May 31, 2011

Wind
Forceful, persistent
Lifting, carrying, moving
It too shall pass
Nuisance

Another for yesterday's photo

Chipped

C hipped paint dry and forlorn
H ope hides itself in rose petals
I ntricate yet simple, the grand mundane
P ale pink blazing compared to gray
P atterns emerging in veined lines
E very day we unwittingly walk by clues
D escribing God’s grace and beauty

May 29, 2011 Poetic Bloomings prompt photo

Pink Amidst Gray

Chips crumble on decayed wall and fall
Gray catches the eye, sucking you into gloom
Lines like veins run through cracked paint
Rose petals give a touch of beauty and hope
So much like life, so much like poetry

Blue Moon

Once in a Blue Moon

There once was a man named Moon
Who always sang out of tune
His wife complained and cried
Then up and died
That’s why Mr. Moon’s so blue

Billy liked to play in the paint
I tell you Billy’s no saint
He pulled his pants down and sat
And the blue paint went splat
Sally saw the blue moon and did faint

May 27, 2011 Friday Arizona

Desert Worship

Skinny men
Standing with arms raised
Praising God
Standoffish
Scattered about in the dirt
Or they are cactus

May 25, 2011

Maine Scene

Hills like a woman’s breasts protrude from grassy plains.
Her abdomen stretches out as a calm silvery lake.
Her arms--roads, her hair--pine trees, her fingers--rocks.
And when people move to admire her,
they are her wiggling toes.

May 25, 2011 Poetic Asides Prompt--Priorities

Priorities

In America we prize
houses, cars, clothes,
trips, techno-gadgets
fun,
but when winds blow
trees fly
houses crumble
cars squash flat
technology fails
clothes shred
ground splits
buildings fall
fires blaze
foundations smolder
walls of water overwhelm
towns drown
treasures disintegrate into nothing
we realize what really matters.

May 24, 2011 Bar Harbor, Maine

Solitude

Island house
Nestled in umber grasses
Hidden in hills and pines
Warm, misty morning
Whispering bay
Milky sky

May 23, 2011 Another one for Flag Day

Old Glory

Old Glory waves and ripples in the wind.
She shines translucent in the bright sun rays.
She snaps her fifty stars and thirteen stripes,
and bravely boasts freedom all her days.

The red reminds us of the blood that poured
from soldiers veins for our dear liberty.
The blue for justice and perseverance.
The white for innocence and purity.

Stars symbolize the heavens and divine,
eternal goals that humankind aspire.
Beside the colonies, the stripes are like
light emanating from the sun, afire.

Its shadowy folds dancing merrily
from its pole, clearly seen in pale blue sky,
for equality and justice for all
so sends its message to the passers by.

Poetic Bloomings Something you nurture

Faith

Faith grows like a mighty oak.
Acorn of belief, lies in the fertile earth of the Word
In the sunshine of God’s love and
The rain of His Holy Spirit
How slowly it grows until its unshakeable, mighty, and strong.

A Poem for SCWA's 2012 calendar

Gnarled

G narled, yet limbs outstretched like a dancer.
N o partner, but the rocks, hills and sky.
A lienated from most of the world, yet
R evealing the character and nature of God,
L ike a painting expressing the artist’s heart.
E ach turn and twist and bend a story of its relationship with the sun.
D ear Lord, you have been with me all along.

Another Bop

Raise the Flag

As the flag goes by in parades or at games,
few remove their hats
or place their hands over their hearts.
Some continue chatting.
Many forget, but some remember
the sacrifices made for that flag to fly.

Raise the flag in declaration of freedom and equality.

Our liberties have led us to argue
about whether we can even mention God in public.
Ironically, in freedom of expression, activists burn the flag.
Children may learn the thirteen stripes correspond to
the original colonies and the stars stand for states,
but not about them symbolizing the pursuit of God,
or that the colors, red, white and blue, represent virtues:
bravery and stamina, purity and innocence, justice and resolve.

