June 29, 2012 A villanelle mutant

Time to Pray 

When flames rage, fire burns, and smoke fills the air 

is not the time to get on your knees and pray, but fight;

but times of peace and calm are fertile for prayer. 

The Lord said prayer is like a widow who’d bare

her soul to a man who cared not of her plight,

but since she was persistent he would declare,  

“I’ll help, lest her nagging fills me with despair.”

Only God knows why prayer takes time to ignite

His heart to move His hand to show He does care.  

When the air is fresh and clean and the day fair,

when the land is well-watered and the sky bright,

thank Him for His love and appeal to Him there 

for Him to continue His grace and to spare

you from trials and troubles’ fiery bite.

Pray for rain when there’s more than plenty to share. 

Yes, He does hear when deadly disasters dare

to threaten to overtake you in the night,

when flames rage, fire burns, and smoke fills the air, 

but times of peace and calm are fertile for prayer.

Writing to God -- Praying with Senses

Sense of Thanksgiving

Thank You for the things I see—

words on a page,

my son and daughter clowning around,

my calico cat pattering around the house. 

Thank You for the things I hear—

my husband’s deep voice,

contemporary Christian music,

the clink of chess pieces as my daughter sets up the board. 

Thank You for the things I smell—

cherry blossom shampoo,

eggs cooking on the stove,

orange spice in my cup of tea.

Thank You for the things I feel—

the soft chair cradling my body

cool air from the air conditioner,

smooth computer keys underneath my fingertips. 

Thank You for the things I taste—

grainy toast,

sweet spicy tea,

satisfying meat and veggie omelet. 

Thank You for the things I sense spiritually—

Your love,

Your grace,
Your holiness.

Thank You for creating my senses

that I may delight in Your creation,

and be reminded why I should delight in You

and trust You to grant me the desires of my heart.

Poetic Asides Prompt--something pitted against something else

Man versus monster

Roaring, striking, devouring

Wind, lightning, fire

June 26 Writing to God Uncertainties

Locomotive—Loco with No Motive 

Feeling like

an unused train in the roundhouse.

Lord, spiff me up.

I need some drive,

purpose, spiritual steam.

May the load I’m carrying do some good in the world.

Help me stay on track

and get others where You want them to be,
with a determined chug-chug
and a cheery whistle.

For a Friend

Two Peas in a Pod 

Some feel no sympathy.

They think if you just do things right,

you wouldn’t have the problems you have.

Ah, but they never let you in on the secret

of why when you do all the right things,

life still goes off kilter.

 I am human.

I’ve been underneath a stack of circumstances

like the princess’s pea beneath her mattresses.

May you have friends that help you,

not judge you for being where you are.

And may I be one of them.

Poetic Bloomings Prompt: photo of earth in hand

Big  

We humans think we’re bigger than we really are,

walking proudly as if we have the whole world in our hands.

Yet, we know compared to the universe

and eternity we’re not blips on any screen.

Yet God sees us,

loves us,
hears us and answers our prayers.
That’s big.

That’s really big.

Wordle: times, inquisitive, clouds, intercepted, brave

Fortified Faith

At times, her inquisitive spirit

birthed trouble, and clouds of fear

engulfed her mind and being

until it seemed agents of evil

intercepted every prayer, but she

was not only curious, but brave

and adventurous. Her faith 

stood firm like a fortress in war.

This is the way she became strong,

wise and intimate with her Creator.

details

Southwest Colorado 

Footpaths crisscross the canyon.

Sage, cactus, substantial rocks cover the slopes.

Cattails guard a stream under a shady cottonwood.

Boulders bridge its banks.

Mesa Verde with its tented green ridges to the southeast

Sleeping Ute to the southwest

Peaks of Monticello to the northwest

Majestic LaPlatas to the east 

Brilliant blue sky overhead,

I trudge, feeling my heart tap,

listening to the whispers of nature.

I breathe in the fresh air, and am thankful.

Poetic Asides Prompt straight line

Mouse

As the moon lightens the night sky

and owl wings whisper by

diving a straight line toward its prey

we have one more night of peace

and maybe hope that we will escape,

but we won’t completely.

Poetic Asides prompt : Line

What’s Your Line? 

Byline, Skyline, Beeline

Way to shine

Clothes line, straight line, dotted line

In the pine

Dividing line, grocery line, ticket line

All the time

Killer line, poetic line, finish line

Like new wine

Railway line, product line, fashion line

Growing vine

Deadline, breadline, redline

It may be mine

Fine line, fishing line, Bottom line
Feeling fine

To the Husband

Today’s the day you say a sad goodbye

To one you loved though your shared time was brief

And yes, you figured she’d be first to die

And though you are consumed with searing grief

There is a sense of bitter-sweet relief

Please, don’t feel guilty with this secret joy

The horrible disease stole like a thief

With little left you worked in its employ

And like a small seed dies and gives new life

You’ll thrive despite the death of your dear wife

June 18, 2012 The poetic form Luc Bat

Equalizer  

He feels his way each step

Back and forth with his “yep” and “doe”

They pass him to and fro

But it is great to know when he

Floats in the pool, he’s free

Bobbing confidently, his eyes

Beaming laughter—my prize

Water does equalize—what joy!

