master of ceremonies

at small town wedding party,
invited guests drank and danced
in week-long jewish celebration

“they’ve run out of wine,” she
stated simply yet in urgent tone
to rabbi son seated with disciples

(why should I reveal my powers
to rescue neighbor’s reputation
when it is not my time to die?)

“do whatever he tells you,” she
nodded to shamefaced servants
holding empty thirty-gallon jugs

he ordered them to fill jars
with water, draw out sample
and take it to master of feast

who sputtered after tasting,
“why would the family wait to
serve finest wine until now?”

not watery kool-aid or cheap
wine cooler but velvety merlot
or perhaps deepest sauvignon

gift from him, the vine and groom,
whose wine of blood saves from
shame all who will drink in faith

(see John 2:1-11)

woke psychiatry

what is a wo-man?
definitions can bend,
we deny motherhood
and give it to men

diagnostic manual
has changed over years,
believe you’re a unicorn?
here’s a horn and fake ears

gender disphoria is
a new-fashioned curse;
we won’t make it/they better
but can help them feel worse

crack addicts, delusioned
psychotics…don’t treat —
they seem perfectly happy
living homeless on street

wide-spread mental illness
society sick with dis-ease
throw out DSM / Bible
and think as you please!

__________

Will the thought police come after me?

smudge of grace

ashes to ashes

made from dust, to dust return

yet, we shall be changed!

_____________

Christian observation of Ash Wednesday reminds us of our mortality.

point of reference

Happy to join Kristjaan at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai in an ekphrastic prompt!

in surreal dream scene

mysterious smoke signals

above lonely tree

is this a call to battle

or full moon celebration?

goodbye

throughout the day

before my dad died,

i held my father’s hand;

once strong, fleshy

now feeble, bony

but still warm…

and still gripping

(though not for long).

as i left his room that night

with an “i love you”,

he raised his hand up

towards me in a

slow, deliberate wave.

the source

every good gift received

each reminder believed

that good Lord above

is the God of great love

and our worthiness under-achieved!

_______

Joining Ingrid at dVerse poetics to consider gifts and gratitude.

worn favorites

softest foot warmers

white lining breaks through red plaid

thin from high mileage

desert blues

in dry gulch texas

cactus rose cantina closed

thirsty owner left

once upon a time at grandma’s house…

sometimes my grand daughters
dress up as princesses and live
together in make-believe castle
(partitioned basement toy room)

wearing single toy crown, one of
them acts as the queen and she
invariably invites me to come for
a visit with royals at their palace

when addressing the queen, one
must be respectful but i get into
trouble by casually referring to her
little highness as “Queenie Poo”

they predictably haul me off
to the jailer’s dungeon where
they mercifully bring me books
and copious meals of fake food

eventually, i am released but
regretfully have not yet learned
my lesson and the story repeats
to the general delight of all parties

____________

I’ve written a few poems about my grandmothers (“I Remember Them”) and grandchildren but here’s a new story poem for dVerse.

warm hearts (heh, heh)

honey bunch, have a hunch
want to spoon? lovers swoon
we’re married, it’s okay
if hearts get carried away

your room or mine? give me sign
when sleep separate, together’s a date
snuggling close would be nice
if his feet weren’t cold as ice!

________________

Mish serving up quadrilles (44 words) on ice at dVerse.

destiny

if u.s.a. is terrible, why do so many people want in?

awaken

frightful childhood dreams

creatures of fur, fang, and claw

mount stairs to bedroom

_______

cannot sleep tonight

half-moon’s eye peeks in window

chases dreams away

_______

someday…rest in peace

mother speaks to me in dreams

her voice reassures

_______

In response to Ingrid’s visionary poetic prompt at dVerse poets…for dreamers only!

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