Leap year Poetic Asides

 

Deadline

 

So yay, we add one more day

to the usual twenty-eight in February.

But I have a deadline on March third,

so I’m missing thirty and thirty-one.

Next year, I hope I remember

not to volunteer to speak in March.

Morning Prayer

 

No Matter the Weather

 

An overcast morning

With promises of rain,

Sleet, snow, sunshine.

 

And I come to You, Lord,

Thanking You for who You are

No matter the weather in our lives.

 

Walk with me today.

May I partner with You

In reaching out to others

Waiting for spring

 

Colorado Spring

 

Mountains rise in ridges.

Snow splatters them with white.

In winter, it happens to be

such a lovely, peaceful sight.

 

But when in spring, snow clouds

look ominous.

The mountains, gray and white,

glare down on us.

 

The geese come in two by two.

The grass begins to green.

But it’s hard to get excited

with the snowy mountain scene.

 

In Colorado spring, we expect snow

to begin our day.

We hope we won’t be shoveling

until the month of May.

Absent Poetic Bloomings

 Absent

 

I’m here,

but I’m there,

in Tuscany,

Among the fields

and mountain ridges.

Rows of vines and olive trees.

Tall thin Italian cypress.

Ancient art, buildings and bridges.

The Tyrrhenian Sea

with houses clinging to the hillside.

Sis and I are planning our next trip,

when we can say,

“We’re here in Tuscany.”

Ekphrasis, from a picture

 Dreaming of a Moment in Tuscany

 

I’m helmeted and on my bike,

On down a gravel road.

Past tall, thin trees of Tuscany,

Wine’s grape vines in long rows.

 

I look out past the grassy fields,

Past ridge and then next ridge.

I pedal to my favorite spot,

An ancient, arched stone bridge.

 

I clamber down the bushy slope,

Stoop by the stony creek.

And skip a stone to the next bank.

I have a fine technique.

 

I breathe in nature’s sweet perfume

And look up to the sky.

And thank the Father for this scene

And praise His name on high.

Get Blank Poetic Asides

 Get Going

 

The morning after

traipsing through the forest

with thirteen kids following,

I sleep in.

 

When I finally

tumble out of bed,

part of my brain still sleeps.

Breakfast appears unappealing.

 

I go forth in slow motion,

like walking through a bog.

I set the timer,

work for a minute.

 

Then two, then three.

Maybe by sometime

in the afternoon,

I’ll get going.

Advice Poetic Bloomings

 

Look Both Ways

 

To my young self, here’s some advice.

You learned it when you were just five.

Before you cross the street, look twice.

And it will help you stay alive.   

Not just at crossing street, you’ll thrive.

But each decision that you make,

Yes, weigh the facts with steps you take.

Each choice today affects the next.

Research and know what is at stake.

Let wisdom bring forth great effects.