Wednesday, May 31, 2017

PAD 18 life or death

A Lady I Know

She was a bossy, confident lady, a tad annoying,
the kind that tucked your tag in, if it was sticking out,
or picked lint off your sweater while you were trying to listen to a sermon.

She was gung-ho enthusiastic, sometimes trampling over quiet ones,
a bit of a bulldozer or a hurricane storming through.
Full of life and joy, she glided along like a surfer on a high wave.

But when her husband of fifty plus years died,
she transformed into a lost little girl
searching for someone to hold her hand
and help her find her way again.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

PAD 18 life or death

Live!

Watch the variegated, changing sunset
Admire the wild flowers in charming array
View the world from the mountain top
Gaze into the eyes of loved ones

Gasp at majestic mountain wonders
Listen to the cacophony of bird calls
Hear the chatter of children as they play
Revel in the infinite notes of music

Taste sweet, salty, bitter, delicious foods
Savor a feast with friends and family
Try new mouth-watering recipes
Experience tasty food with thanksgiving

Let a baby’s fingers curl around yours
Snuggle in a soft blanket on a crisp night
Caress strong shoulders of a loved one
Bask in the morning sun on a busy day

Sniff memory-inducing perfume
Smell a turkey roasting in the oven
Whiff fresh-washed air after the rain
Breathe in lilacs in spring

Walk, hike, run, climb, scramble
Learn, grow, skip, dance, twirl, sing
Build, create, draw, paint, write, worship
Live!

Monday, May 29, 2017

PAD 18 life or death


The Voice

We’ve found ourselves in an awkward situation,
on earth under the skies looking for hope.
We whisper, cry, shout about the inevitable,
when our eyes close for the last time,
some fearful, some apathetic, some expectantly
waiting for the voice to call their names
in warm and welcoming tones.  

Sunday, May 28, 2017

PAD 17 Dance

Dancing

Whirling to the rhythm
dancing to the beat,
this would be a lot more fun
if I had not two left feet.

Saturday, May 27, 2017

PAD 17 Dance

Do Over

If I could do it all again,
I’d dance more
and not worry about
looking so proper.
Sometimes joy
flows from the feet.

Friday, May 26, 2017

PAD 17 Dance

Dancing with the Stars

On a Caribbean cruise,
my daughter and I
danced with the stars.

We looked like two
of the three stooges,
but we had fun.

We had our picture taken
with Florence Henderson
before her star went out.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

PAD 16 Blank System

Religious System

Religion is a systematic way
to approach God
like a vending machine.
You put the change in and hope
for the blessings to pop out.

Christianity is an adoption
into a wonderful family
that brings change and blessing.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

PAD 16 blank system

Security System

My daughter has a security system
that makes me feel insecure.
I never can remember the number
or what buttons to push
and I don’t know if I can leave the house
without setting off the alarm
fetching and annoying police
and costing an extra fifty. 

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

PAD 16 blank system

System

S o you have a routine, So
Y ou have a procedure
S o you have a logic you can’t shake. Your
T echnique of living gets old. You
E xpect more in a day, but practice makes perfect. There is a
M ethod to this madness. Having a system makes sense.

Monday, May 22, 2017

PAD 15 One Time


One Time

One time
you slipped
a ring
on my finger
and I said
I will.

Once is enough. 

Sunday, May 21, 2017

PAD 15 One Time


One Time

Jesus sat
at the right hand
of the Father.

Now believers
sit with Him
in heavenly places.

And the Father
listens
with attentive ears.

Saturday, May 20, 2017

PAD 15 one time

Ziplining

They said I was brave
for ziplining,
but if I’m truly brave
I’d do it again,

There’s only so many times
you can talk yourself
Into walking out into thin air.
That day, we did many times. 

I may have reached my quota.

Friday, May 19, 2017

PAD 14 Popular Saying

Drawing a Blank

Whenever I draw a blank,
which is getting more often,
I think of how my dad
went through all the stages
of Alzheimer’s till death.
And then I scramble,
making myself remember. 

Thursday, May 18, 2017

PAD 14 Popular saying

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

I met a guy in a bar named Frank. Really.
We went four-wheeling in his jeep.

Somewhere in the middle of
God-knows-where Wyoming, we got stuck.

The jeep angled down against a boulder.
The back tires spun in loose dirt.

He worked hard and I manned the jeep,
almost squishing him against the rock.

Whenever I hear, “Between a rock
and a hard place,” I think of that night.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

PAD 14 Popular saying

Hold Your Horses

She’s fifty-six, childlike,
and used to getting her way.

Non-verbal, with useless legs,
dependent on others all her life.

Gets her point across
with a variety of sounds and signals.

Knows what she wants,
wants it now, insistent.

I must have said, “Hold your horses,”
a million times in the past fourteen years.

And it always makes her laugh.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

PAD 13 Family

Around the Table

The seven us, packed tightly around the kitchen table,
laden with garden veggies and meat from field or stream,
sat in our designated places at dinner and supper
and had lively conversations about how the day went.

I always leaned my chair back on two legs.
Mom told me to stop or I’d fall, but I never did.
My three older sisters moved out one summer.
It got quiet at our house with just my little sister and me.

That year, our church hired a summer youth pastor.
We took turns having him over for supper each week.
We chatted calmly around the table, with elbow room.
Then one week my three sisters came home for a visit.

