PAD Challenge 9-2 Ekphrastic #3

Having Fun With Friends

One time at an artists and writers retreat,

during a casual break outdoors,

one of the singers spontaneously broke out

in a praise chorus, and we all, amidst

the mountains and pines of Colorado, joined in.

It made me feel like we were in a musical.

I half expected Julie Andrews to go skipping by.

PAD Challenge 9-1 Ekphrastic #4

 Missing Pennsylvania

I took a long walk today

under the blue Colorado sky

with white puffy clouds.

Passed ever-so-slightly rolling hills

of sage brush and scrub oak

and barbed-wire strung between

rough, old wooden poles.

Passed a row of cottonwoods

taking in the moisture of a small ditch.

The sun beat down and the cool wind blew

making me take off and put on my sweater.

I miss the forests and hills of Pennsylvania.

The various kinds of shade trees,

the gurgling creeks, the smell of moss.

But bloom where you’re planted is good advice.

So I’ll bloom like the pink or yellow

prickly-pear cactus and try not to be too prickly

when I’m missing Pennsylvania.

PAD challenge 8-3 future

Large Dreams and Simple Things

I use to have large dreams,

but I have to think.

If I die the age Mom died,

I only have nine years left.

But if I live as long as my father-in-law

I have forty-two years left,

and he’s still living.

It’s hard to number our days

as the Bible says

when your life can pop

like a jack-in-a-box anytime.

I just pray

that the simple things

I do each day

will have a positive effect

on eternity.

PAD Challenge 8-2 future

Steps into the Future

(villanelle)

The future may inspire and astound
With things like holograms and flying cars
But future’s subject to the here and now

The visionaries skillfully expound
Of rocket-ships that soar beyond the stars
The future may inspire and astound

New mysteries are waiting to be found
Ideas flow, from wise to the bazaar
But future’s subject to the here and now

The big and small mistakes we make abound
Let’s take a lesson from our wounds and scars
The future may inspire and astound

What wonders lie ahead and all around
By moving step by step we can go far
But future’s subject to the here and now

Toward fruits of daily choices we are bound

Let’s contemplate our actions and take pause 

The future may inspire and astound

But future’s subject to the here and now

PAD Challenge 8-1 future

Bird Nests

(Haiku)

Birds chirp and build nests

In rafters of rising porch

I’m concerned for them

PAD Challenge 7-3 lucky/unlucky

A Penny for Your Prayers

“Find a penny pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck.”

When my daughter was thirteen,

she went on a mission trip to Jordan.

Whenever my husband found a penny,

he’d save it as a reminder to pray for Lori.

Now to this day when I spy a penny

I’ll pick it up and pray for missionaries.

I’m not sure if I believe in luck,

but I do believe in answered prayer.

PAD Challenge 7-2 lucky/unlucky

Unlucky

The number thirteen

A black cat crossing your path

Breaking a mirror

In a theatre, saying Macbeth

Opening an umbrella indoors

666—the mark of the beast

Ignoring a chain letter

Passing up pennies on the street       

An upside down horseshoe

Tipping a salt shaker over

Magpies, ravens and crows

Not finding a four-leaf clover

Taking a stroll under a ladder

No bathroom and a full bladder

PAD Challenge 7-1 lucky/unlucky

Not So Sure About Luck

God’s omnipresent, everywhere at once.

God’s omnipotent, all powerful Lord.

He created the entire universe.

He existed before the beginning.

He will exist forever and ever.

His ears are attentive to worthy prayers.

He works all things for good for His children.

His ways are higher than all human ways.

His thoughts are far above any other.

God is sovereign, in ultimate control.

A thousand years are like a day to Him.

He sent His Son to redeem the whole world.

His glory, love and mercy shine like the sun.

God might be too big to create a thing called luck.

PAD Challenge 6-3 trap

Outlook

There can be a fine line

between a commitment

and feeling trapped,

depending on attitude

and effort toward change.

PAD Challenge 6-2 trap

Trap

T emptations, false promises, something that seems right

R eels you in and before you know it you're caught

A nd can’t escape. So you have a choice: fight for freedom or

P lan to make the best of it and set up camp, or a little of both.  

Poetic Asides 6-1 trap

The Little Things

Like a little piece of cheese

tempts a mouse into a trap,

little niggling thoughts,

can set your whole day awry.

A change of plan

A disappointment

Feeling controlled

Guilt. Mistakes.

But in the same way

little encouragements

gratefulness, kindness

forgiveness, faith

can help you avoid traps

of despair, anger, and worry.

PAD Challenge 5-3 moment

Post-Lunch Nap

I sit still.

I had my fill.

Relaxing from head to toes

I doze

I’ll get going soon

I will

PAD challenge 5-2 moment

Restoration

The picture lies on my art table.

Jesus praying in the garden.

Men sleeping in the background.

It used to hang in the house I grew up in.

