This . . . Is About Life: Book Iii: Determine Your Outcome

By Randi Owens

Randi Owens believes that poetry has the power to provide therapeutic relief from worries and stress. In a collection of poems penned over twenty years, Owens shares lyrical verse that teaches all of us that it is okay to be upset, smile, laugh, cry, and to simply embrace all that comes with living a full life.

Her poems begin in 1996 when Owens was venturing into midlife, focused on being a parent to four teenagers while juggling the demands of a career. She invites others to enter into the world of a woman willing to determine the outcome of her life without fear of the ending. Owens encourages others to reflect on their own thoughts and emotions while witnessing her joys and struggles as she adapted to her shifting role in family relationships and her ever-changing environment. Included in her poignant collection are original poems from each of her four adult children.

This Is about Life shares a lyrical glimpse into one womans mid-life experiences as she approaches a new chapter with optimism, vulnerability, and hope.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Aug 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781480865433

Randi Owens

Writing began as a form of escape for Randi from her world of reality, allowing for self expression while living in a foster home with biological siblings and several other foster children. Some poems were written without thought, while others were written as a form of communication without the element of verbal interaction on occasion. She joined the USAF upon graduation from high school, where she remained for 5 years receiving an Honorable discharge once her commitment was complete. She received an Associates degree from Anchorage Community College, Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Eastern Illinois University and a Certification as a Chemical Dependency Counselor from the College of Great Falls. Her professional career consisted of working as a Youth at Risk Program Manager, Chemical Dependency Counselor, and Licensed Professional Counselor among others. Her chosen careers permitted her access to another of her passions in addition to writing and poetry, that of offering care and service to individuals in need of therapeutic intervention. Randi has lived in Alaska for over 27 years with her husband of over 40 years and their 6 adult children and grandchildren.

Book preview

This …

Is About

Life

a collection of poems from 1996–2016

by Randi Owens

Book III: Determine Your Outcome

58070.png

Copyright © 2018 by Randi Owens.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-6544-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-6543-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018951125

Archway Publishing rev. date: 07/17/2018

For

everyone looking to the future.

Introduction

I wrote the following poems over a period of twenty years, beginning when I was venturing into mid-life with a focus on being a parent to four teenagers while settling into a variety of career changes over time. Those four teenagers have become beautiful adults, and each contributed poetry to this volume. The poems proved to be a valuable lifeline during a time when I felt unsure of my abilities as a wife, friend, mother, and grandmother tasked with the possibility of influencing the lives of those in my heart.

I believe poetry can provide therapeutic relief from worries and life’s excess stressors. It invites readers to incorporate their thoughts and emotions into the words, creating the opportunity for temporary breaks from everyday life encounters. Through the poetry, I’ve learned that it is okay to be upset, smile, laugh, cry, and simply live.

We can intertwine and cross what’s real with fantasy, if only just for that moment in time. I invite you to enter into the world of a woman willing to determine the outcome of her life without fear of the ending. Bring your personal thoughts, emotions, and imagination with you during your journey.

Contents

1996

Without You, There Would Be No Me

My Angel Maria

1997

Basketball Clones

Despair

Wish upon a Starry Night

I Am Me

1999

Partnership

2000

Dream Awake

2001

Appreciation, I Thank You

The Forgotten

This Moment in Time

Little Did I Know

To Our Mother on Her Day

2003

The Walking Machine

2005

Is It Your Nasty Day?

2006

The Value of an Education

2007

The Chill That I Feel

I Love You

What Are My Limitations?

2008

Possessed of Misery

I Want …

Get Right to the Point!

Concern

I Don’t Have to Be in …

2009

Irritation

I’ll Not Live Forever

2010

Hurt Feelings

Give Yourself a Wedgie

Send Her an Angel

Grief

Choice

2011

Everyone Needs a Filter

Who Am I …?

She Chose to Hurt Me

One More Chance

There Are No Words

2012

Just Live

Waaa-Waaa … Get Over It

How to Help

Alcohol Abuse and Misuse Is Not the Answer

Choose to Live

The Observers

I’m Flying

The Ultimate in Leadership

Our Journey

Challenges

Don’t Go to the Sad Corner

The Beat-up, Old Heart

2013

It’s All about You

Reaching Out …

Fight to Survive

I Stand Alone

The Eagle

Please Look … and See Me

Once a Rock

Today Is a Good Day …

Aging

Mother’s Day/Father’s Day

Feeling on Top of the World

I Believe Success Is Earned

Fifty-eight: Happy Birthday to You

True and Everlasting Friendship

How Can We Ever Win?

2014

My Heart Seeks … My Mind Incomplete

What Makes You Smile?

This Day Is Your Forever

Nine against One

I Can’t Swim

Feeling Uncomfortable

Wait for lt …

Give Back

Self-acceptance

Sweet Ollie

2015

Difficult to Explain

Some Want Them

Believe

The Bug

You Are a Wonder

Patience Resolves Much

Who Am I That I Care?

Share Your Thoughts

2016

Woke Up Today

Pain

Naysay and Meaningless Chatter

Longtime Friends

Fishing

Respect and Regard

See, but Don’t Be Seen

Death Called

Feeling Pushed Over the Edge

No, Leo …

Black Man Running

Holding Hands

Winding Roads

Tennessee Sisters

North Pole Santa

A Child’s Prayer

Goodbye

Have All of the Answers

It Was but a Whisper in My Ear

Travel to See Wonders of Nature

Shower Cry

Old, but Useful

Smiles of Joy

The Suburban, 1980 to 1997

There Is No Win, Only Hurt and Misery

1996

Without You, There Would Be No Me

God creates only one of us, and we are each unique.

There are none like me, and when I’m gone, there’ll still not be.

There will be none

To do exactly as I have done.

Should you truly wish to guide my troubled self?

Please hear my silent plea for help.

My behaviors and actions are not all that I am about.

I implore you to see beyond what I do and sometimes what I shout.

It is your commitment that encouraged me to look deep within,

Where I rediscovered who I truly am and where I have been.

You refused to give up long after I felt no one really cared.

For your perseverance to see me through, I say thank you with my prayers.

I once believed I had just cause to run, hide, or flee.

Now I am grateful to you because without you, there would be no me.

Without%20You%2c%20There%20Would%20be%20No%20Me.jpg

My Angel Maria

My angel, you will always be

Determined and so special to me.

I admire the way you carry yourself: so tall, with elegance and grace.

I love the twinkle in your eyes when you succeed once you slow your pace.

God has blessed you with a gift, and you manage it well.

Your father and I support you and believe you will not fail.

Please forgive my occasional oversight when I think I know best.

There are times when we argue that I realize you know more than I care to guess.

I love you, Maria, and value you more than you’ll ever know.

Be strong for yourself as you strive to reach your goals.

The things I’ve said are not hypocrisy—they come from the heart.

My angel Maria, I believe in you and have from the start.

My%20Angel%20Maria.jpg

1997

Basketball Clones

Basketball%20Clones.jpg

by Maria O.

I can shoot through brick walls,

Hit nothin’ but net.

I’ll drive down the lane doing ninety-five

Over, around, and through all that!

You can’t stop the rain

‘Cause my shots are fallin’ fast.

I can pass the rock. I love to create,

Or I’ll just take it myself—my game is fast-break!

You can’t get by me. You can’t shoot over this.

Your game is child’s play.

Here I am. Nope, think again.

Now I’m behind you, takin’ it in!

Give me a step, I’ll take you to the hole,

So you better step back ’cause you will get burned.

I’m coming into your house, and I’m not knockin’,

So leave