Poetic Asides Countdown 7-2 Changed song title

 

The Old Rugged Barn

 

The old rugged barn smells of horses and leather.

It has stood through the years through all kinds of weather.

And each time I enter, past memories find me.

My senses are filled with a dear menagerie.

Racing to follow my grandpa with his big strides.

Finding a cozy place where a kitty still hides.

The soft horse’s tongue tickling my hand for some grain.

The dinging of the metal roof from pelting rain.  

People snap photographs as they pass by the farm.

Perhaps they, too, remember an old rugged barn.

 

(From The Old Rugged Cross)

 

 

Poetic Asides Countdown 7-1 change a song title

 

I’d Fly Away

(a nonet)

 

Holed up at home for over a year

This pandemic’s got me grounded

I’d fly away if I could

Israel! The Netherlands!

Ireland! Italy!

France! They all call.

Fly away!

O, please!

Yes!

 

(from I’ll Fly Away)

Poetic Asides countdown 8-3 fantasy

 

Fairy Dust

 

The fairies all are gentle souls

Who flit about each day

They sleep at night in tulip beds

Or sometimes in the hay

 

They dance about and sing their songs

And gather fairy dust

For if they want to fly and soar

The fairy dust’s a must

 

And people are like fairies just

Unable to reach sky

Encouragement like fairy dust

Can help a person fly

Poetic Asides Countdown 8-2 fantasy

 

Outside’s a winter wonderland.

We wonder

when spring will land.

Poetic Asides Countdown 8-1 fantasy

 Not a Fantasy

 

Some say Christ’s return is a fantasy,

But He said that was the way it would be.

Like business as usual in Noah’s day,

People continue on their merry way.

He’ll come suddenly as a thief at night.

Some will be full of joy, others of fright.

The dead in Christ will rise, then those alive

Meet Jesus in the air and henceforth thrive.

The old earth destroyed in fiery flames

With Satan and those with unwritten names

In the Lamb’s Book of Life being kept now,

Awaiting the New Heaven and Earth—wow!

Lord, open blind eyes and may they repent.

And trust in the One who was Heaven sent.

Poetic Asides Countdown 9-3 cause and effect

 The Sower

 

The preacher came to town.

Wore a smile not a frown.

Gathered up some teens.

Taught them what the Bible means.

The seed he planted grew into a tree.

And that made the difference in me.

Poetic Asides Countdown cause and effect 9-2

 Poetry Renaissance

 

“Read something,” the director invited.

New at the artist and writers retreat,

I became hesitant but excited.

What to read? I would not admit defeat.

But would my novel’s excerpt be a treat?

Perhaps a poem—I’ve written just a few.

So at last that is what I chose to do.

I was shocked at the positive response.

The poetic muse stuck to me like glue.

That started my poetry renaissance.

Poetic Asides Let's....10-4, Earl's PB challenge

Let's Live a Life of Love

(a double acrostic)

 

L et’s live a life of love not evil.

O pen to that still small voice. I

V ow to throw off

E ach incumbrance. That is each one’s choice.

PAD Countdown 10-3 Let's....

 Let’s Pray

 

When someone says, “Let’s pray!”

I’m being thrown a life preserver

in a turbulent sea.

Poetic Asides Cause and effect 9-1

 Déjà vu

Ball bounces.

Smashes window.

Angry neighbor growls

a few choice words.

Confrontation. Discipline.

Out in the driveway again.

Ball bounces.

And the story repeats itself

generation after generation.

Pad Count Down Let's ... 10-2

 

Let’s Not Get Eaten by a Shark

 

The gentle ripples of the bay,   

Propel our kayaks on their way. 

I always say as we embark,

Let’s not get eaten by a shark.

 

The sun is high and so’s our mood.

It’s not the time to sulk or brood.

The views are great in this lush park.

Let’s not get eaten by a shark.

 

We forward stroke a long way out.

We watch for fin or flat, smooth snout.

Those teeth would surely leave a mark.

Let’s not get eaten by a shark.

