(magnetic poetry online)
a fresh intuition
16 Mar 2019 Leave a comment
in free verse, magnetic Tags: bee, daffodil, flower, garden, grass, moss, peace, rock
the treasure
11 Mar 2019 2 Comments
in free verse, scripture Tags: authority, book, letter, life, sword, truth, Word
Skeptical about the Bible? Try reading one of the New Testament gospels, the book of John. We all have questions! See post by former agnostic, The Sylvr Pen.
diversified volumes form unique collection
library referenced by love’s common theme
more than mere letters forming words
more than simply words on a page
voluminous, luminous top-selling tome of
truth verified on authority of one true author
a long-ago breathed, still breathing book
a living letter made alive by the lord of life
logos, the Word made flesh, God himself
fleshed out in gracious words of his son
sword of spirit that pierces mind and soul
cuts through deceit, defends against evil one
map to precious treasure of kingdom is not
to be pirated or buried but diligently studied
spill the treasure out to be spent by beggars
memorize the map to find the only way home
free image – pixabay
life…as world turns
06 Mar 2019 19 Comments
in free verse, scripture Tags: breath, death, Ecclesiastes, life, preacher, vanity, world
Join dVerse Poets where Lillian quotes Eccles. 3: 1-8, a time for everything.
“all is vanity,” says the preacher
life’s breath ~ “chasing after wind”
somewhere in the weary world
newborn baby first sucks in air
toddler tosses pebbles into pond
young girl twirls a wedding dance
farmer plants seed in hope of harvest
lovers laugh to embrace ~ weep, to not
developer digs dirt in hope of homes
man grieves loss of beloved wife
old woman stacks stones on beach
dying man expires with final sigh
somewhere in the weary world
“all is vanity,” says the preacher
life’s breath ~ “chasing after wind”
will all find tolerance?
19 Feb 2019 34 Comments
in free verse, list poem, question poem, scripture Tags: conservative, politically incorrect, tolerance, white privilege
i am a believer
i am an American
i am white-skinned
i am a college graduate
i am married, to one man
i work at home on the farm
i feed beef cattle to feed people
i am a home owner and land owner
i am conservative in my political views
are these statements provocative?
unacceptable, politically incorrect?
should i apologize to the world?
do we really believe in tolerance?
does diversity respect equally?
i want to listen and learn
i may disagree but that
does not mean i hate
yes, i am privileged
to love & be loved
to also bleed red
i thank God for
his blessings
every day;
you?
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. (Psalm 16:6)
daughter she never knew
23 Jan 2019 23 Comments
in free verse, lament Tags: abortion, choice, daughter, option, viable
desperate now
no real choice
no viable option
he’d already left her
she birthed other babies
what else could she do
but have child removed?
…the one she’d never celebrate
Abortion is a tragedy to grieve, not an occasion to celebrate. Author Leslie Leyland Fields writes an open, compassionate letter to “celebrants” of abortion here.
lament for erica anne
28 Dec 2018 1 Comment
in free verse, lament Tags: Erica, eyes, grief, heart, lament, suicide
hear our anguished cries, O God!
why do the loveliest ones die young?
she had her daddy’s perceptive eyes
that saw beyond this world’s pretense;
she had her mother’s tender heart
that loved beyond this world’s ache.
Erica belonged to a better, purer world.
depression’s demons
pushed her till she fell,
desperate to escape.
her mortal body broken but
her timeless spirit caught in
arms of compassion
and carried home,
like lost lamb on gentle
Shepherd’s shoulders…
Lord, carry us in our grief!
For my friend and family who lost their sweet daughter/sister. Read Erica’s obituary here.
winter’s daZZle
12 Dec 2018 13 Comments
in free verse, list poem Tags: chili, fur, huskies, icicles, mitten, snowflakes, winter
Link to dVerse Poets where Gina invites us to consider “the magic of ordinary things”
snow diamonds gliTTer in sunshine
icicle daGGers dangle from rOOf edge
pungent scent distiLLs from pine boughs
haPPy laughter sleDDing down big hiLL
soft faux fur hOOd brushes rosy chEEks
snowflakes sprinkle on kniTTed miTTen
cold hands caRReSS warm bowl of hot chili
annunciation
29 Nov 2018 7 Comments
in free verse, scripture, worship Tags: angel, annunciation, flame, glory, messenger
At heaven’s high command,
a white-hot beam of purest light
penetrates time and space
to touch our tiny blue planet.
