Ten Years: A Poetry Collection: The Heart's Companion, #1

By Dana Gricken

From novelist Dana Gricken comes the first installment in a poetry trilogy called The Heart's Companion.

 

With nine chapters—ranging from love to heartbreak to mental illness, body issues, and women's rights, Ten Years: A Poetry Collection tells the story of life's lessons in a touching and deeply personal way. Whatever you're going through, let this poetry collection be your heart's companion that helps you through it all.

 

So pull up a chair, get a warm beverage, and let all your emotions out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dana Gricken
• Release date: Apr 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224275526

Dana Gricken

Dana Gricken is a multi-genre author from Ottawa, Canada. She has written many novels including fantasy and mystery and has more books coming out soon. When not writing and reading voraciously, she enjoys watching Star Trek, hanging out with her cats, cooking and baking, spreading kindness online, and playing video games. Check her out at danagricken.com.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Although I consider myself a novelist at heart, poetry has always been my one true love. For me, it represents freedom. There are no rules in poetry—you just open your heart and let the words pour out.

For years, poetry has been my act of expression—a way to cope with the lows in my life and celebrate the highs, my faithful heart’s companion. That’s why I named this poetry collection Ten Years in The Heart’s Companion trilogy. I’ve spent the last decade writing poems that mean something to me, and hopefully, they’ll mean something to you too. Its sister collections, Reverie and Midnight Musings, are continuations of that poetry, coming soon.

Some of these poems I wrote when I was a child, coming of age and optimistic about the world. Some poems I wrote in my twenties after heartbreak, mental health struggles, and grief. I’ve divided the poetry books into nine chapters—common themes I’ve experienced throughout my life.

While this poetry book is personal, it’s also a reflection on life in all its complexities and shades of grey. You are reading ten years of hard work, pain, and lessons. When you reach the end, I hope it can be your heart’s companion too. That it’ll help you and hold your hand—as all poetry should.

Welcome to Ten Years: A Poetry Collection.

Me and my beloved poetry book that I wrote all my poems in:

CHAPTER ONE:

LOVE AND INFATUATION

For You

I’d walk the highest tight rope

I’d swim the farthest sea

I’d climb the tallest mountain

To have you here with me.

I’d carry you a thousand miles if you could not walk

I’d give you all my words if you could not talk

If you were poor, I’d give you my last dime

If I were dying, I’d give you the last minute of my time.

I’d waste all my wishes trying to make yours come true

I’d spend an eternity in Hell for a minute in Heaven with you

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do

For you.

Love Is In The Little Things

Someone bringing you coffee in the morning

And kissing your forehead

Someone telling you to be safe on the drive home

And skipping a party to stay in with you instead.

Someone putting away their phone to listen to you

And when you’re sick, holding back your hair

Someone texting to tell you they’re thinking of you

And saving you a seat when you’re not there.

Someone telling you their hopes and dreams and future plans

And taking a trip to see you, no matter how far

Someone making sure you eat your meals and take your pills

And wear your seatbelt in the car.

Someone cooking your favorite dinner

And dedicating a song

Someone making you a homemade gift

And reassuring you when they know something’s wrong.

Someone supporting you and wishing you success

And asking how was your day

Someone helping you with chores

And compromising so you both get your way.

Saying I Love You is all well and fine

But showing you care is better every time.

Love is in the little things

And what great meaning they can bring.

Lotus Bloom

I showed my colors to people

Who could only see in black and white

I was a square peg forcing myself into a round hole

Knowing it was never right.

I was singing a song

That no one else could hear

I was a cruise ship

No one knew how to steer.

Always lost in translation

Always misunderstood

I wrote out instructions on how to love me like a recipe

But still, no one could.

I was so used to people leaving

That I tried to do it first

I used to think I was born to die alone

That it was my curse.

Once they saw my flaws and imperfections and scars

They would whimper and flee

I was like the truth in a world of lies

No one knew how to handle me.

But you didn’t recoil at the sight of me

When you saw all of me in the light

You encouraged me to be who I am

You were like sunrise over my darkest night.

When I thought I was too much

You asked to see more

Everyone else was playing games

But you never kept score.

No judgment or criticism

No ridicule or skepticism

When I danced, you matched every move I made.

No words needed

No wounds bleeding

When everyone had abandoned me, you were the only one who stayed.

You make loving me look so easy, so effortless

That puts all the others to shame

You know exactly how to touch me without putting your hands on my body

And know exactly how to heal the pain.

You know how to water my garden

You let my lotus bloom

You set me free

You allowed me to be all of myself

And you never hesitate

To love me for me.

Worlds Apart

I didn’t spot you from across a crowded room

Our fingers didn’t brush up against each other’s in the grocery store line

I’ve never touched your face or held your hand

Only ever seen you through a screen online.

But I dream about holding you

About the day your eyes rise to meet mine

When fate will finally bring us together

When all the stars align.

I want to hear your laugh in person

Not just over the phone

I want you to be the one who stays forever

The one who tells me I no longer have to be alone.

For now, you’re just a sweet daydream

But I’m hoping one day, we’ll be a reality

Mentally, I’m always with you

Even if I can’t be physically.

Can you feel me reaching out to you?

Do you know how much you’re on my mind?

I look for you everywhere I go

But you’re a rare treasure I just can’t find.

Maybe if I’m lucky

The wind will carry you here

Maybe if I pray

The distance between us will disappear.

I’ve never felt so close to someone

Even though they’re so far

And