 

The whales amaze, the seals amuse.

Though this wild life I gladly choose,

when we go in, it’s almost dark.

Let’s not get eaten by a shark.

PAD Countdown Let's ... 10-1

 Let’s See

 

Some friends tell me that this is the best way.

And others point the other path to go.

I take the time to read the Word and pray.

At times, it’s very difficult to know.

 

And research just exposes question marks.

Revealing more options than just the two.

The wheels are turning, grinding out the sparks.

So what in the world should a person do?

 

And time’s still ticking by like tapping toes,

Impatient for me to make up my mind.

But no one seems to know how this all goes.

I know that those who seek will surely find.

 

But end results remain a mystery.  

Sometimes you just step out and say, “Let’s see!”

Poetic Blooming Challenge

 Challenge Acrostics

 

C hallenges are an inspiration and a

H elp to keep things going. Some panic

A t the thought of a challenge. They may fear

L etting someone down, like the initial domino

L eaning over causing negative effects.

E ffects that will make it difficult to start

N ew projects. Challenges are great. I

G et excited about a challenge. They can be fantastic,

E nergizing creatives to reach up toward the stars.

 

 

Character Trait

Brave Belinda

 

One day Belinda crawled into a cave.

She saved a cat headed for the grave.

Folks all around said she was brave.

 

“I wish I could live with no fear,” they said.

Belinda said, “I have both fear and dread.

But because of love, I act bold instead.”

haiku

 

Walking in the park

Surprise meeting with a friend

Showing me God cares

Poetic Bloomings Ekphrastic hawk photo

 The Hawk

 

The hawk is neither cruel nor mean.

Its beak is hooked, its eyes are keen.

Its taloned feet are designed to kill.

But its hunting is not for thrill.

A bird of prey does what it’s designed to do.

It keeps nature’s balance all the year through.

Poetic Asides spring poem

 Today’s St. Patrick’s Day.

 

It seems like yesterday

I was singing Christmas carols

and watching the snow fall.

 

Actually, it was yesterday.

I live in Colorado. The sun’s shining.

Tulips shyly peek up through the earth.

 

Easter’s just a few days ahead.

Will I be singing, “In the Garden”?

or “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!”

Character Traits

 

Attentive

 

Attentive like a dog watching you eat something delicious

Attentive like a teenager hanging on the words of a crush

Attentive like a lottery ticket holder on the winning number

Attentive like an eager employee listening to their new boss

Attentive like God listening to the prayers of His children

557557 aabccb

It’s Time

 

It’s time for new birth

Tulips peek from earth

Birds flitter about with song

Hills begin to green

First robin is seen

Till warm weather, won’t be long

 

Easter Day draws near

Celebrate and cheer

Jesus arose from the grave

Give Him thanks and praise

For someday, we’ll raise       

From our sins, He came to save

 

We now have new life

Free from sin and strife

Grace enables us to thrive

He will come again

We do not know when

May our faith and love survive

 

 

Poetic Bloomings Wordle: shade, rain, roses

 

What Gardens Grow

 

We’re sheltered in shade.

A friendship is made

To the tune of tapping rain

The fragrance so sweet

Some roses, a treat

Delightful day in the main

Character Traits

 Artistic

 

We take in

the wonders of the world

through our senses

and it comes out

our fingertips,

our voices,

our bodies in rhythm and emotions.

 

We paint, sing, dance,

write stories and poetry.

We are creatives,

hoping that what we share

will move you to a deeper dimension.

Poetic Bloomings Ekphrastic

 Alone

With beauty all around me

It tells me of a Creator

Divine, eternal, beautiful

Reminding me

I’m not

Alone

A Prayer

 Blessed

(a lento)

 

Dear Lord, I come to You today.

Here, now, I wait down on my knees.

Fear disappears fast as I pray,

Clear minded as confusion flees.

 

Your ways are far above my own.

For wisdom is my bold request,

More feeling that I’m not alone.

Pour out Your love so I am blessed.

