Poetry

I did not think I would find it in me to do any more work today. I am not well settled with myself, and I am sorry if it disturbs you to know this. Worry not. Days are challenges, always, just some tear at me worse than others. I was reading and realized a poem wanted to be. For me, when the words shimmer and trill, I better busy myself, or I will be more ill than ill. So be it…

Poetry

The graceful leap of ideas –

Casting lures aptly baited
With irresistible word
Gathered, (stolen), from dragon hordes
And memorized vocabulary of
Spelling Bees.
Late nights, (early hours), spent
Flashlight reading
Under covers fresh warm surround,
Pouring over dictionaries, encyclopedias,
Maps, travel brochures, thesauruses,
As many as would be found.
Studying Bible verses and ancient poets
Until meaning is engraved on who one is,
Seeking images, highlights, making
Adventure in every visited space,
Harmonies, lyrics, melodies lightly stored,
Every experience questioned, explored,
Each day providing, proving mystery,
Reasons, motives, dissected, laid bare.
Love throughout it all, yet doubt, fear,
Dual vines growing untempered,
But love more potent than any adversary
Filling heart, mind, soul with those
Sensibilities needed to become complete –
Writing the poems acquired for the desire
Of the choosing to sufficiently compete.

An instrument, malleable, beloved
Desiring to encourage, inspire, love,
Through the application of gifts.

I am most fortunate. There is much for which to be grateful, many graces we never realize. It is my hope that all of you remain safe and well. That you take this time while some things take a time-out to renew relationships and do some of the things you often don’t but enjoy.

Maybe the lesson for us is appreciation, sometimes we are so caught up we lose sight of blessings. Gratitude is a beautiful way to honor love and life.

Create. Creativity is destiny.

Thankful

Gratefulness ensues
Because even in poverty
Of diminishment
There exists surfeit
Of blessings and no
Lack of need fulfilled.
Many gifts are present
To keep the self together,
Content with assortment,
Equal to abilities;
Examples provided
Regular exhibit.
Aware Christ inhabits
The world as assuredly
As these words proceed;
His provision is
A presence undeniable,
Praises rise to Him
Accrue, always, forever
For all is bestowed by
Bounty of His grace.

***

Writing rattles in
The shuttered windows of mind,
Begging them open.

***

I took a nap after these because I slept only three and a half hours overnight. Caught two hours.

***

As a prompt, if you are able, create something that denotes your experience of gratitude in life. What you are celebrating now, or perhaps how the quality has changed.

Missing

It is every day,
Lived, absent your toothbrush in
The cup by the sink,
The cooking a tragedy
One meal a problematic measure,
Eating alone, emptiness,
Indigestion, unpleasant;
The house a hollowness
An echo chamber where
Your laugh almost erupts,
But no, your grin has departed,
A vacancy, no sale, no rent,
The days and nights a hazy daze.

***

His being so rare
A tremble of vocals sure,
Might never have been.

***

The quality of
Light, bare trees and fallen leaves,
Spring awaits entrance.

***

The diamond splatter
Of fresh shed, newly rendered
Tears touched, breaking hearts.

***

Today has been that day a writer dreams when words soar onto pages as if they are eagles taking wing. It is funny because, physically, I am fighting instability. I hope that some of what I have written has touched you as it has me. I am catching myself singing and smiling and being almost at peace.

Through Support

They are lit, limelight,
Center focus, open stage,
People we adore
Though rare speak we in homage,
They are loves, pleasures, and more.
When we think, purpose,
Reason to continue on
Our meaning, given,
Those relative unknowns who
Populate our lives are enough.
Sometimes memory
Must sustain us over years –
Because loss appears,
But recollection carries
Us through times of doubt and fear.
Those brave-hearted souls
Who inspire, we always have
Within us retained
To bolster our courage in
Times when giving up is easy.
Quiet warriors,
Unremarked these denizens
Of love’s sweet country,
Are life, breath, health, sustaining
Every achievement, gain, deed.

Story Start – She Is

She did not like to say life was hard, because she recognized everyone had challenges, problems, struggles. Adding her bit to the misery did not seem right. She ate her consternation, her pain, along with what she collected from others. She tried to sample them only in privacy.

She found herself continuously resorting to prayer as she knew no other way to deal with such a multitude of troubles.

Sitting alone in this blindingly white room on perfectly cornered snowy linen in a gown that was allowing the air to nip at her back and behind, she felt more vulnerable than she liked. Her mind would drift into fear, and she would call it back like a hyperactive unleashed dog. Sometimes it obeyed, and she could bring it to heel, sometimes not.

The battle she faced was not unlike others, where her life was invaded. The trick was always finding a way to continue, overcome, survive. She snatched up her smile, painted it in permanent pigments, trusted her prayers, were continually heard, and chose joy over doubt. She might be weak, her weapons dull, but love was strong and capable. Even something life-threatening could not keep her down.

Seraphina would be okay, whatever befell, she determined to go bravely with a pleasant countenance and a spirit yielded to God.