Tuesday, February 28, 2017

PA let's blank

Instead of using the rope
to play tug of war,
let’s build a swinging bridge.

Monday, February 27, 2017

PA Let's blank

Let’s be friends,
forgetting about our differences
and thinking about the things
we have in common.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

PA Let's blank

Let’s write poems
and see what kind of fun
tumbles from our fingertips. 

Saturday, February 25, 2017

PA let's blank

Let’s move forward
and not look back.
Yes, we made mistakes
and we wounded each other
with words. Let’s try to use
healing words this time.

Friday, February 24, 2017

PA let's blank

Let’s forgive each other
and start anew,
clean and unsullied,
looking ahead
to a bright future.
I know we’ll hurt
each other again.
But for now,
let’s begin fresh.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

PA let's blank

Let’s forget
about that trip
where we wound up
hating each other
and let’s go on
from where we left off,
not letting evil
get the last laugh.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

PA let's blank

Let’s have tea and a chat
and mull over warm memories
and laugh at the funny things of life
and forget about the mess
the world is in. 

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Poetic Asides Let's Blank

Let’s Dance

Let’s get off our duffs
and tappity-tap
sway, shimmy,
leap and whirl
in rhythm
to some upbeat music
and feel alive.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Poetic Asides Let's Blank

Let’s Praise the Lord

He is worthy
and it gets our heads
out of the mullygrubs
and causes us to compare
our problems
with His greatness,
so then they don’t
seem so bad.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

PA Nothing Better Than

Nothing better
than sitting around a table
with a group of friends
critiquing your work
and who care where you
put your commas.

Saturday, February 18, 2017

PA Nothing Better Than

Nothing Better

Being on a worship team
and worshipping all night long,
literally feeling God’s presence.
One of the best experience
I have ever had in my life,
but I’ve only done it once.

Friday, February 17, 2017

PA Nothing Better Than

Holding a brand new baby
in my arms, looking into her dark eyes,
imagining a one-of-a-kind friendship.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

PA Nothing Better Than

Nothing Like

Riding electric bikes through Victoria,
Canada, zipping and pedaling along past
a park full of peacocks, posies and
totem poles, and by horse-drawn carriages
full of tourists not as adventurous as me.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Poetic Asides a dream


Dreaming of Charlie

Growing up, outside our house,
across from the turn-around-spot
stood a massive oak.
We named it Charlie.

Whenever visitors left,
we reminded them
as they backed out
to not hit Charlie.

The other night, I dreamed
that while visiting my parents
I ran into Charlie. It cracked
right down the middle.

I took a piece of the bark
 to take back home with me
as a souvenir, and then
 the whole thing fell down.

I felt embarrassed
that after telling everyone
to not hit Charlie,
I hit Charlie. 

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

PA something new

New Year

Hello 2017, I welcome you.
I hope you’re as good to me
as your brother, 2016.

In you, I plan to graduate from college,
vacation in Hawaii,
and celebrate my nephew’s marriage.

In you, I plan to publish my novel,
poetry and devotions,
and submit my work more.

In you, I’ll renew my attempt to lose weight,
keep my house clean,
and get outdoors and be adventurous.

In you, I plan to get to know God a little better,
for you yourself are taking me one step closer.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Poetic Asides An Unsuitable blank for a blank

An Unsuitable Name for a Baby

A little innocent
comes into the world.
Peaceful and sweet,
he or she lies there
unaware of the
brewing storm
as parents come up
with names like

Anoush, Atara, Behan,
Cormac, Cosima, Cotton,
Ebo, Ecru, Elspeth,
Fable, Herbert, Isolde,
Jaguar, Keziah, Lo,
Ono, Merrigan, Mucia,
Primus, Uilleam, Waldo,
Wilder, Zeus, or Ziggy,

They might be singing songs
patterned from
A Boy Named Sue.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

PA Winter

A Day’s Drive

“Shoveling sunshine,”
that’s what some say in Phoenix.
Eight-hour drive
to southwest Colorado.

From summer-like weather
to 32 degrees, ice,
the world painted white.
Shoveling snow.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

PA Reflection Poem

Reflecting

I love sitting on a log
dangling my legs over the creek
listening to the water gurgle
as my thoughts flow along
turning this way and that
like the leaves rushing by.

Friday, February 10, 2017

PA pop

Pop

Some call it soda
Some call it pop
Some call it cola
You may need a mop

Sometimes it explodes
When shaken for a while
Then it’s afizzin’
Over all the kitchen tile

Some call it soda
Some call it pop
Some call it cola
You  may need a mop

Thursday, February 9, 2017

On Paul's birthday cake

Paul’s 100th Birthday

P raise the Lord!
A nd happy 100th!
U ndoubtedly you are a
L egendary blessing!


Wednesday, February 8, 2017

PAD 30 Last Chance

Temptation’s Last Chance

L et’s do it now, or we may regret it
A nd obey the voices who say don’t
S weat it. Love jumps at the chance.
T omorrow may never

C ome.
H ow can people say we’re dumb?
A dvancing quickly, I do
N ot want to miss you.
C ome closer now that I may kiss you,
E ven though you’re married. Footsteps!

                    I may soon be buried. 

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

PAD 30 Last Chance

Fleeting

So many times
I’ve passed up opportunities
to photograph a person or some scenery
thinking I’ll take it next time I see them
or on the return trip,
but for some reason it doesn’t work out.
I’ve come to view those photographic opportunities
as last chances.

Monday, February 6, 2017

PAD 30 Last Chance

Salesman

Don’t miss this
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Lay your money down.

If you don’t, next week
I’ll give you another last chance.

Sunday, February 5, 2017

PAD 29 love

Love is like water
poured into various bottles
taking on different shapes and colors.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

PAD 29 love poem

Emmanuel, God with Us.

The lover of our souls
sings over us
and looks into our eyes and smiles.
He can be our song, hope, joy,
strength and peace.

Friday, February 3, 2017

PAD 29 love poem

Lover

Thank You Lord, for being the lover of my soul.
You smile over me. You sing over me.
You are good and know how to give good things to Your children.
Thank You that You want me to spend time with You in prayer.
And You desire my worship in song.
I love singing to You.
The old hymns.
The modern choruses.
My very own new songs to You.
Thank You Lord, You are my hope, my joy, my song, my strength my peace.
You are it for me. You are all I want and need.
You are my goal. You are my treasure.
You not only complete me but remake me.
I want to be infused with You like a baby in the womb.
Lord, take me over body, soul, and mind. 

Thursday, February 2, 2017

PAD 28 I Want

I Want

I want everyone
to be conformed  
to God’s Son
and go to Heaven.

I want all to be well.
I want peace on earth.
I want sickness to be gone.
and eternal life with God.

I want to travel the world.
I want to be more like Jesus.
I want to do something lasting
and productive and pleasing to Him.

I want to create beauty.
I want to be in harmony with God.
I want to sing, write, draw, paint,
make music and dance to God’s glory.


Wednesday, February 1, 2017

PAD 28 I Want

Partners

Lord, I want to partner with You,
in all I think, say, write and do.
Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit
and drive all evil thoughts away.

I want to be wholly in tune with You
each and every day. I love You.
I want Your heart and desires
to accomplish Your will.