July 21, 2012

Unexpected Trip (version III)

Passport goes missing before the big trip.

We search the house, in and out, upside down.

Retrace son’s steps, and follow every tip,

but looks like he’ll miss out on London town.

So off we go, a seven hour drive,

thinking he left it at his sister’s house.

A check in the mailbox when we arrive,

but, “There’s no passport here,” I phone my spouse.

So back on the road, it doesn’t feel real;

neon double rainbow extremely bright,

and then we see thick red dust, Mars-like feel,

then lightning storm, like fireworks, but white.

The trip’s a dry run—no reason or rhyme,

but wonderful surprises worth our time.

July 20, 2012

Unexpected Trip (version II)

Passport missing.

Turn the house upside-down

Retrace his steps

Pray

Nothing.

Daughter’s house?

Seven-hour drive to Phoenix.

No passport

Large unexpected check in the mailbox

Begin trip back.

Thick red dust, Mars-like feel

Neon bright double rainbow

Lightning storm—fireworks without color

Trip dry run,

but lovely surprises worth our while.

July 19, 2012

Unexpected Trip

So five days before my son and daughter

are supposed to leave for England, my son’s

passport goes missing. We turn the house upside-

down, retrace his steps, pray, but nothing.

Maybe he left it at my daughter’s house.

While my son keeps his eye appointment,

my daughter and I drive seven hours to Phoenix.

No passport, but in the mailbox is a large check

she didn’t expect. So on the drive back,

after Flagstaff, the wind blows the thick red dust

and we feel like we’re on Mars. So nice to

see something different. Then before Kayenta,

the double rainbow appears, brighter and clearer

than we’ve ever seen. The last two hours

we watch a lightning storm as thrilling as fireworks,

without the colors. So our unexpected trip

 was a dry run, but full of surprises worth our while.

July 18, 2012

Opportunist

The teapot sat pertly on the front burner

whistling its tune. Suddenly the lights

went out. I grabbed a flashlight

poured my tea, and grabbed a box of

pink frosted cookies. Not feeling noble,

I sat in my recliner and munched.

With a sigh, I wondered if there would

ever be hope for my diet. Better luck,

tomorrow. Now, I’ll enjoy a quiet moment.

July 17, 2012

A Moment

Like an Alzheimer’s patient

who can’t remember the past

or plan for the future

and has to live in the moment,

may I appreciate each second You give me

and use it efficiently.

Help me reach out, learn and grow, try new things

as if I have all the time in the world,

yet, at the same time be aware of brevity

and that I should live each moment  to the fullest.

Lord, thank You that someday I will have eternity,

eternity past and eternity future, no end.

May all I do in the moments I have here on earth

make a positive impact on eternity.

Writing to God

Atoms, Moments, Breaths 

Lord, we don’t really possess a thing.

As each second ticks into the past,

we only have now and it, too, goes in a hurry.

We’re not guaranteed the next second.

We could die with one heart beat.

Speak to me about the little things

The common things

The things that are overlooked.

These are what we have—

whatever is in front of us at the moment—

like an Alzheimer’s patient

who can’t remember the past

or plan for the future

who has to live in the moment.

Lord, help me appreciate each moment You give me

and use it efficiently.

Help me reach out, learn and grow, try new things as if I have all the time in the world,

yet, at the same time be aware that this may be my last day and I should live it to the fullest.

Lord, thank You that someday I will have eternity,

eternity past and eternity future,

no end.

May all I do in the moments I have here on earth

make a positive impact on eternity.

Poetic Bloomings That's My Line 2

I Would Find Something Small to Do That I Know Would Make a Difference
(Linda Swenski, Prompt 63)

God

who made
the size of the universe

absolutely mindboggling,

made it up of equally astounding smallness.

Wisdom can be drawn from anything God does—

to accomplish big dreams, start with something small.