Saturday, December 31, 2011

Mesa Verde, Colorado



The limbs and twigs
of the dead tree
like veins in an arm
stretched out over the dry valley
as if in one final hopeful blessing
before it fell.

Friday, December 30, 2011



Mud and stone dwellings
of Ancestral Puebloans,
tucked under cliffs
like wasp nests.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Dizain ababbccdcd

Spiritual Diet
This year was kind to me yet I’m afraid
 I’ve become fat and flabby in my soul
Like hungry man intent on frig to raid
My soul has dipped its fingers in the bowl
It suffers from a lack of self control
It feasted on TV and mindless games
Seduced by the old world’s enticing claims
Instead of on God’s promises and prayer
And exercise the Word, it says in James
My goal’s to shape my soul I so declare

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

River of Stones practice

                          The center of the cat’s eyes shone
                            like a light on the Christmas tree
                                  which she rested under.


Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Getting Pscyched up for January's River of Stones (not sure why I can't rotate the photo)


Moms often do weird things
when their daughters go to college:
Eat an entire pie
Get a new hairdo
Or paint prophetic pond scenes.
I think I did all three.
Her room is now occupied by a man called Froggy.

Monday, December 26, 2011

haiku

Christmas yesterday 
New Year’s Day in a week
Goal limbo

Poetic Bloominggs gift tags

Poets, I give to you encouragement
To reveal life by providing poetic clues
To give wisdom wrapped in word packages
To inspire by letting your imagery candles shine

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Couplets

New Year Wishes

Wishing your year’s the best ever yet
When every one of your goals are met
When you feel satisfaction of a job well done
And you don’t feel stressed out and on the run
A year filled with sunshine and song
And solid comfort when things go wrong
For confidence and peace in pressing on
For spiritual strength as well as brawn
To do more of the things you want to do
And less of the things that make you blue
A year filled with love and laughter
And to obtain whatever you go after
When your family and friends are healthy and free
And you become all God wants you to be

Friday, December 23, 2011

Deadline

Like walking against the wind
And it stops
Meeting deadline
Now I need to pick myself up
And continue walking

Thursday, December 22, 2011

monotetra

Inside the Box

My life is as common as socks
My head feels like it’s filled with rocks
So quickly fooled by tricky fox
Inside the box, inside the box

The box’s sides are tall and steep
How did I get in this far deep?
At times it makes me want to weep
Upslope I creep, upslope I creep

At last I reach bright blue fresh air
Adventure, I will take my share
Inside the box, there’s nothing there
I do declare, I do declare


PA Prompt: Box

B ox without bows
O verly boring
eX citement needed

Tuesday December 20

*
Tree
Christmas
Ornaments
Lights and garland
Bells and candy canes
Memories of children
Painted dough art creations
Photos of kids when they were small
Hand-written poems on back of cards
So much love and life hanging on a tree
Like
Christ

Monday December 19

Praise, Worship and Thanksgiving

For all the things I can afford
The fact You’re here to be adored
And that my prayers are not ignored
I thank You Lord, I thank You Lord

Your love burns as eternal flame
You heal the sick, make whole the lame
Forgiving those who are to blame
I praise Your name, I Praise your name

Your good and kind, holy and true
Your grace and mercy makes things new
I’ll stick with You like super glue
I worship You, I worship You


Sunday, December 18, 2011

Last Minute Christmas preparations

On His Behalf

I keep forgetting
the guy who carries Mr. M &M around
and hands him to me
expecting pretend M & M kisses
loves his wonderful parents very much
and has no ability to wish them Merry Christmas.
So I need to make the annual calendar
featuring him each month
so he can, in a way, let them know
he loves them every day.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

some kind of form poem

To My Younger Self
If I could speak to my younger self
I would say, do not be afraid
Be brave and strong
And live your song
Sing out like no other can

If I could speak to my younger self
I would say dare to learn and grow
Follow your bent
Experiment
Stretch like a Gumby man

If I could speak to my younger self
I would say rest in eternal love
Don’t fuss and fret
Neither forget
God has a purpose and plan

If I could speak to my younger self
I’d say, give and give some more
It may sound odd
Can’t out give God
He’s been giving before time began

Friday, December 16, 2011

35753

Nightmare
Lost control
Naked in public
Someone is out to get me
Forgot what to do
Alzheimer’s

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Triolet

Off Kilter

My sleeping habits are messed up again
My eating habits, too
Insomnia is not my friend
My sleeping habits are messed up again
It takes its toll in the end
Balance is overdue
My sleeping habits are messed up again
My eating habits, too

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Magic




Poet’s Blessing

Mood as light as angels kisses
Hope on butterfly wings
Sweet ideas as tinkling bells
Rhythm of dancing dreams
Wishing you a magical muse

Inspiration as morning song 
and whispering wishes
Words skipping along like fairies
in gossamer dresses
Wishing you a magical muse

Encouragement as sparkling dew
Rhymes like lilting laughter
Poems shining as glittering stars
Happy ever-afters
Wishing you a magical muse

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Couplets

Rambling Couplets

This is a rambling poem
I write in my own home
Wandering with words
Sounding absurd
Wishing I could sleep some more
Despite the fact that I do snore
Snoring that rattles the roof and walls
And would frighten crowds at shopping malls
When I’d rather sleep quite peacefully
Dreaming of sailing on a deep blue sea
Taking a trip without leaving the room
Not sounding like a sonic boom
Oh there are many things for which I could wish
For cars and trips and clothes most stylish
But of all the things this is true
What I desire most is to worship You.

