Nightlight
When all seems dark
and I’m afraid
and things aren’t looking great.
I take my Bible
and begin
to pray and meditate.
My favorite verse
in Scripture,
Romans 8:28.
And we know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love him, who[a] have
been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV).
Pessimistic
Problem focused
Expecting the worst
Sad countenance
Stubbornly negative
Intimidated and anxious
Morose and melancholy
Intensely doubtful
Scared of the future
Tragic attitude
Imagining disaster
Cynical outlook
Optimistic
Open eyes to possibilities
Positive attitude
Turning focus upward
Inspired, enthusiastic
More than hopeful
Imagining the best
Sanguine personality
Taking a bright outlook
Intensified expectancy
Cheerful and Confident
Lies
I’m tired of romance stories based on lies.
What one relates as true, the next denies.
The deeper into story, falsehoods grow.
It makes me wonder if they’re ever wise.
And when, at last, the lovers tell their tale.
It certainly appears that they will fail.
Then somehow, they accept each other’s love.
But I am not convinced that all is well.
Tropes
Telling a story
Repeating scenarios
Often switching up
People, places, happenings
Ending nicely
Sometimes
College Dating
My college years sound like a trope,
With cross connections like a rope,
Between some roommates and some
friends.
Yes, it was like a real-life Soap.
From ex and beyond, it extends,
Relating in curios blends.
Roomie liked my ex plus a guy.
The guy liked me and here it tends
To complicate and go awry.
I liked my ex’s roommate, sigh.
Another friend’s ex asked me out.
I dated him, but not sure why.
It grew tangled, without a doubt.
Somehow or other, all worked out.
I got with ex’s roomie, yay.
Roomie got with ex, roundabout.
We had some months to date and play,
But then, time came to go away.
I went to Wyoming to stay.
And met my hubby one fine day.
Keep On Writing
Keep on writing, through thick and thin,
Though you may think you will not win.
When success seems far out of reach,
And you fear, “Those who can’t do, teach,”
Feel wasting time may be a sin.
You’re tired of being so “all in.”
Always taking it on the chin.
You’d rather relax at the beach.
Keep on writing.
Rejection puts you in tailspin.
You need to grow a rhino skin.
All’s possible with God does preach.
He does listen when you beseech.
So please, finish what you begin.
Keep on writing.
World of Possibility
The travel bug
Oh, I had caught it early on.
The travel bug
It started slowly as a slug.
To see the world, I have felt drawn.
Immunity is now long gone.
The travel bug
Mean Old Winter
Fair autumn days are
slipping past.
Old winter’s chasing on its heels.
Who’s ready for what winter deals?
Impossible for fall to last.
Mean winter’s coming way too fast.
At gloominess, my poor mind reels.
Fair autumn days are slipping past.
Old winter’s chasing on its heels.
Bare branches stark in skies like glass.
Sheet ice on roads aims, maims, and kills.
I freeze, at least, that’s how it feels.
As days go by, gray snow’s amassed.
Fair autumn days are slipping past.
Send Them Packing
The monsters creep about at night,
Which shows that they are truly wimps.
Afraid to face you in the light,
They hide away with all the imps.
So if there’s monsters neath your bed,
You tell them go, fill them with dread.
Because you’re brave and good and wise,
The monsters run in their surprise.
Despair
Listen
Do not give up
Go forward bit by bit
Do not let despair devour you
Head up, eyes forward, one step, then the next
Chase away fog that blocks vision
You have done harder things
Be encouraged
Listen
Depression
Depression haunted me for many years.
In fact, when in my teens it rarely
left.
In early marriage, it brought many
tears.
I daily dealt with symptoms of its
theft.
It left my family and friends bereft.
I learned it’s not the monster it
appeared,
And to direct my mind from what I feared.
Who Cares?
The ones who seem a tad bit odd
Though mold has broken, don’t blame God
Who see as perfect, not as flawed
Who value each and every soul
Concern’s not merely a façade
Who want them healthy, safe and whole
Who Talks to Birds?
Birds meet on my bush outside.
When do you fly south?
Can I come?
Who Thinks Poem is a Verb?
Not English teachers
Not students
Not dictionaries
Not Google
Not doctors, lawyers, mathematicians
Not butchers, bakers, candlestick makers
Not many, comparatively.
Who thinks poem is a verb?
People who poem.
Revision
“My words don’t seem to come out right today.”
“Well then, it’s good that they're not set in stone.”
“So let’s forget this and go out to play.”
“A fine idea then come back to hone
your words and write them yet another way.”
That Smile
She spoke to me with sounds that slurred
And smiled a magnificent smile.
I knew I’d have to guess a while.
Sometimes, it seemed so hard, absurd,
To dialogue without a word.
I said, “Look here.
“A trip to Egypt.”
"Why not?" she asks. "Let's go!"
Colors of Costa Rica
Blue skies and sea
Red hibiscus, jasper, red-hot lava
Red eyes and toes of a red-eyed tree frog
Yellow of a toucan’s chest and bill
Orange fruit: oranges, jacote, nance, granadilla
Browns of sloths, monkeys, old buildings
Five hundred thousand plus plants
Green, green and more green
Town’s Closing Imminent
The oakbrush leaves have fallen down.
But why is this such a concern?
There once was green, red, orange, then brown.
The kids play there to grow and learn.
Each has a fort in which to hide.
But oakbrush leaves have fallen down.
Had privacy though side by side.
A bustling, cool, make-believe town.
The king and queen each wear a crown.
And they still rule there even though
The oakbrush leaves have fallen down.
The town will close with too much snow.
The handyman built furniture.
Among us it is quite renown.
But to the barn it will transfer.
The oakbrush leaves have fallen down.
Sunshine and Lemons
Yellow doors, curtains, trim
Reminding me of sunshine and lemons
Just like the time we spent
Caring for our first special-needs client
Sunshine and lemons
Happiness and misery