Raise the flag in declaration of freedom and equality.

Let us truly pledge allegiance, loyalty, commitment
to the flag, Old Glory, the red, white, and blue,
and to the republic, nation, democracy
under God, the creator of the universe,
indivisible, unified, cohesive, inseparable,
with liberty, freedom, justice and fairness for all.

Raise the flag in declaration of freedom and equality.

An Alouette--Poetic Bloomings

The Flag Waves

The U. S. flag waves
as it boldly braves
the elements, like the men
who battled before
in many a war,
for freedom, now and again.

It flies strong and true,
the red, white, and blue—
thirteen stripes and fifty stars.
Stars stand for the states.
Stripes –colonies’ mates.
Divine goal—stars, sunrays—bars.

Red—brave, hardiness
White—pure, innocence
Blue—justice, perseverance
Holding to ideals,
resolution seals,
Americans taking stance.

We pledge to be true
to red, white and blue
and to the people who maintain,
united and free,
letting liberty
and justice for all to reign.

Poetic Asides Tell It Like It Is

When the Form’s the Thing

Sometimes the form’s the thing.
Take the word, “bill.”

Then you take a deep breath
and with a chill,

you journal your journey,
sweet or sour dill,

with neither loud fanfare
or fuss or frill.

You may feel like a bug
that hit the grill.

You contemplate and write.
It’s all uphill.

Tempted to hit delete,
in for the kill.

You’d like a better form,
poetry mill.

You scrounge for ideas,
but nothing, nil.

It might be a good time
to take a pill.

Perhaps you should go back,
and use a quill.

You’re just about to scream
piercing and shrill.

And then the brilliancy
begins to spill.

You keep going strong and
keep going still.

You finally finish.
It’s such a thrill!

You can write a form poem,
with a firm will.

A Shadorma

Slobbery Affection

He leans over
Seeking attention
He slobbers
On my head
So hand me a shower cap
Let him hug away!

Sleep

Sleep

Evasive
I pursue with vigilance
I might figure it out
Adopt good habits
Eventually
Ah, good night!

Poetic Blooming Prompt--something good from something bad

It’ll Get Better

It’ll get better after it’s worse, I know.
When I clean up a room, it goes really slow.
Several hours in, it’s such a disaster.
It looks like I used a dynamite blaster.
I’d like to give up, pack up, and go.

But I know this catastrophe I must master
So I muster some umph and work a bit faster,
wondering if my effort will ever show.
It’ll get better after it’s worse.

So I become organizer and caster
And I clean down to the plaster
Then the room takes on a special glow.
So if life’s storm begins to blow,
you’ll make it, if you’re an out-laster.
It gets better after it’s worse.

Poetic Asides Bop Challenge

When All Else Fails

So much insanity in the world.
Wars, crime, abuse, poverty.
Questions arise: what’s real, what’s worth fighting for?
Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Does it even matter?
Are you wrong for believing in right?
Shall we all just give up and hide?

When all else fails, love God and others.

So much confusion
about how to handle life’s problems.
Ah, we all mean well but…
so we fight and demand and isolate and ignore
and condescend, and minimize and quash and quail
and we grab what we can while we’re here.
And maybe we’ll remember our humanity
and toss a few crumbs, a few coins, a few answers.

When all else fails, love God and others.

God simplified living into ten commandments.
But even that’s hard to put into practice.
So He sent His Son as an example,
who simplified the ten even further.
Those who don’t believe in God
can still focus on the loving others part.

When all else fails, love God and others.

Big Tent's Last Prompt

The warehouse of your anxiety should be torn down. —Mariya Koleva

Cluttered Minds

Remember that lady in the news
who was declared missing,
but when her body began to stink
they found her in her own house
underneath the clutter?

As worries pile up and overwhelm,
creative thinking disappears,
dies and begins to stink.

