Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Emotion

Underlying

I'm grieving
I didn't realize it
My mind feels numb
A general sadness envelops me
I recognize it as how I felt
September 11, 2001
The bloody carnage isn't physical this time
Invisible
Unrecognized
Deadly 

Monday, June 29, 2015

based on photo

Companions

The weeping willow looked lumpy
like furniture draped for moving.
Behind it, slender hardwoods
stood straight and tall,
as they gazed upon the pond.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

from a photo

The Island

The island lie there lazily
in the blue sea
like a hippo in a river.
Foliage dotted its back.
Cottages gathered at its midsection
like nursing young.
Gray cliffs marked its back hip,
and reddish sands its rump. 

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Reaction

For God So Loved

Like parents fighting over
how to squeeze the toothpaste tube
while their children suffer
is the church with the issues.
What really matters is John 3:16.

Friday, June 26, 2015

morning prayer

Grace Floaties

I take a deep breath
and dive into You
like a refreshing pool
on a hot summer day
and let the worries
wash off me
like dust from my feet.

Before I go back
to the daily grind
I want to lie back
and rest in You,
feeling Your gentle love
lapping rhythmically
like whispering waves.

I breathe in Your freshness,
Your hope.
Your light.
Your peace.
Take away this tightness
of my soul,
this nervousness and fear.

Usher this stress off
to wander in the desert
while I delight
in Your verdant presence,
strength and joy.
I cast my care on You
because You care for me.








Thursday, June 25, 2015

PRPG mood

In the Moonlight

The white horse, indigo, in the moonlight
Its full mane flowing along
Dreamy shadows called from the ocean
Singing their age-old song

Come where there’s adventure
Come and you’ll be free
Forget all your worries and troubles
Come to the lovely sea

The rider, a wisp of a woman
Her violet hair waving as the mane
Answered the urgent calling
And was never seen again.

Come where there’s adventure
Come and you’ll be fee
Forget all your worries and troubles
Come to the lovely sea

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Poetic Asides Something shouted

Praise the Lord!

You’re designed to be a praiser
a worshiper and pray-er,
Not a grumbler, or scowler
a grouser or complainer.

To acknowledge how great He is
how good, loving, and kind.
This is what is good for you,
your body, soul, and mind.

6 23 15 PA something shouted

Duck!

He dropped to the ground,
when he heard the loud cry.
And them smiled with relief
when the duck waddled by. 

6 22 15 PA something shouted

Run!

He didn't have time to ask what or why.
He couldn't hear what they had to say. 
So he woke up right there in the hospital
Knowing he had run the wrong way. 

6 21 15 PA something shouted

Good Job!

While others gathered ‘round you,
shaking their heads with disbelief.
Asking, “Why? How could you?”
And there was no relief.

You smiled and said, “I must, that’s why.”
And they felt put upon.
They waited for you to quit.
But you just carried on.

Despite the discouragement,
the grousing and the frowns.
You went at it by the spoonful
and got that elephant down.

6 20 15 PA something shouted

Hurrah!

H ooray! Bravo! I am afraid I
U nderestimated you. Congratulations! You
R eached for the stars. You kept on going,
R adically insistent on pressing forward,
A lways pushing for the prize.
H ooray! Bravo! Good for you!

Friday, June 19, 2015

pa wordle doublespeak, astronomical, premium

His doublespeak
rockets aggravation
in astronomical ways.
Freedom comes at a premium
sparked by politicians these days. 

Thursday, June 18, 2015

PA wordle translucence, premium, whirligig

The translucence of her spirit
was at a premium 
while I felt like a whirligig
going round and round
in the wind. 

for 6 17 15

Stress

Fierce like a lion
spying a tasty tidbit.
Suffocating like an ocean
to a nonswimmer.
Heavy and confining
as a ball and chain.
is a ton of to-dos
without You.


Tuesday, June 16, 2015

from PSY 100

Optimistic Realist

Is there any way
to be a realist
and an optimist?
A wise person
once said that
the difference
between optimists
and pessimists 
is not the glass
-half-full-glass-
half-empty thing,
but optimists
seek solutions
to problems
whereas pessimists
put up with them.
Optimists
know the light
at the end
of the tunnel
isn’t always
a train. But
if it is,
God, like superman,
is more powerful
than a speeding
locomotive. 

