Tuesday, March 31, 2015

From QT

Golden Education

I’ve listened to countless sermons
extolling wisdom and warning against
becoming an educated idiot.
Knowledge is an accumulation of facts.
Wisdom is knowing how to apply it.
Yes, wisdom is more important
but we’re to choose education over gold,
in other words, be willing to pay for it
with time, energy, and money
and trust God it will be worth it,
coupled with the wisdom He provides.

Monday, March 30, 2015

QT prayer


Done with the Armadillo Costume

When someone needy comes to me
for help I often act like an armadillo,
curling up within myself for protection,
offering only a hard shell. Lord,
help me put aside the excuses:
no money, no time, I can’t,
but allow myself to be vulnerable
and see what I have available
to help those people You send me,
assuming that if You directed them to me,
You have also given me the power to act.
At the very least, I can pray for that person,
and trust You to  provide the answer.
Lord, grant me supernatural love
and courage to help those in need.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

from my quiet time

God is Faithful

How many times have I tried to get up early
to pray and have either fallen asleep,
or have become distracted by family or Facebook?
So many times that I don’t feel guilty about it anymore.
Because I know that though I’m not faithful, God always is.
If I send my Z’s to heaven I know He’s there still loving me.
If a family member stands before me,
I know that He himself may have sent them my way.
And if I get distracted by Facebook,
I know He’s even there, teaching me, loving me
through my “friends”, or loving them through me.
And when I do have a truly quiet time,
when all my attention is on Him,
He’s faithfully waiting, keeping His promise
to draw close to me as I draw close to Him.
He’s faithful to listen attentively to my prayers and answer them.
He’s faithful to fill me with the Holy Spirit when I ask Him to.
He’s faithful to comfort and strengthen me.
And I always wonder why I haven’t run to Him sooner,
why I let myself be so caught up with this life.
And I ask Him to forgive me for being too in love with the world.
And He’s so faithful that He does. 

Saturday, March 28, 2015

PA settled

Tummy Ache

My unsettled steak
lies in my stomach
and it feels like
a big bull dog is in there, too,
growling, working it over.

I’m round and fat, like I’m expecting.
I’m expecting that I’ll learn
to develop better eating habits someday.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Poetic Words

The wispy cirrus clouds
Danced in the moonlight
Like fairies’ gossamer dresses.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

PA water

Rain

Drenching rain
Soaking skin
Warm
Fresh mixed scent of grass, earth, lilacs
Drumming
Trees dancing in wind
Life in raindrops

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

a poem

What’s Around Me?

My computer and cat are on my lap.
To my right on the end table:
A glass of water,
A clock with two magazines
and a book on top,
Two pot holders,
My Kindle on
a stack of books.
To my left on the other end table,
the phone and an empty spot for my computer.
Behind that an antique stool
with a viny plant
in a crock that used to be
what Mom made pickles in.
Things are funny things.

PA prepare

Prepare

In preparing
for April PAD month
I’ve got to reassure myself
that it really doesn’t matter.
I’ve got to lower my expectations
so I won’t trip up on perfectionism
or fear of my idea well running dry.
Instead, I’ll make it my goal
to write a useless poem,
and then If I manage
to squeeze in time to write,
I’ll just write words,
like I’m doing now
and maybe I’ll end up
with just a pile of words.
Or maybe
I’ll actually write
something worth reading. 

Monday, March 23, 2015

accrostic

Integrity

I  must
N  ot compromise on the
T  ruth, fudge on my duties or
E mbellish reality, not test
G race to the extreme or
R eact by giving
I n to peer pressure, but
T rust things will go okay according to
Y our plan when I do what’s right.

prayer

Do you still do fleeces, Lord.
Because I have one out now.
Or will I be flreeced?

Phoenix Rising anti poem

Contraction Ban

My husband says
I am getting smartified,
going to college,
but more like mystified,
because I cannot use contractions,
which is just plain silly.

Just think of how many unnecessary
words I will use because
I will not be able to use contractions.
When I am done with college
you will see that
I will use contractions.

Friday, March 20, 2015

prayer

Spendthrift

If I spent my money
like I spent my time,
I’d be broke before long
with so much to spend it on.
With my time,
I’m like delusional people,
thinking they’re rich,
spending money they don’t have.
If I filled my plate
like I loaded my to-do list,
I’d be called a glutton.
We only have 24 hours in a day.
Lord, help me practice restraint
with commitments and plans.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Poetic Asides photo prompt

Painted
-after La Spezia, Italy

Little houses
painted on the hillside
whispering secrets
hushed by the sea.
Like celebrities,
they’re there for all to see,
but for few to know.


Wednesday, March 18, 2015

from a photograph

Secrets

The castle wall peeked out from the bushes,
as If something that large could hide.
A balcony jutted from one of the windows,
a nice place for Rapunzel.
Maybe the large lodging didn’t hold captive
long-haired damsels in distress,
but it had its secrets.
Like an overgrown wall can’t be hidden,
secrets spill out, eventually. 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

from Mark 10:13-16

The Children

What were the children thinking
when they sat on Jesus’s lap?
When they heard Him scold the disciples
for trying to keep them away?
When He put His hands on their heads
and blessed them?
Were they thinking of wading in the river?
Catching a fish?
Eating honey cakes?
Since Jesus prayed for them,
what became of them as adults?
Did they look back and remember? 