Clear out worry’s clutter
Store up yesterday’s blessings.
Keep concentration
and creativity on today,
not what could go wrong tomorrow.

Anger

Like a parasite
Burrowing through the shell of an oyster
But no pearl

Poetic Asides Prompt: When you're not paying attention.

Even though they are nigh you
Some things may get by you
When you’re cleaning and cooking
And when you’re not even looking
They grow up and defy you

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24 (ESV)

Arlington

In Arlington stately stones stand
Rows of white attentive in shaded lawn
Remembering who freed the land

Sobering testaments expand
Shining peacefully in the glow of dawn
In Arlington stately stones stand

Around the world monuments spanned
Days, decades, centuries have come and gone
Remembering who freed the land

As numerous as grains of sand
The gravity of war is placed thereon
In Arlington stately stones stand

Arlington might be wide and grand
But just a drop of water in a pond
Remembering who freed the land

Bring the flowers, strike up the band
Honor the well from which freedom is drawn
In Arlington stately stones stand
Remembering who freed the land

Bar Harbor, Maine

Kayaking

Rhythmic fun
Dipping, gliding, enjoying
Absorbing Adventure
Glorious moment
Exuberance
Living Life

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! Psalm 113:3

Poetic Bloomings prompt: Water

But look! A king will rule in the right way, and his leaders will carry out justice. Each one will stand as a shelter from high winds, provide safe cover in stormy weather. Each will be cool running water in parched land, a huge granite outcrop giving shade in the desert.
Isaiah 32:1, 2 (Msg)






Rain on Me

The desert place
A place of wandering
Alone

The desert place
A place of thirsting
Parched

The desert place
A place of dying
Barren

Rain on me
Green up my soul
Let it be a place of life
Growth, refreshing
Fellowship, laughter
Not a desert place

Big Tent Prompt -- Revise something old

I have this laid out for a pic book. I wrote this several years ago and just did some fine tuning. I'll probably add some more scenes.



On the Way to the Parade


On the way to the parade, Jimmy and I marched down the street,

looking up in the sky and saw feathery clouds all shapes and sizes.

We saw a bee buzzing a rose

and a dog who licked my nose.

We saw a mommy and her child dressing up, taking curtsies and bows. They laughed at each other

waved at us and smiled.

A sprinkler also waved to the left and right.

Jimmy and I tried with all our might not to get wet.

We didn’t the first, or second but on the third we did a bit.

A mother duck and her babies waddled along. They were heading for the city pond.

Cars stopped and honked their horns, as they made a parade of their own.

When we got to the parade, we didn’t have to wait. Though we started out early, we ended up late.

We got there to hear the last fire siren,

but we didn’t mind, because we had a good time on the way to the parade.

May 5, 2011 Expression

Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Isaiah 37:16









Expression Alone

God even in the most remote,
far away, hard to find places:
the deserts, the mountains,
deep in the oceans, outer space—
You’ve created such beauty,
even when no one may
ever see it.

So I will follow suit:
write my poetry, paint my paintings,
sing my songs, dance my dances,
though they may never inspire
or encourage another person.
I’ll just simply express who I am,
like You did.

And I thank You for those projects
that languish on my computer files,
hide in the storage space, or
hang in a back room. I trust,
that they have served their purpose,
or somehow You will still use them
for my good.

Poetic Asides Prompt--On the Other Hand

On the Other Hand

On the other hand of spending the day
in resting, and leaving the house in disarray,
I intend to make it my mission
to beat my housework into submission.
On this, my resolve will not sway.

But it would be nice to hit the hay
to relax with a book, come what may
and put myself out of commission,
on the other hand.

My laziness I must waylay
and begin my broom ballet.
But so much for that rendition.
Has anyone seen my ambition?
It must have gone on its merry way,
on the other hand.

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. I Thessalonians 5:12-15

Nature's Praise

The trees of the forest shall sing for joy before the Lord. Psalm 96:12

Worshippers
with limbs stretched toward You,
soak in strength,
life and light,
drawing beauty from Your Son,
growing in Your grace.








