NaPoWrMo #29: For Dave

 Yesterday was full as my husband and I did music for a dear friend’s memorial service. Sometimes that pushes me to write, and sometimes it is too much. Yesterday was too much. I hope to finish a sonnet by the end of the month; I’m halfway through it. My little phone camera doesn't do the painting by Dave justice, and the poem about him is clunkier than I’d like it to be, as it does not do our friend justice, but here is a poem about our friend. Rest in peace, Dave.

 

Dave’s Portrait

Washed bright by color

You were like no other

Your gentle smile and manner

Were equal only to your candor

An easy laugh that tripped along

A forgiving song helping others to belong

You were a coach, a husband, a teacher, a father,

Curious about people who were never a bother,

You saw inside that was brought out in your art,

Guided by your Saviour’s heart,

I will miss your kindness

But I am happy you now experience bliss

Out of pain

Not having to strain

You are forever home,

Painting in shalom

Moon Bridge, Kubota Gardens, Seattle 

NaPoWrMo #25-28: A quartet of haiku

 I still don’t have the sonnet done, as it takes more thought and planning than some of my poetry attempts. I was over to my dear friend’s house tonight and yawning after a while, and she suggested just posting a haiku or two tonight. Clever idea, as I am bushed here at the end of the week. So, a quartet of haiku that encapsulates some moments in our evening.

 

Sweet Ones

Good friends faces at home

A friendly dog herds small boy

This memory binds us

 

Devil Among Us

One never knows one

Who might not be who they seem

Forward face is false

 

Foundational Forts

Girl speaks from woman

Sparkle talk of pillow forts

Waves goodbye in rush

 

Licorice Soldiers

Warm wallflowers silent guards

Standing witness to cool green

Fire ring of peace 

                                                                     

 

NaPoWrMo: Happy Earth Day!!!

This isn't the tree from my poem, but I didn't think to take a picture of it in the streetlamp tonight, but this is the right species and color.

Ode to a Parking Lot Redbud

Oh, the redbud tree

I walk by you daily

Rushing from my car

Into school and barely

Seeing the changes

Until you unfurl your buds

Fusha bright bursts

Like pink popcorn

Drenched in candy's bright coating

That says, “Look at me!”

I want to stare into

Your color and laugh

The streetlamp above

Sets your hair to be

Like warm slow fire

With highlights dancing

Lifted by wind and misty rain

Your visual shivers of mirth

As the cold spring rain

Drenches your blooms

And you shake your head

Defiant in the spotlight

Performing your tender dance

Throughout the night

NaPoWriMo #21 & 22: Something old and something older as nothing is really new

 Last night I read through journals and found an old poem I wrote back in 2013, also about the Emmaus Road as that part of scripture has oft captured my imagination. I added a few new lines to it as it seemed unfinished. I'll post it underneath tonight's original poem on this page. Thinking of Tommy tonight, this coming June will have been 20 years since he’s been gone. I cannot believe it.