June 17, 2012 Poetic Bloomings Fire

Flames 

F lames

L eaping, threatening, engulfing
A ngrily attacking

M onstrously moving nearer

E ating houses whole

S cattering in the wind

June 16, 2012 Shannon Family Reunion and PA Prompt

Family Reunion 

We met in Sedona

where the red rocks hover and cuddle the town,

Oak Creek gurgles through providing hours of entertainment,

where a steep path leads up to Devil’s Bridge

and children worry mothers,
where we wonder, along dark sidewalks, if we’d meet Javelina,

those lumpy creatures with stick legs and long tusks,

where sky is brilliant blue and hot sun burns, browns, bubbles skin,               

where houses match the rocks and lights are dim to allow the stars to shine,
where we shop on shady pathways paying far too much for hand-crafted trinkets
where we bounce along in gaudy pink jeeps
and learn agave makes  tequila and prickly pear cactus makes ice cream,
where we gather on a mountain top with a cross
and memories of the one we lost and release white helium balloons.

Then after a week of marvels we go back to Ohio, Pennsylvania,

Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, California

and plan to meet again two years later in Delaware.

June 15, 2012 Shannon Family Reunion

Sitting on a camp chair

In my daughter’s living room

First house

June 14, 2012 Shannon Family Reunion

Long day of hiking

And playing in the water

Muscles ache

Hot tub calls my name

But I perch on a high stool

bidding my beans for trinkets.

June 13, 2012 Shannon Family Reunion

We clambered down the rocks

to the natural water slide.

“They didn’t design this right,” one man said.

I guess he’ll have to take it up with God.

June 12, 2012 Shannon Family Reunion

Letting Go

I remember looking at the picture of devil’s bridge,

people walking out with sheer drops all around.

Nevertheless we hiked/ climbed up.

My heart hammered in my stomach.

My legs quivered.

It wasn’t as bad standing on it

as it was seeing someone else stand on it.

No place for mothers and their children.

I turned my back on my grown son and descended.

June 11, 2012 Shannon Family Reunion

Amazing—these cell phones,

until we try to unite seven car loads

in an Arizona State Park, with spotty signals.

Two car loads make it and have a fun afternoon

splashing in Oak Creek.

The rest go back to the resort and have fun

splashing in the swimming pool.

June 10, 2012 Shannon Family Reunion

The Grand Canyon stretches out in its awesomeness.

We imagine exploring its heights and its depths,

adventuring on a rustic raft down the Colorado river.

We get lost in the parking lot.

Jne 9, 2012 Family Reunion

Incongruous  

He tells us of Sedona’s standards.

Each house has to be in earth tones.

Lighting has to be minimal

so not to spoil the starry sky.

He goes on about the red rocky landscape,

agave, juniper, pinons, yucca plants

as he bumps along in his gaudy pink jeep.

June 8, 2012 Shannon Family Reunion

First Mishap 

Looking in the rearview mirror.

Realizing husband isn’t following.

Knowing he doesn’t know address.

Wondering if he knows cell phone number.

Arguing with the navigator, getting lost, getting a call.

Hubby’s waiting at the visitor’s center.

Feeling foolish, but thankful.

June 7, 2012 Shannon Family Reunion

Right On Target 

 I wish I could see

a bird’s eye view of the United States

today and tomorrow

as planes, vans, rental cars

head from the north, east, south and west

and converge on Sedona, Arizona

like arrows to a bull’s eye.

Family Reunion.

Poetic Asides Camp

Camp

C arefree days

A spens, a quivering roof

M arshmallows toasting on the fire

Please pass the chocolate and grahams

Camp

Creatures in the night

Aware

Midnight

Predator. No, only a raccoon.

Camp

Careful,

All, there

May be a scorpion in your

Pillow

Writing to God- God is with me

God is with Me

They shall call his name ^“Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Mt. 1:23 

When to-dos are in a muddle

God is with me.

When I feel befuddled

God is with Me

Though my days are in a mess

And I feel depressed

I always will confess

God is with me.

When nothing comes out right

God is with me.

Or the answer’s not in sight

God is with me.

Though things aren’t exactly hopping

And I don’t feel like popping

His love won’t be stopping

God is with me.

When the world makes no sense

God is with me.
Or when life lacks suspense
God is with me
Though life takes its toll
And I have no control
He will make me whole
God is with me.

Writing to God Past Stories

Tiny Footprints of a Big God

You have proved Yourself

over and over in lives

throughout history—

Miriam, Mary, Rhoda.

You often worked

in the bitty details of life—

tambourines, songs, doors.

Help me see Your hand

in the minutia of my life

and rejoice knowing

You love me, even me.

Poetic Bloomings In the Air

Snap, Crackle 

It’s in the air

like lightning ready to flash,

Pressure

Tension

Stress.

But I’m going to think

Butterflies

Gurgling creeks

Laughter.

For what else can I do

when writing deadline

and first day of summer vacation

is in five days?

Writing to God

Footprint

I am very human

and my time here on earth is short-lived.

So many generations have passed before me,

with their cares, concerns and troubles

which were all-important to them at one time--

but now aren’t even memories.

Yet, they left their mark.

Our lives reflect a lot of decisions they made

and the way they lived their lives.

Lord, help me live in such a way

that I leave a positive footprint—

a footprint that many future generations,

if there are many,

will be glad to follow.

Children's Poem

A Girl Named Nell 

There once was a girl named Nell,

And though she could color well,

Her drawings were quite a sight,

So caused a story to tell. 

When she drew people she knew,

Kids didn’t know what to do.

They said it wasn’t quite right

When folks were red, orange or blue. 

Teacher says, Nell would explain,

It matters not in the main

If skin is brown, black or white

To care about skin is vain. 

Color is all what I think.

Skin can be purple or pink,

Striped, polka dot, dull or bright,

Nell said with a smile and wink.