A Quiet Voice Shouting

In my pastor's sermon, to encourage us to tell others about Jesus, used the illustration that if you knew there was a tornado coming to town, you would overcome your timidity, running through the neighborhood loudly warning people of coming disaster. I never told him, but I thought that I might leave a note on the door and let them find it in the rubble!

My shyness has always been a source of frustration for me, and God is dealing with it bit by bit, but I received encouragement one evening when an evangelist turned to me and said, “I believe God told me something about you. Sometimes it’s those who are the most quiet that have the biggest voice. I’ve never thought of that before.”

He acted surprised at the concept, but being a writer and someone who is active in prayer, the idea was very familiar to me. Romans 1 and Psalm 19 tells us that creation declares the glory of God. Those silent mountains, trees and skies all have a loud voice telling all men through all time about God’s existence, awesomeness and character.

It’s often said that communication is about 90% nonverbal. After caring for a nonverbal person in my home, I believe it. She can’t talk, but she gets her message across. Though I work on being more verbal, I’m not going to worry about the 10% so much, but concentrate on the 90% to communicate who He is.

We can express His character in our attitudes, our countenance, our body language and in the things we do. Saint Francis of Assisi said, “"Preach the gospel at all times -- If necessary, use words."

Parents are advised, “Your lessons are caught more than they are taught.” Also writers, painters, and prayer warriors can express who God is without making a peep. So let’s join in nature’s chorus and honor God in all we think, say, create, and do.

May 2, 2011

May 2, 2011 Monday

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:9-11

UFO’s

Have you been sighting a lot of UFOs around your house? In The Artist’s Magazine, September 2003, author Tera Leigh wrote about “UFOs” as unfinished objects—and how I could identify! I begin projects with enthusiasm, but when I’m about 50-90 % complete I start another one, promising myself that I’ll get back to the last one.

A few years ago, a preacher who didn’t know I was plagued with UFOs, told me that God was giving me wisdom to complete projects. And slowly He has been. If you are reading this, I’m getting better.

Letting go of perfectionism is a step towards completing a project. In the September 2004 Writer’s Digest, Donna G. Albrecht quoted, “Done is better than perfect.” I now have it posted on my bulletin board.

God who is perfect doesn’t lock us up in some heavenly drawer because we are imperfect. So I’ll trust Him that if He can use imperfect people, He can use imperfect poetry and other writing as I complete them and turn them loose. And it is my prayer that God will use my words to convey His truths and “accomplish his desire and achieve the purpose for which He sent it.”




Wonderful Winter Walks

When I was a teen, one of my best friends
lived up the mountain on a country road.
After a thick snow, another friend and I
would don winter layers and hike up
for a visit. Beauty hung on every branch,
each tree an artistic masterpiece.
Our laughter muffled in white insulation,
accompanied by the rhythm of the snow
scrunching beneath our feet.
We’d breathe in the cold, clean air
feeling like woodland creatures,
part of the scenery and very much alive.

May 1, 2011 God's Presence

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2

God’s Presence

God’s presence—a safe, strong place,
Trust Him with all your heart.
Pray and seek His face.
God’s presence—a safe, strong place,
He richly pours out grace,
and gives a brand new start.
God’s presence—a safe, strong place,
Trust Him with all your heart.

Day 30 After Leaving Here

From Catching a Cold to Catching Up

After leaving this place of sickness,
I’ll go to the place of Catch-up.
Catch up on housework
On volunteering
On paperwork
On exercising
On writing
On having fun
On eating right
On enjoying spring
On church attendance
On allowing myself to get close
enough to my family to breathe on them.

Day 29 An Ode

Bad Babies

When I was a young mother
I’d become exasperated at people,
usually more experienced moms,
who’d ask me, “Is she a good baby?”
What was I supposed to say,
“Lucky me, I birthed a bad one.”

