Haiku In My Quiver

This ocean into
Which I wade slowly, swallows
My fear, in its love.

I accept I am
Written differently than
Those average most.

Death, we avoid it,
But in the air, food, water,
We taste it, consume.

The calendar turns
Another time dated, gone,
Life passing – away.

The light rises bright
But only a thimbleful
Against Autumn night.

I will believe these challenges are only a small inconvenience given to produce determination and strength. Will you believe you are destined to succeed in abundance? I can only do so, else hope evaporates.

Haiku

Turning all around
The answer growing clearer:
A leaf on the vine.

Speak Living

When opportunity presents
We may speak encouragement
Into another person –
Everyone needs inspiration,
Kindness, generosity;
Love is a gift, blessing
The giver, as much as
The one who gathers it in.
Positive words can
Change lives weighted by despair,
Teaching the act of living,
Being is worthwhile to keep
Doing, happening, growing.
Personhood is precious,
Belonging is a treasure,
Life is made to pour out –
In all directions, enriching,
Motivating, teaching, through
Creative effort, how wonder
Becomes an existential capability
In each moment, place, thing,
Ever proposed and accomplished.

Use Your Words

When we are upset
The best thing to be done is
For us to use words
Well;
Communication is key
To get all the things we need.
Better not resort
To violence and destruction,
Working situations out
Through
Discussion is a better option,
Which brings stronger resolutions.
Putting words on paper or screen
Can be a valuable tool
Letting us approach
Clarity,
Discovering our concrete ideas.
Using our words
Never indicates weakness
But shows intelligence and strength
Because choosing devastation
Is often a more straightforward solution
Than
Formulating a plan
To progress in creativity,
Building the present, ushering in
The future by making
The riskier effort to implement change.
Words build us up,
Encourage and inspire
To conquer difficulties
Eroding mountains of opposition
Into crowds of consolation
Where positivity can overcome
The landslide of negativity
Directed toward each of us
Perpetually.
It all began with the Word,
We withstand pain, trouble,
With carefully chosen words
That defend and guard us,
From what would harm us.
We do well to employ
Words
To do what seems too high
A hope, too large a dream,
A huge impossibility,
Because words have power
To change the world, reality.

Never Forgotten

One September Morning

One September morning
The entire world awoke
With no inkling or forewarning
Cherished dreams would die in smoke.

Another Tuesday
Like so many others…
No one apprehended that day
Would affect so many mothers.

One September morning
Terrorists tried to destroy
Our country without warning,
However, it did not work, their ploy.

Another Tuesday
That will live forever;
The bravery and sorrow of the day,
We will not forget, not ever.

One September morning
Love reached out calling
Even as we all began mourning,
Our nation was not falling.

Another Tuesday
When God was in control
Although throughout that dark day
The catastrophe tried every soul.

One September morning
Remembered by history;
A brilliantly promising morning
In a place proud and free.

Another Tuesday
When America found unity…
No matter what people might say,
We still have our liberty.

One September morning
When the whole world did cry
With new respect aborning
For the noble flag, we yet fly…

It took me almost a year to process the tragedy of September 11, 2001. My pastor read this poem in our remembrance service.

I still fall to pieces when this comes round, the lost of life breaks my heart. The loss of innocence saddens my soul.

It was the final thing that fell into place to compel my son, Alex, to serve.

I post this here that we may never forget.