We squeezed the pastor in and I’ll never forget his face.
His head bobbed trying to keep up with the conversation.
His eyes wide, he wore a half-dazed expression as if he
wondered what kind of hurricane was passing through.

There’s nothing like big family noise around the table.

Monday, May 15, 2017

PAD 13 family

Family Bond

Like ropes with many twisted strands
Like muscles move our bodies on
Like boards and nails build a great house
The bond of family makes us strong

Like drops of rain can make a flood
Like lots of links make gold chains long
Like flakes of snow can cover all
The bond of family makes us strong

Like glue holds things together tight
Like many notes make up a song
Like lots of hands make hard work light

The bond of family makes us strong

Sunday, May 14, 2017

PAD 13 family

Our Cat

Our cat takes control
She treasures her bowl
She keeps
She teaches our role
With comfort her goal
She sleeps
Makes family whole
She gives us more soul
She leaps

Saturday, May 13, 2017

PAD 12 Guilty

Fence Repair

When you say you will, but you don’t
When you know you should, but you won’t
When you hurt instead of heal
When you ignore how others feel
When you make it hard for them to stay afloat

When you pushed them to wits ends
When you’ve alienated friends
Don’t waste another day
Just be on your way.
Ask for forgiveness, make amends 

Friday, May 12, 2017

Thursday, May 11, 2017

PAD 12 Guilty

Most Voters

Half the people
in this nation
think I did
something terrible,
but I’d do it again. 

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

PAD 12 Guilty acrostic

Guilt

G ut-wrenching 
U ltimate self-punishment
I nner turmoil
L oss of confidence
T ime alone doesn’t heal

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

PAD 12 Guilt acrostic

Guilty

G od forgive me for me for all the bad things I’ve done. Help me 
U nderstand what pleases you and what doesn’t.
I tend to do what I want to do and am very weak at self-control.
L ord, change my heart and help me be about Your business.
T oday, I want to do those things that make You happy. Help me remember
Y ou love me and You only want what is good for Your people.

Monday, May 8, 2017

PAD 11 sonnet

Breaking Chains

A fear resides within my thoughts today.
I walk along a garden path to think.
For I am growing restless as I pray.
The earth is sitting on a slippy brink.

My faith is not as strong as it should be.
When He returns, will my faith be in Him?
He gave it all, so I could have the key.
My lack of faith is keeping me so grim.

I’m like a baby, not a grown adult. 
I’m hungry for sweet milk instead of steak.
Unsuited to be brave, this is my fault.
I hold on to the thoughts that make me shake.

But His red blood flows deep within my veins.
He gives me what it takes to break fear’s chains.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

PAD 11 sonnet

No Time Not to Pray

The power lies within, or so they say.
The job controls the many tasks I do.
But I take time to seek the Lord and pray,
Dismissing things that throw my faith askew.

Sometimes I take steps forward and then back
And learned that it saves time when I pray first.
As deep calls unto deep, I get on track.
A praying habit gets me through the worst.

It’s natural to feel there is no time.
I mean so well, but I forget my need.
Believing things will soon just turn out fine,
Forgetting I need His grace to succeed.

It’s not a risk that I should dare to take.
When I skip prayer, it leads to a mistake.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

PAD 11 sonnet

Surfing Lesson

With fuss and flurry, they’re off to the beach.
The water waits so restlessly in waves.
In their black suits, he’s with her there to teach.
He points to rolling, rumbling surf she braves.

Her courage fades as she carries her board,
But there’s enough left to give it a try.
That fateful day, she had given her word.
No time to ponder flimsy reasons why.

She paddles out and jumps with the next wave.
But soon is tossed aloft into the drink.
He offers to quit, but she doesn’t cave.
She’ll catch the next one, with no time to think.

So back at it again, with many tries,
She plants her feet and feels as if she flies. 

Friday, May 5, 2017

PAD 10 travel dizain

One More to Go

So far I’ve traveled to forty-nine states
All but Hawaii left to discover
I’m glad to say we have reserved the dates
I’ll go with sisters, but not my lover
And my daughter, too, but not her brother
We will swim at the beach at Waikiki
There will be so much to do and to see
Touring and luaus will be so thrilling
I might even buy a ukulele
I sure do hope that the Lord is willing

Thursday, May 4, 2017

PAD 10 travel bref double

Off My Rocker

It doesn’t take long when I’m at home
For me to get that itch to travel
Blue skies, new scenery, unmet friends call
Enticing me to drive, fly, bus, get going

I don’t know if I’ll ever lose that urge
Can’t imagine not wanting to roam
I love hiking, biking, swimming, adventures
Out on the lake, rafting or rowing

To explore the forest or feel ocean foam
Ziplining, dog sledding, jet skiing
They don’t think I’ll dare, but I show’em
Someday will I sputter and stall?

I’ll mount a motor cycle shiny with chrome
Next sit in my rocker wrapped in my shawl

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

PAD 9 So blank, triolet

So You Want to be a Writer?

So you want to be a writer?
Writers write, you know.
Your schedule’s getting tighter.
So you want to be a writer?
Load’s not getting any lighter.
Write, even though.
So you want to be a writer?
Writers write, you know.

Monday, May 1, 2017

PAD 9 So blank, tricube

So I Wrote It

Thoughts won’t come.
Feeling tired
Clock ticks on.

No vision
No feelings
Where’s the muse?

A tricube
Three, three, three
Here it is.