I’ve been reading a memoir called The Salt Path by Raynor Winn–and while I’m not yet halfway through–I’m struck by the way the relationship between the couple sustains them despite the hardships they are experiencing: financial difficulties, the loss of the family home, a devastating medical diagnosis… And yet they decide on the most improbable solution given their circumstances–they decide to undertake a walk of hundreds of miles.
This morning, Padma at Verselove offered a prompt she calls Finding a Safe Harbor and offers as mentor text Safe Spaces, a poem from her novel in verse, Safe Harbor. The poem describes the library as that safe place. As I started thinking about safe spaces, harbor from the hardships of the world, I found myself thinking not of a place, but a person. Here’s my draft:
My Safe Place
When clouds roll in
threatening storms and unsettled air
stirring troubling thoughts
When skies are clear
skin warmed
emotions sailing high above
like a kite on a string
Whether the weather
is calm or turbulent
there is only one place for me
A place of comfort
of support
A place to relax
and be myself
No judgement
no worries
no doubts
It’s my place
our place
nowhere but everywhere
all at once
It’s my safe place
It’s the only place for me
My place is with you
I don’t think we’ll be taking off on a hundreds of miles walk anytime soon, but I do count myself lucky to have a sustaining relationship and a safe harbor…for however long it lasts.
Thinking Through My Lens 
I have a long marriage, too, and I’m so grateful for it every day. What a loving poem! I hope you gift it to your husband.
Thanks Margaret. There’s so much to celebrate in the daily steadiness of a long marriage. ❤️
What a beautiful tribute to your loving relationship! When you mentioned the title of the book you’re reading, I knew I had it, too! I picked it up months ago at a used book store but hadn’t started it. Now, thanks to reading this, I’m reading it as well, and I find myself thinking about it a lot. Thanks for sharing your poem and for the nudge to pull The Salt Path out of my teetering TBR pile.