In a peasant cottage,
silence is muted by
an alien presence; the
whispering whir of mighty wing.
Flesh crawls with palpable terror
as the dazzling creature, a holy flame,
fixes its piercing gaze on one
wide-eyed, trembling maiden.
“Do not be afraid.”
Surprising, melodious words
uttered by molten-gold messenger
to an ordinary girl who pales
in wonder, what can this mean?
Glory’s courier speaks favor—
words of prophets coming true
Spirit of I AM will overshadow you,
virgin chosen to mother Messiah.
Her eyes lower, palms sweat,
as dry lips answer from her
wildly-beating, totally yielded heart,
she burns but does not disintegrate.
“I am the Lord’s servant.”
(Originally posted in 2012 as “advent: trial by fire”; later, expanded and focused. I was privileged to read this at our church Christmas Eve service 2016, 2018, 2019!)
unboxing day
08 Nov 2018 31 Comments
in free verse, question poem Tags: boxes, cats, holiday, humans, labels, stuffed
why shove live people into boxes?
for ease of handling:
tape flaps shut
apply (libel) labels
stack, shelve, and ship
boxes help us to:
stratify society
control communication
justify judgementalism
but humans are fluid (57-60% water)
leaking out of boxes, eluding labels with:
nuances of personality
unique life history
flow of opinions and
distilled philosophy
(even cats, who adore boxes, should not be forced inside
but rather choose which box to curl up in and when to exit)
considering final insult we sustain as body is finally laid in a box,
let us celebrate un-boxing holiday
let people out of cramped boxes
we’ve assembled and stuffed them in
in fact, let’s get rid of the boxes altogether!
Linking to dVerse metaphor/figure of speech prompt.
“Temuchin!”
30 Oct 2018 13 Comments
in free verse Tags: ginger, mountain, ponies, steppe, stew, yurt
Linking to dVerse poetics and Lillian’s prompt to write “once upon a …”
once upon a yurt…
out on the barren steppe
below snowy mountain peak
where mongolian ponies gallop
beside smoky cow-dung fire ring
stirring pot of seasoned beef stew
aromas of ginger and garlic wafting
tickle nose of almond-eyed baby boy
who sneezes mightily into shadows of
future as conqueror-to-be, Genghis Khan
wild, wet ‘n wooly
27 Sep 2018 16 Comments
in free verse, poem for children Tags: caterpillar, grandson, hike, pond, swim, woolie
A small story poem of 115 words linked to dVerse where Bjorn and friends are writing narrative poetry. Also inspired by Sarah’s earlier “mindfulness” prompt!
brave-heart caterpillar
three centimeters long
weighs all of a gram
spiky brown-black fur
humping along unaware
crosses grandson’s path
who grasps stray fuzzball
tickly in palm of hand
gently carried on hike
until trail ends at pier
where insect pupa is
plopped into pond
as fish bait—but wait,
does it know to swim?
fur floats, frantically
w-w-w-wiggles body
up/down like ripples
across water’s surface
until grandma, empathic,
fishes live catkin out
woolie happy at rescue
dries in sunshine and
casts an intimidating
spiked shadow across
pier’s knotted plank
grandson decides to
return him to tall grass
so newly cool cat can
retell adventures to his
sheltered larval friends
photo by lynn
life, in pursuit of happiness
30 Jul 2018 19 Comments
in free verse Tags: dad, fourth, holiday, laugh, remember, spark
fourth of july
was his favorite
holiday when
dad, guardian
of hot punk,
would light
our sparklers;
we’d laugh and
dance in grass,
swirling
happy sparks
in waves of
patriotism.
now he comes
to iowa to
visit us, his
(temp) guardians,
and to watch
fireflies & fireworks,
celebrating his
independence
from assisted living;
he laughs aloud
at whistling stars
and deaf-defying
bangs.
how can i
bear the time
when dad’s
bright spark
explodes and
sizzles out,
smoking white,
and all my
holidays die?
i’ll remember
the laughter,
holding warm
embers.
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