At first I’d reply sarcastically,
“She hasn’t robbed any banks yet.”
But then I mellowed a little and said,
“She’s a very good baby—
fussy-but a very good baby.”
She didn’t sleep well her entire first year.

Poems are just like babies,
no such thing as a bad one,
not publishable maybe, but not bad.
They just need to grow,
develop and mature.

Despite their clunky meters,
trite rhymes, clichéd similes,
passive verbs, and wordiness,
with a little attentive revision
they can turn into poems
you can be proud of.

So here’s to bad poems--
by giving yourself permission
to write drivel
you give yourself opportunity
to write classics.

Day 28 The World Without Blank

A World Without Flowers

less joy
less fragrance,
less color,
less beauty

less ways to say I love you,
Get well soon!,
Happy Birthday or Anniversary!,
Congratulations!

In a flowerless world, would we
sense something missing?

Day 27 In the Blank of Blank

In the Middle of the Morning

It would be nice to be writing
Much more exciting
Than sitting here in my recliner
With socks in my head
My bones ache, my tummy too
Nose filled with disgusting goo
Squawking with a rock in my throat
Barely moving, half dead
One minute roasting, next on ice
I tell you what, this ain’t nice
Not enough energy to even think
Guess I’ll go back to bed

Day 26 Leader Poem

Leader

L ord, please lead me to the place You want me to go.
E nthusiastically I follow, though I may waver or be slow.
A dvancing through faith, love and the power of Your Spirit.
D irect me with Your voice, and may I be wise enough to hear it.
E veryday I pray for Your perfect will to be done.
R eveal to me my purpose, in the grace of Your Son.

Day 25 Falling

Things that Fall

Wispy fog on a chilly night
Apples, acorns, nuts and plums
Autumn leaves, honey locust pods
Raindrops and spring blossoms

Kids from trees, poor ice skaters
Fashion models in tall, spike heels
Parachutists, pussy in the well
Comedians on banana peels

Morality, a countenance
God’s mercy and God’s wrath
The president’s approval rating
Things once in a tornado’s path

Ring around the Rosie players
Sand, water and salt in a game
Bowling pins and dominoes
Tetris shapes, a famous name

Strange things like spiders and fish
Mercury in barometric tubes
Bird droppings, Chicken Little’s sky
A waiter’s dish, a matron’s boobs

Day 24 Prayer Poem

Dear Lord

D ear Lord, You are precious, lovely, and good. You are
E ternal, all powerful and everywhere at once. You are
A ttentive to our prayers and You have
R evealed Yourself in Your Son. You are
L ove. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for watching
O ver me and protecting me. Thank You that You even sing over me and
R each into my troubled heart and comfort me. Yes, You are very
D ear to me, Lord, and wonder of wonders, I am dear to You.

Day 23 Quit What You're Doing

Don’t Shoulda on Yourself

You’re wishing your mind wasn’t swayed
And regretting the price you paid
Sorry for the choices you made.
Oh, please don’t shoulda on yourself.

You’re second-guessing with each breath,
Analyzing yourself to death.
It’s an addiction just like meth.
Oh, please don’t shoulda on yourself.

You’re acting as jury and judge
And dragging yourself through the sludge.
From self-recrimination, budge!
Oh, please don’t shoulda on yourself.

Everybody makes mistakes
And your fragile confidence shakes.
It is time to put on the brakes.
So, please don’t shoulda on yourself.

Day 22 Only One in the World

With six billion
only-one-in-the-worlds,
I bow before God, amazed.

Day 21 Second Thoughts

Despite Multiple Heads

The Bible says
a double-minded man
is unstable in all his ways.

Sometimes I resemble
a mythological creature
with eight or nine heads.

It’s by the Lord’s mercy
I get anything done at all.

