Thursday, April 30, 2015

PAD # 30 Bury the ...

Bury the Books

E-reader arise
Sentimental readers weep
While I celebrate
Love the library
In my purse.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

PAD # 29 Nobody Knows

Nobody Knows

Does anyone know,
Where do sock mates go?
Why aren’t mismatched socks in style?
Or if we may please
Sent to amputees?
A socks box might bring a smile.

PAD # 28 Matter

The Invisible Matters

Poverty steals, and maims, yet teaches
true substance has no matter—
a tremendous thought and challenge
to a world in love with material possessions.

Water becomes priceless when it’s scarce.
Stuff’s importance fades as focus
shifts to basic necessities. Look around!
Take stock in what’s important.

Rocks last longer than things we work for.
Love is a staple of the soul.
People of brittle bodies and lands
discover quickly non-matter matters.

Monday, April 27, 2015

PAD #27 Looking Back

Looking Back

If I could look back
on all the choices I have made,
like clothes hanging in a closet,
what would I choose to try on?
What would I discard?

I think I’d change them all—
choose something more upbeat,
colorful, stylish.
Something with a little more pizazz.
Something smooth and silky.

But then when I grew old
in that alternate world,
I might wish for the worn
comfortable, faded jeans
I’m wearing now. 

Sunday, April 26, 2015

PAD # 26 Words Shakespeare invented

This is an alphabet poem using Shakespeare's words except for k and q. I use ex for x and the title is also Shakespeare's.

Dauntless

Will rain arouse still sleeping buds
Which form small bumps upon thin twigs?
“The weatherman,” a critic claims,
“His status dwindles. He reneges!”

Exposure to white morning frost.
Gray, frugal clouds withhold their store.
Sad, gloomy sky darkens sad sun.
Air hints of rain, but nothing more.

Stale drought impedes the waiting growth,  
Becoming jaded by cold’s strength.
We hope each limb will keep its life,
While lonely from long winter’s length.

Majestic life waits in the wings,
While spring negotiates awhile.
It seems obscene to wait so long,
While winter pukes with evil smile.

How quietly young tulips sleep.
Their radiance anticipates.
With swagger they will burst aflame,
When tranquil sun rushes strong gates.

Spring seems unreal though every year,
Wild varied weather has no date.
Not worthless even if frost bites
And rain brings its excitement late,

Then yields its glory in the sun
And sets life free in zany fun.






Saturday, April 25, 2015

PAD #25 across the sea

A Forgotten Name

Across the sea,
somewhere in
Scotland,
Wales,
England,
Ireland
in some dusty books,
perhaps in a church
older than anything
the United States
has ever seen,
my ancestors' names
were scrawled,
just letting people know
they once existed
and I am also proof,
yet, I wonder who they were
and what they were like
and how long it will be

before I am just like them.

Friday, April 24, 2015

PAD # 24 moment

Strength Unseen

I wheeled my eight-year-old son’s chair
out of the consultation room.
His face was so pale that his freckles
across his nose had disappeared.

We had just received potentially bad news.
I felt small in the big children’s hospital.
A line from Job ran through my mind,
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”

At that moment, I knew
regardless of the test results,
God would give us whatever it took
to see us through.

We just celebrated my son’s thirtieth birthday.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

PA # 23 Historic

History Class

Mr. Bryson was tall, loud, and mean.
He taught history with a vengeance
as if he loved torturing eighth graders
with dates, battles, and musty facts.
That first summer vacation day,
it was like being able to breathe again
after being buried in a tomb of one those
old generals he tried to resurrect.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

PA # 22 nature

World of trees
My dad and I hike
Ferns, rocks, creeks
Sun patches
Him at home like deer and bear
Adventure to me

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

PA # 21 You are

You are…

You are my
sun
moon
stars
world.

You are my
beauty
brilliance
creativity
inspiration.

You are my
hope
song
joy
all in all.

You are my
strength
reason
challenge
encouragement.

You are my
light
life
goodness
eternity.

Monday, April 20, 2015

PAD # 20 My blank, the blank

My Schedule, the Mission Impossible

As I get up and turn on my computer,
the background music plays
da-daaa-da with the flute trill.
I look at my crowded to-do list.
This is my mission if I wish to accept it.
It I botch it up, no one will take responsibility.
May my laptop not self-destruct in 15 seconds.


