snowshoer’s take on life

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Slow down to notice spectacular beauty in ordinary scenes.

Make some fresh tracks where no one else has tramped.

Look upward and outward to where your feet should follow.

Re-trace the most memorable winding paths.

Be prepared for  fallen branches, hidden entanglements or narrow spaces.

When prickly pines try to needle you, carefully brush past them.

Reap rewards of pushing a little longer…a little further on.

Breathe deeply of crisp, clean air and laugh aloud in wonder

at all that glitters in the bright sunlight.

Be dazzled by life!

Breaking & entering

 

His presence enters the womb,

A babe invades the stable;

The answer questions the teachers,

A carpenter turns the table.

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A light shines for the blind,

His life raises the dead;

The bread eats with sinners,

The shepherd’s lambs are fed.

 

The judge stands condemned,

An only son suffers alone;

Our lover embraces the cross,

The creator lies cold behind stone.

 

Lord, your power destroys death;

Your blood’s stain washes sin.

You must break into our world

When we will not let you in!

 

haiku…bless you!

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Plump red cardinal

dines on snow-dusted seeds, then

flees to frosted spruce.

 

Winter mittens kit

muscular feline fur ball

balanced on barn door.

 

Dark cows form huddle

warm breath steaming chilly air

bracing for blizzard.

advent…a trial by fire

 

At heaven’s high command,

a white-hot beam of purest light

penetrates time and space

to touch our tiny blue planet.

 

Silence is muted by the

wholly alien presence with

whispering whir of mighty wings.

Flesh crawls with palpable wide-eyed terror

as the dazzling creature of holy flame

fixes its piercing gaze on 

a pale, trembling mortal.

 

“Do not be afraid.”  

 

Surprising, melodious words 

uttered by the molten-gold messenger.

But when he speaks again–

eyes lower, palms sweat, and

dry lips must answer with

the total stuttering truth

or risk disintegrating

in ashes and smoke.

 

 

what kind of flower are you?

My mother raised roses in lovely hues:

soft peach, pale yellow, and deep scarlet;

each properly pruned and sweetly scented.

I admired her backyard bushes in bloom,

squirmed under her careful cultivation as

she pruned flaws and nurtured character

I was of different seed by birth but

mom raised me like her own heirloom,

watered with tender attention until

Transplanted to Iowa and grafted to a farmer,

I find myself blooming like a wild prairie rose;

delicately fragrant yet proven to be hardy.

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dance recital

 

Bright sliver of moon

in rosy sky at dusk

gleams sideways smile,

poised, waiting…

grinning confidently

as tired old sun

burns down slowly,

limps below dark edge

of corn rows’ silhouette stage.

Day’s number is done…

time for moonlight’s moves!

 

evaporating equine

 

A galloping cloud pony,

high altitude cirrus bred,

stretches swiftly across

untamed prairie skies

while thin wispy tail

and swirly mane

float whimsically

in its trail.

 

Aside

confession

 

I’ll admit

sometimes

I must work at

being difficult

but mostly

I just am

without trying.

 

mother of pearl

 

Somedays

I feel like a clam

in a rough sea;

an oyster that

has swallowed gravel.

A mussel that

cannot move

from its place

but must accept

whatever passes

with the tide.

 

Unexpected rejection

and harsh words

have wounded

my soft insides

and it’s hard work

to cover the sharp

grains of sand;

to smooth over

the painful memories

so they will not

continue to grate.

 

I close up

to protect myself;

retreating inside

the tough shell

of my mind.

I desperately

want to believe

that these scars

can be transformed

into pearls

of beauty.

Aside

Wu-Yi, please

 

Authentic friendship is classic;

like a freshly brewed cup of tea

served outdoors on a veranda.

 

A spiced aroma of well-blended,

hand-selected, cozy comaraderie

fills the relaxed afternoon air.

 

Tea-time friendships

share the comforting warmth

Of cultivated attention.

 

Perfectly steeped

in robust undertones

of an exclusive conversation.

 

humid morning

 

scented bed

of blooming catmint

is kissed by

lavender mist.

the real deal

 

Marriage is a delightful balance:

Committed and caught,

Tender yet tough,

Purity of passion.

 

Marriage is a beautiful blueprint:

Love over a lifetime

Place for parenthood,

Good gift in a garden.

 

Marriage is a costly venture:

requires service and sacrifice

but reaps rewards of the

long-term investment.

 

Don’t settle for cheap substitutes;

Desire the genuine article.

 

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