Day 20 Time Capsule in Sock Drawer

Farewell Message

Since you’re reading this, I’m probably dead.
So to my hubby, I say from my heart,
though there were crumbs, we didn’t trash the bread,
yet, the first thousand years, let’s live apart!

If you, my dear daughter, first read this note,
I’m proud of the person you have become.
And to my sweet son who’s smart, but remote,
I love you a lot, but don’t be a bum.

If a friend or stranger happens to find
this short message among all of my socks,
take whatever you like or comes to mind
and put the rest in a give-a-way box.

On the other hand, I may still be here.
Thank you for doing the laundry, my dear.

Day 19 Love Poem

Like an Old Comfortable Shoe

With her tendency toward adventure
and bizarreness, she’d pretend interest
in the normal or tenuous suitor.
She’d tire of tennis, movies, eating out,
but then one day Brock caught her attention.
Wild, intense, enthralling, he drew her in.
He tenaciously pursued her with great
flamboyancy and fun, not tentative
but tender. Then spontaneity grew
tiresome. Discontent, she returned to Fred.

Day 18 Like Blank

She felt like a duck-billed platypus:
not quite matching herself
let alone the rest of the world.

Day 17 Big Picture Poem

Perspective

When you’re an amoeba
compared to the universe,
it’s hard to see the big picture,
so I trust the One who can.

Day 16 Snapshot Poem

Saturday Evening Wind Down

I’m relaxing in my recliner
tapping away on my laptop,
or at least trying to,
with Snickers the calico cat
sprawled on my lap.
My husband’s sitting like Buddha,
listening to soft music.
Justin’s eating popcorn,
laughing at I’m not sure what.
Eli walks by wearing ear buds,
oblivious. Wizards of Oz
sounds down the hallway,
Vanessa’s favorite movie.
Just about time for
the last bout of busyness
and get everyone to bed.
First, I’ve got to move the cat.

Day 15 Profile Poem

Connie Peters from A to Z

Artist
Baker’s Dozen Member
Creative
Devotional writer
Enthusiasticsoul.blogspot.com
Faith writer for the Pagosa Sun
Grateful
Heavenly Humor writer
Inspirational writer
Jesus follower
Kayaker
Lives in Southwest Colorado
Mom of two—Lori P (Poetic Asides writer) and Eli
Novelist
One-a-day poet since October 2004
Presidentialprayerteam.com writer
Queen of unfinished projects
Raised in Pennsylvania with four sisters
Sings on the church worship team
Tea addict, chocolate and chicken, too, (but not together)
United States traveler (48 down with Alaska and Hawaii to go)
Vanessa and Justin’s caregiver
Wife of Loren (32 years)
eXcited about God’s love
Young adult and children’s writer
Zealous Scrabble and Canasta player

Day 14 Ain't None of My Business

Busy Intersection

Sometimes
it’s difficult to tell
when your own business
and social responsibility intersect,
but when they do
you look both ways
before crossing the street.
Either way, you could be flattened.

Day 13 An Old Relationship

First Crush and Carolyn Schneed

Gregory Chahoski
with soft rounded features,
and alert shiny brown eyes
resembled a bright,
peppy squirrel,
and all the girls in first grade
liked him, including me.

So when our class paired off,
pushing our desks together
to work on coloring pages,
and he asked me to be his partner,
I was thrilled,
and disappointed
I had already promised Carolyn Schneed.

I would have gladly forgotten
the skinny, freckled new girl
to be with the boy of my dreams,
but of course, I didn’t.
And Gregory never asked again.
Sigh!

Day 12 Form Poem

Ask, Seek, and Knock (Monotetra)

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)

Prayer’s not a formidable task
when our sins and needs we unmask.
God gives from a bottomless flask.
And so we ask, and so we ask.

We pursue Him in His mystique,
in attitude both bold and meek.
His promise that we’ll find—unique.
And so we seek, and so we seek.

He holds the key to every lock.
And He removes the stumbling block.
He’ll open the gate to His flock.
And so we knock, and so we knock.

