posting poetic prose
16 May 2013 12 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: farmer, homestead, patriarch, tree
The gnarly old tree
stands proudly alone
like some wrinkled farmer
surveying his fine homestead,
treasuring years of memories.
Refusing to retire but
rich with rings of aged wood,
his trunk is twisted by time
and branches pruned by the
storms of life experiences.
His rough-skinned charm is
a shelter for nesting birds and
a shady place for summer picnics
under the faithful silhouette of
this wisened, peaceful patriarch.
16 May 2013 2 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: grace
Just as a
wren wriggles
through a small hole
to nestle in the safe haven
of a snug and lofty bird house,
And a barn
cat walks thin
to gain access into
the cozy tunnel shelter of
stacked staw bales in winter,
Or a tiny
freckled gecko slips
itself through a crack
to enter, gratis, into
a tropical luxury hotel,
So any of
us sinner folk
may pass by faith
through the narrow gate
to live in peace and paradise.
13 May 2013 25 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: hands, mother
I remember sitting as a girl
in the raftered balcony of the church
during morning worship service,
craddling my mother’s hand in my lap;
examining creases in her warm palm,
tracing distinct veins across the back,
touching the smooth pale pink polish
on her clean, neatly shaped nails,
fingering the circle of her wedding ring;
turning its diamond to catch the light
filtering through stained glass windows,
trying to glimpse each rainbowed hue.
Mom thought her hands were “too large”
but those dear hands were just big enough
to shape hearts and home, to hold our family
together, with their faithful, gentle work of love.
03 May 2013 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: birdbath, robins
Those blackbird gangs in the grove are
raucous; noisier than an Iowa caucus.
They do not sing but loudly gripe;
more dreadful than the sneaky snipe.
They perch on top finger of evergreen, then
sway to break top off, with laughter mean.
Do not let their lovely feathers’ sheen fool;
their blackbird hearts are ugly and cruel.
They chase the sparrows, intimidate robins;
take over a birdbath like neighborhood snobbins.
If you want blackbirds to bake in a pie,
I have recipes you’re welcome to try!
28 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: truth
Knowledge is factual, whether or not we learn it.
Truth is timeless, whether or not we believe it.
Love is powerful, whether or not we practice it.
Beauty is exquisite, whether or not we behold it.
God is present, whether or not we recognize Him.
24 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
Bobbing tentatively on frosty feet,
fluffing out their thin feathers,
pecking at crunchy iced worms,
maybe the poor robins should
use their frequent flier miles
for a return trip south !
(photo from http://www.askthebirds.org)
21 Apr 2013 28 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: bi-polar, circus, mental illness
a three-ring circus on caffeine;
incredibly entertaining as long as
you can keep the wild tigers in their cage.
In the first ring, imagination’s clowns
and their colorfully-costumed dogs
perform fantastically frisky tricks.
Random elephant thoughts
plod tails-in-trunks in the center ring;
going round and round under hot spotlights.
In the last ring, fast ideas on noisy
motorcycles race recklessly within the
locked, metal-meshed sphere of the mind.
Rising upward, visions of long-legged,
feathered women twirl dizzily from tethers
until the human cannonball is shot high into the air.
Unexpectedly, the glaring mania of lights
dim to reveal the surreal threats of a
thousand glowing souvenir light sabers.
The mood suddenly trips over an
empty cotton candy cone and tumbles
head-over-high-heels down the steep steps;
Rolling from the upper nose-bleed section,
plunging past shocked spectators to crash
into depression on saw-dusted floor of arena.
Ladeez and genteel-men, may I have your
attention pleez: be sure to take your medications
or risk falling from the sky with no safety net below.
14 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: ice, weather, winter
Winter’s final assault of triple fury:
freezing rain, glazed ice, heavy snow,
worse than a typical blizzard’s flurry
deals a vengeful, destructive blow.
Freezing rain, glazed ice, heavy snow
covers fences, rooftops and trees;
deals a vengeful, destructive blow
to spring’s warmer, mellow breeze.
Covered fences, rooftops and trees
break under weather’s weight, or melt
to spring’s warmer, mellow breeze.
as seasons’ changing moods are felt.
Break under weather’s weight, or melt,
a snowman kneels, then dies on grass
as seasons’ changing moods are felt
by robins confused after blustery blast.
Weather reports could not predict
worse than a typical blizzard’s flurry;
soon sunshine returns to contradict
winter’s final assault of triple fury.
09 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: calving, cow
O the joyous wonder of this sunlit morning
to watch new spring calves cavorting together
sprinting across the dirt yard, tails held high,
playing tag between their mooing mamas and
stopping suddenly for a warm satisfying nip.
O the awe-full agony in that moonless night
to see a cow laboring to birth a calf turned wrong
coming with back feet first, needing human help in
pulling out with hope a live calf, followed by horror
of bloody uterus and desperate heaving to push it inside.
Next day, wife asks, “How’s the calf?” and farmer answers,
“Lonesome…with no one to lick him off.”
09 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
Yesterday, you and I hiked steep slopes above timberline together.
Yesterday, we scrambled to the mountain’s rocky summit, shouting;
Yesterday, both of us could see for miles into the future’s glorious vista.
Today, we sit on this boulder, gulping for oxygen and squinting at horizon.
Today, trail is precarious scree and semi-obscured by fog of fears, tears
Today, we rub our aching muscles and commiserate with breaking hearts
But tomorrow…tomorrow will dawn brilliant where sorrow will be no more!
09 Apr 2013 10 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: coffee, farmers, Nicaragua
(a sestina)
The hollow stares of hungry children
along the rural dirt roads of Nicaragua
haunt us; we wonder how they will grow.
Family squatters on plantation farms;
laborers for landowners, not partners.
Who will help people aching for hope?
Corruption feeds the raw hopelessness;
political powers disregard needs of children.
Fathers must go find work, leaving partners.
Hurricanes and earthquakes rock Nicaragua.
Disillusionment fills the stomachs of poor farmers.
Can the rainy season inspire lush dreams to grow?
Restless longings of youth and age are growing
like howler monkeys hanging on vines, hopeful
in spite of elusive prospects that leave farmers
without funds to buy school shoes for their children.
Dignity and determination possessed by Nicaraguans
may yet transform desperation by a strong partnership.
They need land loans and encouraging partners
who will water dormant dreams to boldly grow.
See machete-wielding campesinos of Nicaragua
clear parcels of land and build better houses on hope.
Families together enrich soils of mountains and children,
planting red beans, coffee and fruit trees on their own farms.
Linked together, North American and Nica farmers
join hearts and hands in prayerful partnership;
envisioning a new future for bright-eyed children
and encouraging their greener dreams to grow.
Providing opportunities which renew hopefulness
by reaching out to our neighbors in Nicaragua.
Norteamericanos can learn much from Nicaraguans:
Value simple blessings and family-friendly farming
The practice of contentment fills one with hopefulness
Mutual respect breaks down barriers to partnership
Stepping beyond comfort zones makes faith grow
Real vision for future and education, will feed children.
Building hope-filled partnerships
between Nicaragua and Iowa farmers
offers growth opportunities for all God’s children!
05 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: rainbow, zebra
The kaleidoscope zebra, Equus exoticus, native to S. Africa, is extinct due to inferior breeding and failed camouflage of its rainbow-hued stripes.
a poem in my pocket 
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