I had stored it in my crawl space,

But the frame got flood damaged.

I peeled off  crumbling layers.

Cleaned it up.

Sanitized it.

Now I paint it gold. Shining gold.

Apply a black wash

to look old again.

A new old.

That’s what You do to a soul.

Clean it up, Fix it up.

Person still looks the same.

But a new old. 

PAD Challenge 5-1 moment

Storehouse

I wake up in the morning,

like a little mouse

sniffing for crumbs

and stumble upon Your storehouse,

in prayer.

PAD challenge 4-3 wish

As You Wish

The Bible says

if you delight in the Lord

He will give you

the desires of your heart.

But I’ll tell you a little secret.

Before you dream of riches,

fame and power know that

as you delight in Him,

He changes what you desire,

before He grants them

PAD challenge 4-2 wish

Longtime Wish

I remember seeing her there

Slender figure, short blond hair

She glided across the country pond

Like at a fairy, I did stare

Of winter games, I was fond

Sled riding, snow angels and beyond

But I slid on ice in dowdy boots

I wished I could soar like the blond

And then one day just for hoots

We went to the rink, traded our boots

For skates like I’d seen several years back

Grace not one of my attributes

Skating skills my ankles did lack

I fell to my knees and on my back

Splat when I tried to spin or twirl

Lovely as a potato sack

When I go through gates of pearl

I wish to skate like that fairy girl

Spin and dip and leap and whirl

Spin and dip and leap and whirl

PAD Challenge 4-1 wish

Wishing Star

(Kimo)

Educated astronomers looked up

Star beckoned them to follow

As it still does to me

PAD challenge 3-3 follow

Follow Wisdom

(Interlocking rubaiyat)

I’ll follow wisdom when I can

Of wisdom’s pathways, I’m a fan

But often I’m not even close

Yet, I go forward with a plan

Of wisdom I need extra dose

My dumb mistakes seem more than most

But I can learn from my mistakes

I try to stay on tippy toes

I see a chasm, put on breaks

Some caution is what wisdom takes

God’s wisdom offers hope and light

Foolishness brings pains and aches

God’s generosity is high

For wisdom to the Lord I cry

I know my God has great supply

I know my God has great supply

PAD Challenge 3-2 follow

Follow Your God-Given Dreams

(triolet)

Follow your God given dreams

Don’t look to the right or the left

But all is not what it seems

Follow your God-given dreams

Love and truth are like streams

Hate and lies leave you bereft

Follow your God-given dreams

Don’t look to the right or the left

PAD Challenge 3-1 follow

Following Me

Some conferees that I crossed,

They must have thought me a boss.

Behind me, O dread!

I turned and I said,

“Do not follow me, I am lost!”

PAD Challenge 2-3 space

Not Just Taking Up Space

He can’t do what he used to do.

I try not to complain about my extra work.

I know he’d love to be able to do it.

He watches other men busy about their jobs.

Sometimes he feels like he’s taking up space.

He does what he can.

I try to appreciate what he does,

without being condescending.

I welcome him into my space,

even if we just sit and look out the window.

We search for things to laugh about

and when we find them, we are content.

PAD Challenge 2-2 space

I Like My Space

(Rondeau)

I like my space when I get up
Computer, Bible, tea in cup
And when the sun lights up the room
My quiet time prevents the gloom
That way day’s start seems not abrupt

And when all chaos does erupt 

With energy of a young pup 

I then retreat to a back room 

I like my space

With few close friends, I open up 

And joy blooms like a buttercup

But fades away so very soon

Alone time comes and I resume 

So in the evening I look up 

I like my space

PAD Challenge 2-1 space

Spaceship War

He ventured forth in outer space.

He saw his way was clear.

To stay at home was such a waste.

His window showed a sphere.

The crack there was another ship,

He tried his best to miss.

He caught a glimpse then made a slip.

Quick as a wink was this.

Adventure turned unfortunate.

His smile turned upside down.

His mother yelled at him, “O Nate!”

And she, too, wore a frown.

The glass lay broken on the floor.

Defeated in the spaceship war.

PAD Challenge 1-3 New World

What happens

If newness wears off

And we wait

And we wait

And still no toilet paper

And still yards apart?

PAD challenge 1-2 new world

New Heaven and New Earth

When I read

Revelation in the Bible,

I wonder if we have

it all figured out so much

that we won’t recognize it

when it happens.

PAD challenge 1-1 new world

New Normal

After my husband’s two strokes,

I began my search for a new normal.

Then there was the summer of pain.

Then a flood and redoing the house.

Then a pandemic.

What I want my new normal to be:

art, music, writing, traveling seems to dangle

before my face like the proverbial carrot,

waiting for me to lunge for it and hang on.

31-4 prayer

Stepping Stones

Lord, I know things will get bad

before they get worse in these last days.

Please help me find the stepping stones

in the forceful rushing river of life.

Help me keep my feet dry

and get safely to the other side.