Day 11 Maybe Blank

Balancing Act

My world is like an overzealous retail store,
too many bright colors, lights, choices—
sensory overload. I counteract it with
routine. Get up, turn on the computer,
check email, shower and such, breakfasts,
pray, poem, get the trio out the door,
alternate seat work and feet work. Troops
come home. Settle in, fix supper, relax,
bed time. Daily trying to find balance
between boredom and insanity.
Maybe I’ll try to do something
out of the ordinary each day,
but then, will that become mundane?

Day 10 Never Again

Red Beets in Stew

I’ll put in carrots, peas, onions, tomatoes,
corn, cauliflower, green beans, and potatoes.
I’ll even throw in a brussels sprout or two,
but I’ll never again put red beets in stew!

Food should taste yummy and appeal to the eyes.
But one day I cooked a visual surprise.
Everything turned purplish-pink through and through.
So I’ll never again put red beets in stew!

That night my guest saw in his toilet was red.
He went to the hospital thinking he bled.
So to this promise, I’ll stubbornly stay true.
No, I’ll never again put red beets in stew!

Day 9 Time of Day

7:44 AM in Southwest Colorado

The porch bell is silent--at last.
I took it down to stop its clanging.
The wind rustles the bushes
that promise spring
with barely discernible buds,
but the slate gray sky
threatens snow.
A single truck roars by,
announcing morning.
I hear a groan back the hallway.
The troops are rising.
Time to get breakfast.

Day 8 Celebrate

Celebrating God’s Protection

As I was coming in from shopping,
my neighbor called me over to her fence.
As she gathered large cardboard boxes,
she asked, “Did you hear about my fire?”

“Earlier my husband said he saw someone
removing a burned stove. Are you okay?”

“It happened early Sunday morning.
I turned on the wrong burner,
one with a metal cover on it.
It caught on fire, along with
some things sitting there.

“It was still dark.
The electric went off.
My phone was dead.

“I knew not to throw water on an appliance.
I couldn’t’ find the fire extinguisher or flour.
I didn’t have my glasses on, and couldn’t see.
My babies mean more to me than life itself.
I had to make sure my babies were okay.”

Her babies—three little yippers.
I could picture the kitchen going up in flames,
as she bustled about collecting her dogs.

“When I came back in,
the fire was out of control.
I couldn’t put it out myself.
I couldn’t call the fire department.
I prayed, ‘God help me, I can’t do this.’

“I grabbed some towels and wet them.
I beat out the fire. I know God helped me.”

So today this poem is written in celebration
of God protecting my neighbor,
her three little yippers and my family,
since our houses are only seven feet apart.

Day 7 What If

What if Moms…

What if moms really did
have eyes in the back of their heads?
Would they also have to have rotating waists
so they could go any in any direction?
How would they fix their hair
so they could see out of all four eyes?
Would they had to have four ears
to hold up two pair of glasses?

What if moms really did have eight arms?
Would they still teach their kids to do chores
if they truly could do everything at once?
Would they have to have an extra brain
to keep up with the arms? With four left hands,
would they wear four wedding rings?
What would a blouse look like with eight sleeves?
Would moms shop at Octopuses-R-Us?

What if moms really could read your mind?
Would they go nuts listening to Barney reruns,
endless questions like why is the sky blue,
what so and so said to the cute guy in class,
worries about teen wardrobes, pop tunes?

What if moms really did follow you around
inside your head for the rest of your life
making you say things you never thought you’d say?

Day 6 Don't Blank, Blank

Don’t Worry, Look at Birds

Yep, Jesus said that.
Look at flowers, too.
You don’t see robins,
starlings, Canada Geese
counting their pennies
in grocery-store lines.
Tulips, lilies, daffodils
strut their stuff looking finer
than Saks Fifth Avenue shoppers.
The Father loves you more
than flora and fauna.
He takes care of them,
He’ll take care of you,
as you trust in Him.