Monday, March 16, 2015

dinzain elegy

Kathy

I miss the glint of mischief in your eyes.
The jokes just bubbled there beneath your skin,
Your wisdom and compassion in disguise.
You’d tease and boast and rub our errors in,
And out for blood when playing games to win.
But you’d be first to meet somebody’s need.
No one would dare accuse you of misdeed.
And we complain you left this earth too soon.
To keep you to ourselves would just be greed.
I’m sure you’re glad up there above the moon.

Phoenix Guild Alouette

Living Doll

Like a living doll
Smiles at one and all
Legs straight out in her wheelchair
Greets you with a squeal
Hugs you a great deal
And you know that it’s not fair

At that you feel blessed
To have such a guest
And you’d like to treat her right
Make up for her pain
Sun instead of rain
Yet like her, accept her plight 

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Poetic Asides If I Were

Another Life

If I were a skilled mountain climber
I would live life to the fullest,
experiencing literal and
allegorical highs few experience,
and I’d make it my goal to die climbing,
thus every venture would be a success.   

Poetic Asides Animal

Tiger

T erribly graceful
I t prowls and
G rowls and sneaks
E ver closer to its prey,
R uns then pounces. 

Poetic Asides- based on a movie

In the Woods

Every day, on the school bus,
we drove past the drive
with a no-trespassing sign.

And I wondered what was down there
deep in the woods
 where no one could see.

Maybe M. Night Shyamalan
had a similar experience in his childhood
and dreamed up The Village.

My cousin boasted that she had ridden
down there along with our grandfather
to deliver garden seed to a monastery.

She took all the fun out of it. 

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Poetic Asides shelter

The hut sat like a stout toad
It’s roof like a Victorian lampshade
It’s pole legs looked as if it would tire
of being landlocked and wade into the sea.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

from a photo

The coastal city lit up in a half circle.
Clouds glowed purple, reflected in an indigo bay.
Mysteries seemed to whisper from its depths.
A shadowy mountain lurked in the distance.

limerick

A man once tired of the rut
Began to feel like a nut
So with his wife Lily
Went off to Kauai
And now they live in a hut 

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Poetic Asides self-portrait

Me

I’m from the little red house on a hill
in a wooded valley.
The creek, the same as my last name,
flows through my veins.
I’m made of snowball fights,
sled riding, buttercups and violets,
hiking hills and climbing trees,
touch-me-nots and tiger lilies.
I thrived on trout, venison, and rabbit.
rusty coat apples and elderberries.
I’m the fabric of many relatives
and loyal friends, and four sisters,
a hard-working dad a giving mom.
My heart beats to the tune
of an open road and faraway places.
I breathe in God’s grace
and drink in His love.

Poetic Asides Night

Night

In the darkness
Little imps play tricks
Turning things topsy-turvy
Tempting, teasing, tossing about lies
Like leprechauns their gold
At sunrise they tiptoe off
And reason returns

Friday, March 6, 2015

Poetic Asides Milestones

Milestones

Like so many pebbles along the road
Meaningless,
If destination remains unreached

Thursday, March 5, 2015

PA Prompt Since...

Since I Went Back to College

Since I went back to college
it feels like my life has rebooted,
rather than just about to wind down.
I don’t have delusions of winning a grand career,
other than the one I already have.
When I get my degree, it may persuade editors
that I really do know what I’m talking about.

But in these last decades or so,
I’m not too worried about what editors think.
I’ll self publish what I’ve written over the years,
except with a few more footnotes and better grammar.
And if some day a reader, searching for answers,
or, at least, interesting questions happens upon
my writing and gets to know You better,
then it will all be worth it, even the college degree.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

PG rhyme

A River

A river carries me
It’s choices that I’ve made
Oh, who is in control?
I’m helpless in its flow

At times I feel betrayed
And set adrift at sea
Adrift, lost and alone
And then the cold winds blow

Oh, where is my reprieve?
Am I a hopeless case?
In this, I am set free
In Him I’ll be made whole

A river carries me.
Oh, He is in control!


PG rhyme

Poeming on the Go

Just a quick rhyme
When I don’t have the time
With the duo in the morning
And the new day adorning
In sunshine and snow
We’ll soon be on the go
Time to get some tea
And breakfast for them and me.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Poetic Asides Careless

Lackadaisical Day

O, give me a lackadaisical day
One to while my time away
One when nothing gets done
Just a little rest and fun

Let the dishes pile up high
All those toys, let them lie
May the computer and the phone
Know what it’s like to be left alone

The paperwork can gather dust
It doesn’t matter about the must
For I’ll be out in the fresh air
Enjoying having not a care

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Phoenix Rising anti-love poem

Absent

You  may not think
I noticed the distance between us
when we’re standing side by side.
Your words are warm and friendly,
while your eyes go right past my head.
I remember when I kissed Mom in the coffin.
It’s like that.