Parents
of
teens
with countercurrent emotional pain
find their hair in retreat
and their nerves inflamed
while their own
crepuscular
philosophies
dash for
life
boats
and
preservers.
Ed. note… “Dictionary Roulette” entrees take three randomly
chosen words from the dictionary to be used as key ingredients
for a poem.
In our moderate to the extreme climate
a day such as today
with its temp. in the mid-70s
causes us to plumb wilt away.
Those experiencing degrees such as 117
would stand aghast and wonder how this could be.
82? Oh, the horror! How do you carry on?
But we’ll just start up a new chain gang song
about humidity
and weep like Job on a not so merry day.
“Honey! Come look!!”
“What is it? Are you alright?”
“My forehead is wet! Should I take something for it?”
“Here, have a seat and a glass of iced tea. I think it
may be sweat, but to be safe I’ll Google it.
Better yet, I’ll check Web MD.”
You have heard,
“Just be happy and follow your heart.”
and it was doubtless
said with good intention.
A thousand self-help books
more or less
make that mention.
But our hearts must be surrendered daily
if we hope to be happy
and free,
and the choice
to follow Jesus
is the wisest of
elections.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Early on in our relationship, I found out that my wife could read my mind.
Okay, you’re thinking, that’s just a wife thing. I mean, guys are pretty obvious, right?
The thing is, she really has a knack for it. I don’t begin to understand how it works, but
when I figured out it was happening, we had to come to an agreement. The agreement was
that if I thought something that wouldn’t exactly be conducive to marital bliss, but didn’t
say it out loud, she had to give me credit for not vocalizing what was on my mind. That’s fair,
don’t you think? Thank the Lord, she’s held up to her end of the bargain. At the same time,
my thought life is better than it was when I was younger. I thank God for that too.
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Psalm 139:1-6
give me all of that memory
or none of it at all
the day when we first met
you know you passed me in the hall
could I have seen through the next 30 years
bouncing up and down like a ball
give me all of that memory
or none of it at all
to savor and linger
just like our first kiss
you know that special memories
are made of stuff like this
not bound by laws of time
or gravity
all of those moments in between
mean that much to me
give me all of that memory
or none of it at all
every last frame
like stills on the wall
the rooms that we passed through
processed every sound
all of that memory
or none of it at all
the virtue of patience
if the truth is told
comes more easily
as one grows old(er)
as hair grows gray
and eyes distant
chairs more attractive
hills resistant
wisdom dictates
a more clever path
than the one trod before
when I was a lad
This coming Monday in the United States we celebrate Memorial Day. Originally known as Decoration Day, it was started as a way to remember all those combatants who died in battle during the Civil War. Since then it has come to include all those who have died in U.S. military service.
That photograph you’re looking at,
the young man with the grin.
There’s a sparkle in his eye that hints at
the joy and light within.
He didn’t live to become an old man,
but I remember him.
Then there’s the portrait of the nurse following
graduation with her class. She served in the
Pacific during WW II. You could tell her she helped
so many, but to her it would always be too few.
I remember her.
For those who died in the heat,
for the ones who passed in the cold,
holding tightly letters in weary hands
that spoke of work, family, home.
Some brought courage with them.
Some found courage there.
Some found courage with hands firmly clasped
and lips uttering prayer.
Whether young or old,
timid or bold,
we honor them all
as their stories are told
and we gather near the flame
lit in their memory.
We tell their stories,
and we remember.
Going to the store?
Yes, I’ll go. Sure, I’ll go.
Please, can I go too?
Anywhere you go, is where I want to be.
I want to go with you.
Lift me up onto your shoulders.
I’m taller than everyone.
Give me your rough hands
to use for reigns;
we’ll ride off toward the sun.
Going to the beach?
Yes, I’ll go. Sure, I’ll go.
Please, can I go too?
Anywhere you go, is where I want to be.
I want to go with you.
Sand is a world of adventure.
We’ll put it in my sandbox.
The ocean gives it up for free.
God knows I like to play.
Anywhere. Anything. Anyhow. Anywho.
Anywhat. Anyone. Anyis. Anydo.
Yes, I’ll go. Sure, I’ll go.
I want to be with you.
I want to go with you.
Even though the first day of May isn’t for a few hours yet, it’s May somewhere. Here’s a poem in honor of the month.
Some folks celebrate May Day, there’s Cinco de Mayo, and don’t forget Mother’s day, but I think we should celebrate the whole month in honor of what its name signifies: permission.
Take a stroll on a sunny, windy day?
You May.
Stay up late before you hit the hay?
You May.
Pluck petulant pansy petals so more will have their way?
You May.
Get deep into Spring cleaning to get ready for Summer days?
You May.
May’s the month with a built in okay for every good thing.
It’s the correct word for misapplied cans. It’s a great time
for early sunning at the beach, be you any age woman or man.
It’s a month for pushing Winter out the door,
and putting Spring flowers to bed.
You might have your own favorite month, it’s true,
but my fave
is that month after April
and right before June
called May.
Just before or after last Christmas I decided to be more consistent with my writing by resurrecting a WordPress blog that had been dormant for quite some time. I had recently received a lot of encouragement and it gave me the incentive to write more poetry. While putting together the new blog I noticed a challenge put out by WordPress to post every day for 2013. I decided to give it a try and let everyone who read my blog know by putting the badge on my cover page. Today will be my 137th post. Accounting for a few days that I’ve posted more than once, that means I’ve posted over 130 days in a row. I’m looking forward to doing the whole 365.
There have been a lot of great things to come out of writing and publishing every day. For one, it has forced me to investigate different kinds of writing. I’ve explored poetry, song writing, devotionals, and humor. Along the way, I’ve gotten to know fellow bloggers who also believe strongly in writing, especially writing that moves them. I’ve had days when I thought I had written something relevant, only to get little in the way of results. But then I’ve had other days when I wasn’t all that thrilled with what I had put out, only to get lots of positive comments. It continues to be a fantastic learning experience and I just want to sincerely thank everyone who has read, commented, and shown me how fun and rewarding blogging can be. God continues to bless it. It’s my prayer that He is honored by what I write.
Write here, Joel. 