Sunday, April 19, 2015

PAD # 19 authority

Just Say the Word

The Centurion asked Jesus
to heal his servant, saying,
“I, too, am a man of authority.
I say to my servants,
‘Go here,’ and they go.
‘Do this’ and they do it.
Just say the word,
and my servant will be healed.”

Jesus marveled at the man’s faith
and healed the servant
by just saying the word.
Just say the word, Lord,
I put my trust in You.
Just say the word, Lord,
You will see me through.
Just say the word, Lord.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

PAD # 18 two vowels

Fantastic

F antastic
A nd brilliant
N ail-biting
T hrilling
A nd risky
S hining
T antalizing
I nciting
C limax

Friday, April 17, 2015

PAD # 17 Swinging

Swinging

We liked swinging on grapevines
when we were kids,
never mind how easily broken they were
or how far the drop.
As we sailed through the air,
we were Tarzan
and that’s all that mattered. 

Thursday, April 16, 2015

PAD # 16 Science

Newton

I remember Newton,
not much about
what he said and did,
something about getting
bonked on the head
by an apple,
(though it’s not a historical fact)
but I named
my hamster after him.
He didn’t care much
for apples,
Newton not Isaac,
but he stuffed
his cheeks so full
of hamster treats
that he couldn’t
get in his Pringles can
in which he slept.
I wonder
if there’s
a theory for that,
something about two objects
not being able to inhabit
the same space.
All I know is
quantum
is a good Scrabble word.


Wednesday, April 15, 2015

PAD #15 adjective

Crumbled

As a child, whenever I was worried or upset,
like Maria in The Sound of Music, Mom
would tell me to focus on my favorite things.

I’d think of swimming in the creek or lake
eating chicken, pizza, and peanutbutter cups,                         
going every summer to the amusement park.

But with grownup cares and concerns
being positive when all is bleak is difficult.
Instead, I need to focus on who God is.

When I hold up my problems next to His love,
strength, holiness, power, forgiveness, grace,
everlastingness—my cares and concerns crumble.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

PAD # 14 Honest

Honesty

H onesty can be like hugs and kisses
O r like knives piercing the soul
N urturing, edifying, encouraging or
E ndlessly causing pain and heartache
S aving or sabotaging, building or destroying
T enderly healing or savagely wounding
Y et, honesty is pure like a mountain river

Monday, April 13, 2015

PA challenge #13 confession

Earning Interest

I don’t remember the first time
I confessed to doing something wrong.
But I remember times I didn’t confess.
Those little wrongs are like money
 in the bank earning interest.

Remember the fresh smell
of clothes hanging out on the line
on a summer day?
Or fresh air after spring rain?
 “Fessed-up” souls are like that.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

PAD # 12 Damage

Who is in Your Boat?

The earth was filled with sin and greed
Not one stood for good,
Except Noah and his family
They did just what they should.

So God had them build an ark to drift
Upon the stormy sea.
They made room for all the animals
And in this they did flee.

The storm did rage, the thunder rolled
And lightning split the sky.
Noah and his family
Were safe and did not die.

When the water’s high and your hope is low
And you barely stay afloat,
If you survive, it all depends on
Who is in your boat.

The Apostle Paul a prisoner
Was forced to take a trip.
The storms did rage the waves were high
Threatening the ship.

But an angel stood beside Paul there
To say he wouldn’t die.
Because he must make it clear to Rome
So he could testify.

Paul calmed the men and had them eat
To have a little heart.
He assured them they’d all be safe,
Though the ship would break apart.

When the water’s high and your hope is low
And you barely stay afloat.
If you survive, it all depends on
Who is in your boat.

The disciples followed Jesus
On the land or on the sea.
They watched Him make the lame to walk
And heal folks from disease.

One time they ventured in a boat
Across the Galilee.
When the waves threatened them
Jesus was asleep.

They woke Him up and asked Him then
Don’t you care we’re going to die?
At His words the waves were stilled
No rain fell from the sky.

When the water’s high and your hope is low
And you barely stay afloat.
If you survive it all depends on
Who is in your boat.