Just one? she asked.
I nodded.
But as I sat alone,
glancing at the menu,
I wanted to stand up and say:
Yes, just one.
Just one woman who has been broken open by love and sewn together by living.
Just one woman who has unearthed the stories she had tucked away inside the corners of herself.
Just one woman who holds grief in one hand and joy in the other.
Just one woman who hears the wind whisper the stories of those who came before her.
Just one woman who believes she must choose rest over expectations.
Just one woman who sees truth and beauty in her reflection.
Just one woman who swims with the whales while she sleeps.
Just one woman who cries when she hears Paul Simon play his guitar.
Just one woman who never thought she would be a mother.
Just one woman who feels cocooned by the push and pull of the sea.
Just one woman who listens for reminders to trust.
Just one woman who holds onto the hope of spring’s first crocus.
Yes, just one woman who opens her heart to love each day,
Even when it rains,
Even when the missing sets in,
Even when fear nips at her toes,
Even when it seems impossible.
One summer evening in 2011, I took myself to dinner where the question “Just one?” really struck me. As I sat tucked in at a little table that evening, this poem began to brew inside me, and months later, the rest of it poured out of me with a bit of a roar swirling around me while sitting at a coffee shop listening to Paul Simon.
I can imagine revisiting this prompt, “Just one woman who,” every now and then to remind myself of what I know to be true about this woman who is me.
An Invitation
Take a few minutes and spend some time with this prompt. Letting yourself just play with words and write whatever comes to you. You could modify the prompt to “I am” or “This woman, she…” (or “This man, he…”).
This is tender and beautiful, Liz. Truly a healing gift. So good to see you unfolding in this space, thank you for sharing.
this is so beautiful.
whenever my mom calls me, she says, “It’s just me.” it always makes me cringe, a little.
we are all “just one,” aren’t we?
this is tender and beautiful.
and a wonderful prompt to remind ourselves of who we are.
I am just one. One of the lonely ones.
Beautiful, thank you
i loved this post. too often we forget the power of one, which can make us feel lost, sometimes. beautiful poetry.
Beautiful. Striking, but tender.
“Just one woman who feels cocooned by the push and pull of the sea.”
Ditto.
This is beautiful.
I wish I could be someone who was just one who wasn’t always just one alone and lonely; just be fine with myself. But I don’t believe that can ever be, anymore.
Thank you to each of you for sharing your words and response to my poem/post. It is a gift to me to know we are not alone as we sift through our feelings of being “just one.”