Tag Archives: poetry

Little Boxes

image

Little Boxes

Little boxes stacked up high

Inside, memories of days gone by.

Pictures, letters, report cards, too

Together they tell the story of you.

Bits and pieces of times long past,

Carefully saved to make remembrances last.

A poem, a ribbon, a small round stone

Preserved to go through when we feel alone.

Little boxes stacked up once more

Tucked in the closet, close the door.

Life moves on and then one day

Little boxes, so precious, are thrown away.

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”  Matthew 6:19-21

Beach Dreaming

image

 

Beach Dreaming

Her flowing arms rush toward me, open, bidding me to come.

Resonating in my ears, the rhythm of her song mimics my heartbeat.

She warms my very soul as balm on my skin.

Her fragrance familiar and serene,

A light breath passes across my cheek, briny,  cool, causing me to quiver.

I sigh, let go, and immerse myself in her beauty.

On her shore, I am reawakened once again.

 I am whole.

Note to Self

Note to Self

It is what it is

What will be, will be.

You can’t change it now,

No need to worry.

Turn off your mind.

Close your eyes.

Tomorrow’s a new day,

The sun will rise.

Say your prayers,

Release your fear.

Pull up the sheet.

Now sleep, my dear.

On the Blink

Crash, rattle, boink, clink….

Something here is on the blink.

Could it be the upstairs sink?

Woosh, doink, swish, flop…..

I’ve got to find it and make it stop!

Then order parts from an online shop.

Bump, beep, skip, grind…..

What ever is broken, I cannot find

Oh wait, that’s right….It’s my mind!

image

On the Verge

"The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring." Bern Williams

“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.” ~ Bern Williams

On the Verge

The sky, deceptively sparkling blue

But the air is crisp like it’s coming off the last snowy mountaintop.

Forsythia buds burst at their seams while waiting for warmth to usher them forth.

Slivers of green emerge on the tips of cold, empty Lilac limbs.

Whimsical  soft, silvery catkins dot the Pussy Willow tree.

Buzzards have found their way back and float endlessly on windy currents, anticipating.

While early Robins search nervously in the damp earth for a rare morsel.

Peep Frog songs trill from ponds but then go quiet, not ready to announce your arrival.

Where are you? 

The scent of rain in the air proclaims you’re near.

We’re anxiously waiting to welcome you.

So close

Yet,  still on the verge of Spring.

 

Smile

April 4, 2015 = Poem #4

Smile

What makes you smile

As you go through your day?

Is it lots of power

Or a high rate of pay?

A fancy car, designer shoes

An argument you know you can’t loose.

Maybe, though you’re more like me

A country kind of girl.

Who’s frown is turned upside down

At the sight of a frisky squirrel.

A goat on a hill, a calf in the hay

These are the sights that brighten my day.

Ducks on the pond, lambs in a pile

It’s the simple things in life

That make me smile.

Pierced

image

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. “ Isaiah 53:5

For me, one sure sign of spring are the daffodils in my yard that burst forth each year from the dormant earth and open their petals like little faces lifted to the sun.  I anticipate their arrival and wonder at their simple beauty.  I found the daffodil pictured above while still in bud, laying flat on the ground. A victim of a neighborhood dog I suspect. As Paul Harvey used to say “Now, for the rest of the story”….  I couldn’t just leave it there, so I cut its stem and lifted it from its makeshift grave.  On closer inspection I realized that in the process of being beaten down and crushed, a pine needle had pierced the tender blossom.  I didn’t have much hope for the bruised and punctured bud to bloom but I removed the needle, took the limp flower in and put it in a vase of water anyway.  Much to my surprise, a few short hours later what was once a seemingly lifeless bud had lifted its head and spread its petals to become the flower you see in the picture, the flower it was meant to be.  It may seem silly but it brought me such a sense of joy to see what was once left for dead to now be full of life and beauty!  As I admired that daffodil, I noticed the holes in the delicate petals left behind by the piercing it had endured, and for a moment I just stood there, breathless….staring……it was as if the blinds in my heart and mind had been lifted and the “Son” was brightly shining in.  I had no idea that when I bent down to pick up a fallen daffodil, my sign of spring and renewal, it would so vividly remind me that Jesus was beaten, bruised, and pierced.  He was then put in a makeshift grave left for dead. Just a few short days later He lifted his head, walked out of the tomb, and spread His arms to show the holes in His nail pierced hands. Jesus, risen and full of life and beauty had endured the unthinkable for one reason and one reason only, so that you and I can be renewed and become the people we were meant to be.  The miracle of Easter shown to me through a daffodil.  Hallelujah!  And now you know the rest of the story……..

Pierced

Put on a cross

Innocence ignored

Endured torture and pain

Ridiculed

Cursed

Encumbered by my sin

Died so that I may live

Abundant Friendship

 

“Why did you do all this for me?” he asked. “I don’t deserve it.  I’ve never done anything for you” “You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte.  “That in itself is a tremendous thing”     ~E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web

     I don’t know about you, but I’ve been very blessed in my life with wonderful friends!  Over the years some have come and gone, but they’re still part of who I am today.  Some friends live and work close by and we’re in touch regularly.  I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them.  And then there are those special, priceless few who almost know me better than I know myself.  They are the ones who get me.  They understand my weaknesses and  encourage my strengths. We laugh together. Grieve together. Celebrate together.  We experience life together.  They are my life preservers, my sounding boards, my voices of reason, and I know that they will always be there when I need them.  Whether we’re near or far my “heart friends” and I share an abundant friendship and today I  rejoice in those relationships through this poem:

Abundant Friendship

Friendship.                                                                                                                                        Abundant, strong.                                                                                                                                    Rare, lucky to be found.                                                                                                                           Time and distance don’t dim the heart.                                                                                        Precious.

I’m a Fool for April

April first and I made it through the whole day without being fooled once. I have to admit I kind of missed the silly attempts my students used to make to try and trick me.  “Your shoe’s untied, Miss Cindy”, “There’s a spider in your hair!”,  or their favorite rubber snake on my desk trick.  Of course I always had to act the fool for them (it really wasn’t too hard), but I didn’t mind because the sound of their “April Fools” and laughter filled this foolish ole teacher’s heart with joy.

It’s hard for me to believe but April also marks the year anniversary of my writing this blog. The journey began last year at this time with my involvement in Kevin Cordi’s Poetry Box Project and has continued to be an avenue for me to do what I love, write!

April is also special because it is officially designated Poetry Month. In honor of that, a storyteller I admire, Granny Sue, posted that she was going  to write a poem a day throughout this month and not only that, she also challenged her readers to do the same.  I have decided, foolish as it may be, to accept her challenge.  Maybe you’d like to join us “April Fools” too, and let your inner poet shine! I hope you do!

April 1, 2015

Unexpected Blessings

A card, a gift,

A wave or a smile

Lift our spirits

For quite a while.

A touch, a wink,

A warm embrace

Help to ease

The trials we face.

A photo, a prize

A laugh or a tear

Unexpected Blessings

Wish us to persevere.