Our host today at http://www.ethicalela.com for the 4th day of the January Open Write is Larin Wade of Oklahoma, who inspires us to write free verse poems on the theme of reflection or discovery, following a reading of One of Us by Joyce Sidman as we explore a time when someone revealed something new about themselves or reflecting on a defining moment. You can read her prompt here.
I’m an Honorary Unicorn
I came in to work
on a cold Monday morning
to find her note
on my keyboard
Her children
have lost 4 grandparents
in the past 5 months
and all I did
was take pizza to her house
while she and her husband
disconnected life support
said goodbye to a father
And here, she thinks
I’m a magical unicorn
who is noble and brave
who shoots lighting bolts
from my eyes
who inspires others to sparkle
who carries a passport to Fairyland
who is kind and good
but not a goody-goody
who loves with my whole heart
She thanked me for the little
thing I did
taking pizza over
and always being there
but she got it wrong.
I’m none of that except maybe the Fairyland passport carrier
But I’ll tell you one thing:
I’m using that checklist to
be a better me.
My unicorn friend has
given me new goals:
pooping glitter and charming dragons
Common Threads 
First, I think I learned of the Stafford Challenge through your writing at TWT, Kim, and I thank you so much for sharing that!
The contrast here is everything- of the whimsy of an honorary unicorn with rainbow farts to the reality of your friend’s life support decision. It adds up to such an original poem! And your bolded sentence leaves me thinking…
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Love this checklist! I want to get one of my own! We need more unicorns in the world!
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Kim,
You may not be a unicorn, but you are a magical human. And I love the way this poem unfolds w/ the “all I did” simple act of kindness that allows another to breathe and pause for a moment during a difficult time. Sometimes all someone needs is someone else seeing and being present. That’s magical.
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I love the whimsy of this checklist! Farting rainbows? Oh that had me chuckling. What extraordinary pain – to lose four loving family members in five months. So wonderful that she has you as a close friend, holding her up. Sending love – and sparkles!
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Kim, your poem is so poignant and full of loss and yet joy, too. Love your ending “pooping glitter and charming dragons”. Sometimes just showing up is what someone who is grieving needs. Bravo to you!
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Wow!
You have the highs and lows, the real and fantasy, the emotions …
There’s a song line … “you say it best when you say nothing at all.”
Your actions tell us who you are! Showing up is important and always remembered!
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Kim, what a fun poem! I love that you made that sweet note into something more. Besides charming dragons and pooping glitter, I think farting rainbows would be pretty freaking amazing, and something that you seem destined to do!
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You’ve captured such a range of emotions within this post and your poem. Weaving whimsy and humor into deep grief and sorrow is a magical feat in and of itself, and definitely worthy of unicorn status.
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