This poem is dedicated to the members of a support group I am in. Without them, I fear I would have drowned already. They help me keep my head above water and remember to breathe. We cry. We laugh. But mostly, we are there for each other.
at the beginning
of the end of our world -
at least, as we knew it -
we chose each other
as life jackets.
It was a time when
a certain lover of couches
labeled us
childless cat ladies,
as if being childless
or loving cats
would make us insignificant.
Neither childless,
nor necessarily cat ladies
(I mean, some have dogs),
we are strong women -
smart, caring,
different in many ways,
yet bound together
by one purpose:
to help each other
stay afloat.
Every day we struggle,
often flailing in despair,
questions without answers -
the undertow threatening
to pull us under.
Drowning is not an option
in our circle.
We tread water together
in a deep, dark ocean
and will continue
until the dawn
of a new day.
And if the darkness remains,
if the storm surges,
waves threatening our survival,
we will keep treading -
hands grasping hands
to keep the circle unbroken-
until, one by one,
we take our places
among the stars.
Poetry by Melinda K Zarate
Read 16 times
Written on 2026-01-17 at 01:14
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A Circle of Support
One winter dayat the beginning
of the end of our world -
at least, as we knew it -
we chose each other
as life jackets.
It was a time when
a certain lover of couches
labeled us
childless cat ladies,
as if being childless
or loving cats
would make us insignificant.
Neither childless,
nor necessarily cat ladies
(I mean, some have dogs),
we are strong women -
smart, caring,
different in many ways,
yet bound together
by one purpose:
to help each other
stay afloat.
Every day we struggle,
often flailing in despair,
questions without answers -
the undertow threatening
to pull us under.
Drowning is not an option
in our circle.
We tread water together
in a deep, dark ocean
and will continue
until the dawn
of a new day.
And if the darkness remains,
if the storm surges,
waves threatening our survival,
we will keep treading -
hands grasping hands
to keep the circle unbroken-
until, one by one,
we take our places
among the stars.
Poetry by Melinda K Zarate
Read 16 times
Written on 2026-01-17 at 01:14
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text
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