Light a candle on this 2nd Sunday of Advent
We watch with eyes wide open.
What does a shepherd know of Love?
Sacrifice offered
Blood poured out like water
All: Yes, Christ is our Advent of LOVE!
advent reading (2)
04 Dec 2016 Leave a comment
in free verse Tags: advent, love, sacrifice, shepherd
give thanks, gather hope
24 Nov 2016 2 Comments
in free verse Tags: pilgrims, provience, thankful, turkey
First year at Plimoth was
difficult— disease, death
Mayflower left survivors
grateful for Squanto’s help
Pilgrims and Wampanoag
gathered for three day feast
thankful to gracious God for
gifts of harvest and friendship
photo by lynn
Fresh venison, wild turkey,
goose cooked with herbs
shellfish, herring, lobster
colorful corn and squash
Public prayers of blessing
psalms sung, jigs danced
leapfrog, blind man’s bluff
target shooting contests
Lincoln set 4th Thursday
of November as annual
holy day to give thanks
to God for his providence
Future presidents would
pardon one lucky turkey
as loyal Americans join
to give thanks for football
conflagration = heat + light
25 Oct 2016 19 Comments
in free verse, prayer Tags: body, fear, love, spark, spirit, wildfire
A quadrille (poem of 44 words) on De’s theme of “spark” at dVersePoets
the
essence of
Love
broke into
this broken world
held hostage by
Fear
to cast it out:
let go and
Believe!
holy Fire
inflamed
disciples to
witness to Word
fearlessly;
now spark a
new reformation
of Body
as living organism
ignited by
Spirit’s
wildfire.
american appetites
28 Sep 2016 16 Comments
in free verse Tags: american, arrangement, fast food, french fries, obsessive compulsive
See Grace’s prompt at dVerse Poets on “arrangements” with artist Emily Blincoe.
indulge patriotism, for an
obsessive~compulsive eater
the meticulous arrangement
is everything. count (again)
each frenched frye laid out
one~by~one ordered from
longest to shortest in rows
of greasy perfection thus
book~ended between a
bloody pile of catch~up
and souvenir wrapper.
lick salty fingers (again)
wipe salivating mouth
(and repeat again) in a
slow death by fast food
oh, whata~way~to~go!
photo by Emily Blincoe
vulnerable-ability
12 Sep 2016 1 Comment
in free verse, scripture Tags: forgiveness, relationship, scars, vulnerable, wound
we come needy,
“damaged goods”
in pretty wrapping
eager for relationship
a safe place to unpack
the assortment of our
mismatched baggage
yet we unintentionally
wound each other
with wary words both
spoken and unspoken
gestures misconstrued
whether subconscious
malice or callous
thoughtlessness
we’re here together
with scars and scabs
as we pretend to
search for fresh
bandages even as
we hope for real
healing found only
in true forgiveness.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
red velvet rhythm
15 Aug 2016 Leave a comment
in free verse, magnetic Tags: belly breathe, caramel, eternity, fever, peace
cemetery guardian
16 Jun 2016 26 Comments
in free verse, story Tags: angel, cemetery, grave, marble, statue
St. George’s Cemetery, Bermuda
Near white sand beach,
inside the old church yard,
I stand watchful guard over
earthly body of departed child;
another angel, in human form,
who visited briefly here to be
caught in a rapid blue riptide.
I can only offer marble blooms
and silent stony vigilance.
Come visit the small grave
and cry on my empty arm,
broken from reaching; touch
my clipped wing, fractured
by gathered years of sorrow.
But even as heaven’s stars
gaze, I know the sweet spirit
has taken flight, like red scent
of hibiscus on ocean breeze.
Link to dVerse Poets Pub where Lillian is hosting a “chiseled conversation”…the photograph above is hers!
for Jean’s children
11 Jun 2016 Leave a comment
in free verse Tags: death, friends, grief, love
In honor of a dear family friend, Jean (Holtrop) Sears. For Sheila and Lon…
Grief is the thief
who steals our full
attention so abruptly
we lose focus on life.
Surprised by final loss
at end of long goodbye;
when body outlasts mind,
death’s blow is blunt reality
We cry for ourselves for
becoming motherless children
as we hold scattered memories
forever in our shattered hearts.
Sweet memories to keep
of one-and-only mother love;
wrapped in timely words, tight hugs,
and eyes smiling through tears.
Remember holiday gatherings with
enough food to feed a small army,
provision of a place to come home;
giving thanks for family and friends.
She encouraged us to be our best
but even if we disappointed her
forgiveness could always be found;
right now can be a new beginning.
Her loving influence yet evident,
revealed in lives of grandchildren;
by faith, she’s in God’s presence
and we will follow on the journey.
sweet anticipation
29 May 2016 2 Comments
in free verse Tags: bride, groom, Jesus, King
we live
and breathe
His Name,
~ JESUS ~
true believers
his chosen bride
washed pure
cleaned by blood
prepared, beloved,
waiting for our
honored groom’s arrival;
to see his face
be claimed by grace.
all nature sing,
returning King
comes victorious
our future,
glorious!
old barn door
11 May 2016 16 Comments
in enjambment, free verse Tags: barn, door, farmyard, iowa
Lillian is opening the doors of the poets’ pub at dVerse…join us!
hip-roofed, wood frame barn
built in nineteen thirty-six
(the year scrawled on wall)
proudly presides over all on
Iowa farmyard/homestead
split-door is half invitation
to go ahead, peek inside;
smell leftover manure,
hay, veterinary medicinals
for former/current residents
lift latch-hook, swing open
duck, step over threshold;
lean against rough y-post,
finger a knotted bale twine
and feel cobwebs brush face
listen for echoes, stories of
past and present agriculture:
work horse munching oats
piglets nuzzle as sow grunts
new kittens mew, mama purrs
beady-eyed boss hen clucks
proudly in her nest-box row,
rusty elevator squeaks as
crew moves/stacks straw,
voices of boys play in loft
close door quick, keep calf in!
searching…
08 Apr 2016 2 Comments
in free verse, question poem Tags: follow, Jesus, question, want
Jesus, the
Questioner,
when followed,
turned around
and asked,
dark eyes
so focused,
“What do
you want?”
Earnestly,
he asks us
too, what
is it you
really,
truly,
want?
Is it
Me?
a poem in my pocket 
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