By the Lakeside

by Kerry Van Dorn | akervand, posted in Poetry

Get ready to enjoy an uplifting poem from my upcoming collection, set to inspire in January!

Available for Preorder now.

By the Lakeside

Sun brightly shining in the sky,
purple flowers blooming on the trees,
turtles sunning by the lakeside,
confused chicks chirping for their mother.
Alone, I sit and wonder,
is this all that I am made for?

The chirping of a chick distracts me
as it walks in front of me, tirelessly
letting the world know of its presence.
I wish I could be like this chick,
confused, alone, yet it never stops
living its life. It never stops
fluffing its feathers, or scrounging the ground.

Some days, its a miracle that
I even get out of bed, let alone
actually venture out into the world.
Confused, alone a chick without its mother,
I don't know how to be
in this world surrounded by glass and steel.

Surrounded by the turtles, chicks, and trees,
I feel at home by the lakeside.

Available on Amazon

Forest Tales

$4.99

Embark on a poetic journey in the depths of the Australian wilderness as a woman and activist seeks her true identity.

Amazon Ebook

Modernismo

by Kerry Van Dorn | akervand, posted in Original Work, Poetry

I once had a dream.

I sprouted long beautiful wings.

I flapped them around in order to gain

The courage to spread them fully and

Fly myself away.

Finally, wind in my face

And happiness in my heart,

I began my journey to a new world.

But down on the cold ground

Tracking my movements

Reticle in place

A dark figure interceded.

I came tumbling down to earth

A searing pain in my left wing.

Unhurt save for one place,

Unable to run, unable to flee.

This dark figure, familiar,

Took its time cutting me down

Exactly to the shape it wants.

No more do I have my wings.

Left only with the memory

That I once had a dream.

written 8/9/2018

Gratitude

by Kerry Van Dorn | akervand, posted in Original Work, Poetry

I Give thanks to the ones who came before

Sisters each and every

Denied their heart, their love

Not just in who they could

But in what they could give their soul.

For every sister who dreamt of walking among the stars,

I Give thanks.

For every sister who saw the beauty of molecules coming together,

I Give thanks.

For every sister who wanted more,

I Give thanks.

We who came after give thanks

For all you allowed us to be.

On your behalf, I promise to do my best

For all the sisters after me.

written – 2/13/2018

Defenseless Creature

by Kerry Van Dorn | akervand, posted in Original Work, Poetry

But I am a very defenseless creature (because I was a very timid, lost, defenseless child).

— Rilke

Many years removed and yet

It is as though it was just yesterday.

The child may grow up, but

Locked deep inside a fortress

Hidden away from the world today

The child lives looking outward

Observing the life his other half lives.

Somedays, this other half,

Whether through rushed hurriedness,

Or a deep desire for masochism

Leaves the fortress, unlocked, unguarded.

The child freed from his prison

If only for a few days, has full reign.

The other half, no longer in control.

Once again is transported, stuck

In that old, familiar state.

Alone, in a world, he does not

Cannot understand. Scared

Of what it means to be

Lost, timid and afraid.

The other half is defenseless

To withstand the strength

Of the child’s emotions let loose

With all his might, he steps forth

To grab the child by the hand

And lead him back to the safety of the fortress.

All the while knowing, he’ll get loose once again.

written – 11/7/2017

Forest Tales: Available for Preorder

by Kerry Van Dorn | akervand, posted in Original Work, Poetry

Dare to explore? My poetry collection, “Forest Tales,” is now available for preorder.

Embark on a poetic journey in the depths of the Australian wilderness as a woman and activist seeks her true identity. 

These bold verses will challenge your view of nature!

Available on Amazon

Forest Tales

$4.99

Embark on a poetic journey in the depths of the Australian wilderness as a woman and activist seeks her true identity.

Amazon Ebook

Blackberries ☔️

by Kerry Van Dorn | akervand, posted in Original Work, Photography

Audrey II

by Kerry Van Dorn | akervand, posted in Original Work, Poetry

Fear. My whole life is guided by it.

I pull and pull at the weeds

Trying to remove them from my life

But right when I think I’ve removed

The last impediment in my way forward.

A new, stronger weed grows right up

In its stead, whispering quiet words

In my ear…for more, more food

Asking for my most precious resource,

My dreams.

written – 12/14/2018

Joyful Science

by Kerry Van Dorn | akervand, posted in Original Work, Poetry

Hands upon skin, taking you in,

The flutter of fingertips lightly,

A songbird plays a gentle song

To soothe deep within.

Memories replayed of past days

The good and bad commingled.

Woman, the master of manipulation,

So subtle, she makes it an art.

Written – 1/25/2023