Monday, December 12, 2011

cinquain

Colorado
Fresh, mountainous
Climbing, breathing, admiring
Secure, blessed, beautiful, exciting
Red

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Christmas Preparations

Christmas Preparations Then and Now

I used to get a real tree,
make decorations
and give some to shut-ins
when we caroled.  
I used to make presents,
wrap them in paper and bows
and send off packages
and hand written cards
to everyone in the family.
I used to prepare for and attend
parties, pageants and programs.
I used to bake a big batch
of monster cookies
and pass out plates
of them to friends.
I used to clean the house,
cook a huge turkey dinner
and invite people over.

Now, I have an artificial tree
and use the decorations we have.
Now, I stay home for the most part,
buy gift cards or a few presents
and poke them into Christmas bags.
Now, I type a Christmas letter
and email the ones I can.
Now, I only clean the house enough
to keep the health department away.
Now, for Christmas dinner,
I slow cook a turkey breast
and used canned,
frozen and instant
everything else
just for the immediate family.
Now, I keep it simple
so I can enjoy Christmas
instead of wearing myself out
and wishing it was over.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Acrostic

Shopping

S o at last I have a few hours to get out of the
H ouse and where do I go? To the local WalMart that’s
O pen twenty-four seven. I go up and down the aisles
P erusing the items on the shelf. And I wonder at the amount of
P roducts and offerings that I have no interest in.
I n fact, I have little desire for any of it. And I realize my
N eeds are met. It’s time to look beyond myself and
G ive to those who are less fortunate than me.

Friday, December 9, 2011

ABC Poem

A poem that has five lines that create a mood, picture, or feeling. Lines 1 through 4 are made up of words, phrases or clauses while the first word of each line is in alphabetical order. Line 5 is one sentence long and begins with any letter.

On the Light Side

Hilarity
Jokes
Kaleidoscope of giggles
Laughter
Let’s leap, twirl, dance at the joy of it all.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Prayer

Perspective Prayer

Lord, I need to make
some changes in my life,
not just mine,
but for those around me as well.
I’m feeling a little lost
and wandering.
I’m crying out to You.
I need Your wisdom
and perspective,
to spiritually climb
the high branches
and see where I’m at.
Lord, show me my path.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

While You Were Gone

Like MacArthur

While you were gone
we struggled
to convince others
and even ourselves
you exist,
but you gave us
enough of yourself
faith
signs
to reassure us
you will return.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Love Poem

Love Lingers

You sat on the couch
falling asleep.
It was late,
you should go,
but we wouldn’t see each other for a week.
You didn’t want to leave.
I’ve been loved deeply
by God and other people,
but I never felt so valued.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Family--one who will be missing from celebration

Christmas Surprise

A couple years ago,
weeks before Christmas,
I was sitting at the kitchen table,
typing on my laptop,
and I heard someone
coming up the steps outside.

Instead of a knock on the door,
the doorknob turned,
the door opened
and it took a moment
before I believed what I was seeing.

You had said you wouldn’t make
the thirteen hundred miles for Christmas
and you didn’t lie.
You came early.

I guess it’s too much to hope
that it will happen again.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Traditions

Traditions at a Host Home

Our host home charge,
a childlike woman,
gets so excited about Christmas,
that at the first hint of it,
(usually a store ad in October)
begs to put up the Christmas tree.

In order not to be driven crazy,
we mark the calendar,
the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.
When it arrives, we wheel her
to the living room where she can
inspect the proceedings.
We play Christmas music,
divvy out the eggnog
and she rings her Christmas bell.

Our second host home charge,
a childlike man
who likes noise,
sits on the floor,
facing her, and listens.

After the decorations are  up,
our calico cat claims
under the tree
as her special resting place
until she’s crowded out by presents.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Friday, December 2, 2011

Gratitude

I’m Thankful For…
Typing on my laptop
Looking at old photos
Learning and growing
Dancing to rock music
Working until I’m tired
Watching a good movie
The act of remembering
Traveling to a new place
Worshipping God in song
Shannon family reunions
Shopping for a special gift
Our crocheted nativity set
Hiking in the great outdoors
When God answers a prayer
Our tree ornament collection
The sound of rain on the roof
Hugs from a man with autism
My childhood in Pennsylvania
When my writing surprises me
My son’s laugh and helpfulness
A warm blanket on a cold night
Painting with my favorite colors
Playing Scrabble with my sisters
Comfortable jeans and sneakers
A good book and time to read it
When my words touch someone
Chicken and homemade noodles
My husband’s deep voice singing
Climbing at Vedauwoo, Wyoming
My parents who are now in heaven
Belly laughs from a childlike woman
When a Bible verse jumps out at me
Colorado’s blue skies and mountains
 A hot cup of tea with cream and sugar
Phone, online and face-to-face friends
Kayaking in a bay or in a mountain lake
Playing online games with my daughter                                   
A gift that says I know and appreciate you
Being able to see, hear, taste, walk and talk


Thursday, December 1, 2011

Limerick

There once was a wealthy countess
Though folks tried, they failed to impress
She’d boss them around
Till one night she drowned
No one in her realm would confess