Poetic Asides Top

 Tops

 

Can’t wait to roll up my tops,

my shorts, my jeans, my socks

and stash them and my unmentionables

in my suitcase and travel to top destinations

such as Tuscany, Dublin, Paris, Rome.

See the sights, hike, kayak, climb

and feel at the top of the world.

Character Traits

 Approachable

 

Mr. Johnson was ten feet tall.

And little Wilbur felt so small.

He approached him that fateful day,

For Wilbur had something to say.

 

The kids had left Wilbur’s classroom.

“May I help you?” his teacher boomed.

Wilbur looked up into his eyes.

 And found there a startling surprise.

 

Teacher’s eyes sparkled and he smiled.

Wilbur became a fearless child.

He told him what he had to tell.

And Wilbur felt that all was well.

 

Wilbur learned something very wise,

That kindness comes in every size.

Character traits

 Animated

 

I was visiting my in-laws one day

when my brother-in-law

was talking about someone he knew

and he said, “She makes Connie look alive.”

 

I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt my feelings,

but he thought I looked dead?

What was I doing or not doing

that made me seem dead?

 

How do you look more alive?

Vibrant, lively, animated?

Move, make noise, dance about?

 

If you ever meet me,

make sure I’m breathing.

I might really be dead.

Poetic Bloomings pair

 My Suitcase and I

 

I’ll tell you of a pal of mine

Especially on the weekends

Together, we go everywhere

My suitcase and I are good friends

 

I wonder when we’ll get away

Because of COVID, it depends

I’m looking forward to some trips

My suitcase and I are good friends

 

I dream of stuffing it with clothes

Of which it faithfully attends

Then off we go to Tuscany

My suitcase and I are good friends

 

When I at last get off the plane

At airport, when the long flight ends

I’m glad to see it on the carrousel  

My suitcase and I are good friends

Character Traits

 Young Andrew

 

Young Andrew often amused all

He liked to entertain

He clowned around and did pratfalls

Some thought him just a pain

 

But when young Andrew left the room

The place became dead still

The mood declined to murk and gloom

And soon all felt the chill

 

Though Andrew bothered folks a bit

The way he carried on

They smiled when he came with his wit 

And frowned when he was gone

PA Prompt 3 Dream

  My Wish List

 

Trips to Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, France

To be free of inhibitions and freely dance

To own a kayak to cruise the lakes

To be in shape for what it takes

 

For my friends and I to take some hikes

And zip the hills on electric bikes.

And snowshoe when the snow is deep

Mountain climb, but not too steep

 

To travel the world and paint plein air

On Mercy Ships, provide some care

To play my ukulele like a pro

To lead worship, not for show

 

To thrive as a writer from day to day

To make a living while I play

To finish the projects that I started

To be brave and lion hearted

 

To see my hubby walk and free from pains

For all of us to have healthy brains

For my kids to be well the whole way through

Perhaps some in-laws and grandchildren, too.

 

Be filled with the Spirit and use His gifts

To love God and others, do spirit lifts

To be ready when Jesus comes in the clouds

To sing hallelujah with glorious crowds

 

Poetic Asides alien

 

The Alien

(triolet sonnet)

 

O you can say He was an alien.

He’s from a completely different world,

And He existed before time began.

O you can say He was an alien.

He left His perfect world to pay for sin.

With God and was God, yes, He is the Word.

O you can say He was an alien.

He’s from a completely different world.

He lived on the Earth, died and rose again.

O you can say He was an alien.

In Christ, promises are yes and amen,

And someday we will pass through gates of pearl.

O you can say He was an alien.

He’s from a completely different world.

 

 

Poetic Bloomings Ekphrastic

 Sailing the Carpet Sea

 

Jimmy and me, we sailed the sea

For a week and a day I suppose

With winds howling and tummies growling

We watched as the waves arose

 

We started to shout as our boat tossed about

And sharks around us were swimming

We began to shriek as our boat sprung a leak

Before long our boat was brimming

 

But soon we spied sand and made it to land

The locals served p. b. and j

We fixed our boat, and it started to float

So we continued to play