18 Sep 2024
by lynn__
in question poem
Tags: anger, divergent, father, hurt, relationship, son, wall
consider fathers and sons,
some have history of hurt:
angry words, intimidation
insecurities, manipulation
of different personalities
and modes of operation
which seem “wrong” but
simply manifest divergent
yet not so simple after all
hurts can build thick wall
will bricks be broken down?
relationship survive rubble?
______________
Linking to dVerse poetics hosted by Kim with theme of “endings”. I chose to end my poem with questions because there’s uncertainty how relationship troubles might end…if they do.
26 Nov 2023
by lynn__
in lament, question poem, scripture
Tags: doubt, faith, questions, sovereignty, suffering
Lord, sometimes we just don’t understand
the mysterious ways you treat your children:
Abraham asked to sacrifice son of promise
Joseph jailed in Egypt for misjudged morals
Moses not allowed to enter promised land
Hosea told to marry an unfaithful prostitute
Zechariah murdered inside temple courts.
life can seem cruel and unfair in its dealings
as some people struggle disproportionately
do you stop your ears and turn your back?
sometimes your children suffer through no
sin of their own but because of others’ lies
we expect justice to prevail but if it doesn’t
can we believe you are sovereign over all?
try hard to quiet our questions and doubts
but sometimes we voice laments out loud
and, like Job, dare interrogate God of the
universe; human clay complains to potter.
we fall at your feet, cry hot tears, and rise
with hope in our hearts to bear burden of
doubt until your holy kingdom fully comes!
04 Jul 2020
by lynn__
in question poem, Uncategorized
Tags: america, constitution, God, justice, law, liberty, nation
My fellow Americans,
What is happening to our country?
We are ONE nation but some are trying to divide us!
Have we forgotten our pledge of allegiance to her?
America’s past isn’t perfect; let us learn from our mistakes.
America’s future is full of promise if we reach for her ideals;
If we preserve freedom’s principle to protect individual rights,
If we respect our Constitution and agree to live united under law.
Have we forgotten GOD who is the source of life, law, and justice?
Let us humble ourselves, give thanks for our blessings of opportunity,
and keep working together toward true liberty and justice for ALL!
08 Nov 2019
by lynn__
in free verse, question poem
Tags: black, cat, death, ignorance, shadows, truck
searching for any witnesses,
he questioned as if suspect:
“where were you?” he probed
“in my room,” a shocked reply
(nowhere near bloodied body)
at least, victim didn’t feel much,
unexpected and instantaneous.
trucker on road never slowed,
could not see in night’s blackness
didn’t notice impact, drove on.
circles under eyes mark grief
remembered as good mother;
affectionate, gave warm gifts.
she’d lived life until the ninth
when bad luck found black cat.
how often we commit dark deeds;
does ignorance prove innocence?
Linking to dVerse poets. This “mystery” poem fits previous prompt (shades of black) and current prompt (changing perspective). Written in third person about our barn cat found on the road but also thinking of a former acquaintance who was struck by a truck and killed. It’s always sad when animals die but how much more a human being?!
05 Aug 2019
by lynn__
in haibun, question poem, Uncategorized
Tags: abortion, culture, death, hate, violence
Awful week of three senseless public shootings by U.S. citizens at garlic festival in Gilroy CA, Walmart shopping center in El Paso TX, and popular nightclub neighborhood in Dayton OH.
We wonder why domestic terrorists perpetrate violence against unsuspecting victims? Why should innocent people die while enjoying their life? Why is our society spiraling down into a culture of hate and mayhem?
Why is it legal for mothers (whose nature is nurture) to pay doctors (whose profession is healing) to dismember their preborn infants? Why do fathers abandon or abuse their own children after conceiving them? Why do we insist our lives are superior and consider other lives expendable? Why not choose to love and protect one another, starting with our family?
Perhaps there is some connection here, an unnatural progression from selfishness, disrespect, broken relationships and alienation into a macabre culture of death. The shooters are guilty of crimes against humanity but we are all culpable.
killing on home turf
abortion births death culture
all victims bleed red
04 Aug 2019
by lynn__
in free verse, question poem, scripture
Tags: God, hallowed, holy, name, trouble
Hallowed be your name?
be set apart, made holy
to know God, to make him known
but we are an unholy people
hollow/hollowed out, hurt/ hurting
we’ve brought shame on your name
we have put out the bright signal fires
even dousing them with tepid water
yet, when life’s trouble terrifies us
we again take your name on our lips
cry for help in hopeless places
look for you in unfamiliar faces
you hear, you answer, you come
dispel our soul darkness
heal our heart wounds
wake us to our real life
Hallowed be your name!
19 Feb 2019
by lynn__
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)
08 Nov 2018
by lynn__
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.
10 Aug 2018
by lynn__
in list poem, question poem
Tags: dove, mates, paloma, peace, statue, wall
Weekly challenge at Ramblings of a Writer using words: paloma & imagination
do you hear birds cooing?
paloma blanca
rock dove
tumbler
common pigeon
turtledove
what do you imagine?
ear worm of once-popular song
nest in niche of ancient stone wall
performance of flying back flips
disrespected military statue in park
gentle hearts of monogamous mates
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