Monday, June 15, 2015

haiku

Deadlines are looming
But I go outside and play
A need to refuel 

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Phoenix Rising Poetry Guild plot

Partnership

You wonder why
I stack things on my plate
Ceiling high
And don’t leave things to fate

I wonder why
You lazily sit there
Until you die
Playing solitaire

I get so busy
Driven by all my goals
Feeling dizzy
The projects taking tolls

Then you step in
And make up for my lack
With you, I win
Thanks for having my back

Saturday, June 13, 2015

from morning pages

Hi, Jesus

I picture You
in Your white robe
watching, observing, laughing.
Then You see me and come over.
You embrace me, hold me,
and kiss me on the top of the head.
And then You say,
“You’re so fun, Connie.”
Have a fun day. 

Friday, June 12, 2015

Poetic Asides Change

Change

C reating something new out of something old
H aving an urge to make things different
A lternate ways of doing things
N ew and improved
G radual or immediate
E ternal or temporal 

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Poetic Asides Change

June Showers

It is still raining.
I am not complaining.
That is nearly a crime in the southwest.
It rained almost every day in May.
It is still raining in June.
The radio announced a flash flood warning.
Usually at this time, the fire danger sign is red.
I feel like I am in one of those movies
where the main character walks out the door
and the whole world has changed.
It is strange.
Like instead of visiting Pennsylvania,
it has come to visit me. 

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

PG setting

Maine

The bay dipped into
the rocky coastline
as if inviting the coastal pines
in for a swim. 

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

PG setting

The mountains
circled the pool,
like a giant’s bathtub

PG setting

The Lake
  
Straggly trees covered the embankments
that flanked each side of the lake  
which stretched out to the blue sky.
A spattering of fluffy clouds drifted by.
The bench was up the slope a little ways,
perhaps far enough that when the water was high,
people stopping a spell to take in the scene
wouldn’t get their feet wet. 

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Phoenix Rising Guild setting


An After-Church Poem

I sit here in my green comfy chair
tapping the keys of my laptop.
The living room is open to the kitchen
where Vanessa pushes away from the table.
My husband wipes her face, while teasing.  
Vanessa erupts in a fit of giggles.
She pushes a button on her DynaVox,
“Loren is being crazy again.”
“Loren is being crazy again.”
“Loren is being crazy again.”
She laughs a deep belly laugh.
He wheels her out of the kitchen
so she can watch movies in her room.
Justin sits beside me in the next chair over.
With his knees up to his nose,
he’s falling asleep with his jingle bunny.
His arm is up with a jingle, jingle
then his arm slowly lowers
while his eyes close.
Then up his arm goes, jingle, jingle,
then back down.
Up again, jingle, jingle, back down.
I type my poem while the radio plays,
“Here I am on earth, so I’ll let my words be few.
Jesus, I am so in love with you.”


Last two lines by Matt Redman, also sung by Phillips, Craig & Dean

Saturday, June 6, 2015

couplets

My Poem to You, Lord

This is my poem to You
Not any words will do
Because you are just and good
I’d like to write what I should
Something that would make you smile
And make my time worthwhile
There’s a song deep within
Free from death and sin
A song of new life pure and sweet
Something beyond my own defeat.
Colors lively and full of life
Free from chaos and strife
Dancing and whirling about
Occasionally giving a shout
You sweep me off my feet.
You, dear Lord, cannot be beat.







Friday, June 5, 2015

pa shirt color and animal

Gray Goats

The old gray goats
With rumpled coats
Bah, and butt and nibble
And steal dear Frisky’s kibble
Frisky barks in great dismay.
The naughty goats run away.
Just to return another day. 

Thursday, June 4, 2015

pa color of shirt and animal

Brown Cat

How now brown cat
Slinking this way and that
Scurrying through the house
Toying with a little mouse
Then lying down for a nap

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Poetic Asides Color of shirt, animal

Multicolored Manatee

Drifts along
In shadowed water
Slow motion
Soulfulness  
Like a couch cushion with eyes
Keeping its secrets

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Phoenix Guild Person of Influence

Fifth Grade Teacher

You had a loud voice
and you thought my reading
was a wonderful thing.
Even when you weren’t my teacher,
when you saw me a with a book,
you would announce to all around,
“There she is reading another book!”
I wonder if you suspected
I’d be writing them someday.




Phoenix Guild Person of Influence

I
am not
one to put
people on high
pedestals but that
is where you were settled.
You looked down from lofty heights
and minimized me to a speck.
You who gave your life to help people.
Somehow, it didn’t work so well with me.