dandelion days
Prompt: Where is your paradise?

Photo by Camilla at Script’s Wildlife Preserve

Paradise is
a shapeshifter
transforming to my current mood
the phase of life I have arrived to explore

Paradise is
going for walks
when in nature amongst the trees
listening to the sounds of nature
being mesmerized by the clouds
making dandelion wishes
feeling the breeze brush against my skin

Paradise is
walking shoeless in the grass
treading barefoot in the sand
watching the water lap the shoreline
listening to the sound of the waves, the seagulls
letting Lake Tahoe swallow me into her comforting crisp embrace

Paradise is
arriving at the finish line of the battles I have won
relaxing into the satisfaction of the struggles I overcame

Paradise is
adoring and appreciating people
listening to music
soaking in every note and lyric of live music
dancing, moving my body to the beat

Paradise is
found in poetry,
reading the powerful words
listening to the spoken word
writing what lives in my mind and heart
sharing and speaking it with like-minded friends

Paradise is
reading books
educating myself
being transported to different times, other worlds

Paradise is
expressing my feelings
living out loud and proud
speaking my mind with no filter
laughing, being my silly, weird, chaotic self

Paradise is
connecting, vibing with kindred spirits
sharing deep, thoughtful conversations with new and old friends

Paradise is
learning and discovering
all of the ways in which my power was chipped away by others

Paradise is
reclaiming my power
solidified by a foundation birthed by the wisdom of my years

Paradise is
at the intersection of my joy
the goddess within me
and my will to continue learning about myself

Paradise is
the ecstasy of treating myself
to that which brings me joy
having dates with myself
appreciating my body, my femininity
noticing and loving my beauty
rather than criticizing myself

Paradise is
when I allow myself to know
that I am a wonderland
that I have a mystical ability
to be euphoric from the inside out
feeling a sense of my own aliveness

I carry paradise within me
for how do I know paradise
without having traveled through hell
to arrive here

This
This right here
This is Paradise
©Camilla Downs, July 2024

Spoken Version: