChristianity cannot hold GodGod cannot be containedGod is loveGod is lightGod is truthGod will stretch beyond the widest boundariesacross ages past to present daycivilizations will rise and falland God will always cometo speak to you in wordsmeant just for you to understandGod may speak through a poemor…
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as a child I was quiet and shyI learned quickly to please everyoneto keep the peaceand rise to expectationstiptoeing around the eggshellsbecause if they cracked and caused anger or unhappinessin othersI blamed myselfhow I loved to escapeto my dance classesthe routine of the barreand soothing ballet musiccalmed meI soon realizedthere are no eggshells on the…
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I was brokenI was lostI was lonely and fearfulI was unheard as a childI was damaged in an abusive marriageI was talented at packing all of the hurt down inside and smiling whileI was always wishing for love and safetyI am healingI am olderI am stronger and wiserI am looking back at my storyI am…
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In this world of distresswe still fear judgement,trying desperatelyto meet the expectations of otherssilencing the voice inside of usthat whispers,“you are worried and distractedby many things”Mary sat at Jesus’ feetand listenedJesus told usto feed his sheepleave your flock to searchfor the lost,take care of the outcast, the poor, the weakand to love your neighborlike you…
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trauma arriveslike a thief in the nightto steal your essencereplacing the gifts you’ve worked forwith pain and doubt,grief and overwhelming sadnessbecome your heavy burdenconfidence is replaced with the certainty that you will never be the person you werebefore traumabroke your heart in halfhealing begins on the outsideespecially if you have strengthin hiding negativityunder smiles,while inside…
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it’s that time of yearwhen the trees remind youthat it is okay to dropyour worldly disguiseto turn inwardto not be or door performrest and sleepgo dormantwhile its cold outsidewarm your insideswith good booksand songsand cozy firestrees understandthat they must releasetheir impressive red and yellow leavesand stand quiet throughthe winterand while they standseemingly stoic through ice…
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A broken nationbuilt on the backs of brown men and women who sang of hopefreed in name but discardedand told to be thankfulfor the skills they learnedin between the beatings and the auction blockA broken nationthat worships guns as its religionthou shalt not take my weaponreplaces all commandments children hide under deskswith shaking fingersas they…
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under all the garbagethat we insist on carrying aroundinside our bodies,dragging around the heavinessof stress and tensionanger, guilt, and sadnesslike our own personal backpacksof shameI’m not good enough….I should have said….I could have done….If we start to let that garbage godrop it next to a park benchand walk awayexhale and release it to the windand…
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little girl walking on eggshellslearning to pleaseswallowing her wishesbecause quiet is courteousdon’t rock the boatthey say,if the boat takes on wateryou will drownI take the little girl’s facebetween my handsand whisper, don’t listenyour voice is beautifulyour wishes are worthyyou were made to walk freely through this one short lifeeggs will crack anywayand sometimes you mustrock…
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when the words don’t flowand I’m emptyI readwhen the thoughts get jumbledas they leave my mouthI singwhen my feet stumbleand I feel unsteadyI dancewhen my world crumblesI take off my dusty shoeshold tight to youand I fly
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Christianity began like a mustard seed taking root and growinginto a tree that offeredrefuge and hope for weary birdsbefore the twelve even left this earthscheming minds poisoned the treeduring the nightand carved their wishes into the woodthe branches still looked safe and strongbut under the dirtthe tree’s roots spread widecorrupted by politics and patriarchythe mustard…
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some of us needa big, powerful Godto justify our rightnesspower begets powerand strength is attractive rubrics and commandmentsare safeand feeling superior is more pleasantthan acknowledging shameit’s easier to turn your back and look up at the skyand sing praise to the almightyand clap your handsbut God is discreetmoving among usnoticing what our hands touchand where…
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does the sun pull the moon across the skydesperately tying to drag her nearerbut falling over the horizon as she wakes?or is the moon chasing the suntrying to catch a chance to bask in his warmthbut always arriving a moment too late?both bring lightthe sun, passion and firethe moon, tenderness and a soft glowif they…
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(I wrote this many years ago after my grandmother passed away, but it is still one of my favorites. Norma Ellen…..I miss her all the time….)My grandmother’s hands were always busythreading needles, drying dishestwirling my hairI would watch her hands work their magicon fabricsadding colors, creating intricate designswith thread and clothpulling the needle up and…
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God will never choosethe bright and pretty facethe center of attentionthe powerfulor popularto speak her wordsGod has always chosenthe quiet misfitthe awkward outsiderthe scorned and overlookedas her messengerOverconfident politicians and influential preachersloud, biblical expertscloaked in expensive fabrics and draped in glitterdo not speak truthProphets are never understood by the masseswho search for comfortand absolutionfrom guiltGod’s…
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Every single thingin the universeis comprised of microscopic atomswith quivering electronshummingThis is where science and faith meetThe sound of creationThe voice of GodIn the beginningGod said let there be lightGod spoke and createdand it was goodWhat is a voicebut a vibration of vocal cordscreating words and soundsAll thingsliving and non-livingshare this vibrationwithin each celland moleculeCan…
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my steps are shallowin the sandthe footprintsare unevena distorted impressionof missing toesthat vanishafter the strokeof the lightest waveit seems I haveno weighteven as I poundmy feet forcefullyconvincinglyinto the grainy beachI leave no markthere is no evidencethat I walkedalong this shoreI shout at the seato fill mewith its mighty depthsweigh me downwith watermake me denseenough to…
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I drive my car into the jagged path of a butterflyits soundless impactechoes as I wincean unexpected collisionof anger,sudden and fierce,unintentional violencedoes not render it meaninglessor less painfultattoo of a butterflyon my wristdelicate life clings to my skinwith hopeful sighs,dreaming of open spacewhere she can flyin franticfreedom
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I have heardthat beauty is in the eyeof the beholderbut beauty existsapart from humaninterferencebeauty chooseswho it touches,its unexpected presencea tangible entitywith substanceit steals my breathand enters my skin, tricklingdowninto the tiny cells within my bones,where it settles it awakens againeach time it recognizes itself,in a piece of art,either illuminated on a gallery wallor pelted and…
One Small Voice 