PAD 8 Submerged

Up for Air

“I’ve never been depressed,”

you said that first summer.

I thought that a marvelous thing.

I had struggled with the blues

most of my high school years.

Some time into our marriage,

came winds, rains, and waves.

You submerged into the depths.

They say don’t let a drowning man

grab you, that’s true.

We both dwelt beneath the surface

praying someone would see air bubbles.

They did, but no one

could teach us to swim.

We developed gills,

until we could tread water.

Now, after all this time,

we occasionally doggy paddle,

but more often than not

we get along

swimmingly.

PAD 7 Simmer Down

Simmer Down

Please, simmer down it’s just a piece of bread

Though soon it might be worth a bag of gold

A little waste’s not worse than being dead

Please, simmer down it’s just a piece of bread

Be thankful we have extra food, instead

Your mother taught you well, or so I’m told

Please, simmer down it’s just a piece of bread

Though soon it might be worth a bag of gold

PAD 6 We're Being Watched

You’re Being Watched

You’re being watched throughout the day.

You’re first to rise. Prepare the meds.

You’re diligence is on display.

You do the laundry, make the beds.

You’re being watched throughout the day.

You help with breakfasts for the two,

And usher them along their way.

You make us laugh by things you do.

You’re being watched throughout the day.

You’ve patience of a fisherman.

You make us feel that we’re okay.

You spend your workday on the run.

You’re being watched throughout the day.

You make phone calls, get things in line.

And you give hugs without delay.

You make disasters come out fine.

You’re being watched throughout the day.

I haven’t thanked you near enough.

So this short poem is just to say.

You’re being watched with all my love.  

PAD 5 Festive

Celebrate!

Where did this disability come from?

Not being able to celebrate.

Birthdays. I got used to no presents.

I buy what I want and sign your name.

When I open it I say,

“Just what I wanted, how did you know?”

The same for Christmas.

And when you look at the gifts I buy you,

with indifference, I try to not let it bother me.

Valentine’s Day. Not.

Easter. Your enthusiasm rustles

like wind in a bush.

But no bunnies, chocolates, or egg hunts.

Independence Day. Yawn.

Halloween. No go.

Thanksgiving. You munch while I cook

and when the feast is set

you’re not hungry.

New Year’s Eve.

You go to bed at ten

while I stay up till midnight

putting together a jigsaw puzzle

telling myself, “Happy New Year!”

December 28^th 1981

and April 10^th  1985.

You had trouble hiding the celebration

pouring from your eyes.

You fairly vibrated with excitement

at the birth of your children.

Why are you afraid to rejoice in the good things?

Yes, we’re waiting for heaven,

but it’s okay to enjoy a little bit of it on earth.

I think when we delight in God’s gifts

like children opening presents at Christmas time,

He smiles.

You have many strength, talents, and abilities.

Celebrating isn’t one of them.

PAD 4 Once Upon A

Not a Fairy Tale

Once upon a time

a girl kissed her boyfriend

goodbye in Pennsylvania,

boarded a plane for the first time

and flew to Wyoming to visit

her sister for the summer.

She looked up churches

in the yellow pages and found

one with a youth pastor.

It must have youth.

So she went to First Baptist.

A guest choir sang that night.

As the music played, she noticed

one long-haired dude in the audience

clapping along with enthusiasm.

He was the only one,

in the hundreds of people

who clapped.

They worked in children’s ministry

and fell in love over the summer.

When she went back to Pennsylvania,

she dreamed of her two loves side by side.

She chose the Wyomingite.

She broke up with her boyfriend.

She dated the western dude

long distance two years,

until they finally got married.

And they lived

happily ever after.

Well, close enough.

PAD 3 United

Symbiotic

The way a tree

Roots into the ground

Draws nourishment  

Casting leaves in return

The way its limbs and leaves

Reaches out to the sky

Giving, taking

Thriving

The way it grows

Toward the sun

Photosynthesizing

Providing shade for others

We flourish together

PAD 2 Surrender

That Day We Surrendered

All to each other

And as one

Donned a knitted sweater.

A beautiful sweater

Of bright, happy colors

Woven in perfect harmony.

Years went by.

We hardly noticed when

The sweater began to unravel.

After unemployment, two kids,

Bad decisions, dashed dreams, sickness

We wound up tangled in yarn.

Dark colors crept in.

Blood red, puke green, black.

It was an ugly sweater.

We noticed other sweaters.

We could untangle

And put them on instead.

But we begged Heaven

And God began to knit

With sharp needles.

Each needle stab pierced painfully

But we kept the bedraggled sweater

Through richer, poorer, sickness, health.

The new colors blended with the old

And strands of gold and silver

Thicker, warmer. More beautiful.

I’m glad we stayed in our sweater.