 Y? Because He Loves You

He has such a sweet face

If people see him in my office

They think I must be a fan

But no, he sits there

Because he was a gift

I came home to him

Sitting on my bed

Smiling up at me

I squealed with glee

Not because of him

But because you had

Thought of me

Given me this

Childish gift

I was a child

A teen but to you

Who was my very much older brother

And you knew so little of my taste

Except that I liked

Soft cherubic supercilious

Companions that covered my bed

This famous mouse

I did not have one thing

That had his portrait

But I cling to him now

For you are long gone

And he still sits

Reminding me

That you did think

About me enough

To give me something

That would put a smile on my face

As he whispers how much

My brother loved me

That is what I think of

When I see him now

I see you laughing

At this adorable mouse

And how you knew I would

Love him and you for

Surprising me

By leaving him

As that message

that you loved me too

______________________________________

The Emmaus Road Well Traveled 4/10/2013

Shadows of the past sung in the present

I hear choirs of field workers

treading the muddy paths

Doves fly near, swooping and swirling

training our hearts

Our loving God listens

every day moments

deeply and passionately loved

We belong to him

We are his

He walks behind, beside, and before us

He listens as we rage

not noticing as he gently pulls ahead

to walk up the stone-filled pathway

 until we try with all our strength 

not to slip on stones rolling beneath our feet

My hand flies up and out 

grasping for some sort of balance

only to be met by 

the strong grasp above me

pulling me up 

to stand at the top of that hill

And I offer my hand to you

as we cast our eyes

where we've been

and where we are headed

He waits until we are ready

to move on

hearing his story anew

NaPoWriMo #20: Something to say about the road to Emmaus

 My Story of Emmaus

Minding my own business

I wonder what that is

As someone drops in rhythm

Beside me, matching step for step

No profound words

Just a strong presence

Holding me firm

To keep on the path

Moving forward

Steady on

Raising my eyes

To what surrounds me

And take in the amazing view

How it is changing

Season by season

Chapter by chapter

Names rushing by at such speed

I can’t remember

Who was the one who

Put me on this

Tripterous trail

Yet you are there

With every etymological discovery

That digs into each origin

That splits me into multiple

Spaces that hold

More than I will ever know

You hold my hand

As we saunter

Down this bumpy pathway

Making sure I will not fall

Or turn my ankle on a small stone

If I do, you wrap it and tell me

To stop and rest

Breathe through the pain

Watch the healing begin

I complain, and you soothe

You wait with me

A stumble, a spill, a plunge

You pick me up and patch

Whatever needs mending

Till we can journey on

Break bread together

Where I recognize

My companion

Is my savior

That has fed me

Every step of the way

NaPoWrMo: #18 & 19: On the road and in the woods

I left for a women's retreat, and there was no Wifi in my cabin last night to post, but now I've figured out that the dining hall has the good Wifi. I was driving last night, literally lost with only written directions and none on my phone because my phone is stupid. I was thinking what a metaphor that is for life, but the poem did not turn out as good as I had thought in my head. Maybe I’ll work on this later. I did write it on the 16th.

 

On the Road Again

Driving to a new destination

For rest and renewal

With only written directions

No connection to show me the way

I’ve seen the map

But not taken in

How far it really is

Every turn I wonder

Am I headed in the right direction?

Did I miss a turn?

Are these directions correct

I don’t want to wreck

It is hard to be alone

Without a working phone

It is hard to swallow

Hoping that you can follow

My senses are heightened

And I’m a little frightened

Thinking I’ve gone too far

Is that the first star?

There is a road that matches

And I think that patch is

Where I’m supposed to be

I get there eventually

A sigh of relief for me 

Morning Court

The rumbling of a low-pitched lawn mower

A buzzing bee chasing through with a fly in pursuit

Daffodils shriveled from being too early

and tight buds unfurling their bright gems

 in spring’s second sprint towards summer

bird’s solo becomes a chorus

of chirps, tweets, and whistles

that tickle my mind of what

the singer looks like and why they sing

ringing throughout the woods

that invites me into its inner sanctum

of golden early morning light

is reflected off the glittering bright leaves up high

and rolls over the thick carpet of moss and fungi

which decorates a lounge of loveliness

inviting me to stay and linger

by the welcome of flowers

peeking shy heads above

a courtroom filled with winter’s

discarded brown, grey, and yellow clothing

the white with blushing plum petaled faces

turn to welcome the growing glow

 

NaPoWrMo #16 & 17: Walking with my beliefs

 

I missed a poem on the 15^th, but now it is April 16, 2026., hence 2 poems tonight.

 The Walk

Stepping out my front door

Filling my lungs with

Fresh washed air

It is moist

Fortified with mist

Heated with early

Spring sunshine

That the green

Lush, tangled undergrowth

Steam rises off of it

to connect with the morning

Producing a silent yawn

Opening the day

Pulling back the curtain

Showing what is on stage

With daring purples, pulsing yellow,

Touches of red, white, and pink

Glittering with wet crystal-like droplets

of the overnight sassy storm

crunch of the gravel underneath my feet

as I embrace this revitalized world

who welcomes me to leave

the thunder and rain behind

 

A Firm Foundation

Belief is an unshakeable promise

To hang on to the unseen

The manifestation of  a single focus

That postulates precisely what

One knows what happens in the darkest night

And in the most gloriously bright day

Belief is someone that is more than something

That drives hard into what one can put into words

It is actively believing in oneself

That they are correct in holding this credence

Examining it and turning it over

To see what is on the very bottom

What makes it stand upright

What gives that foundation

Even when no one else thinks

They are right

It is knowing they are correct

And can conquer the doubts

Despite not being able

To see what is over that fence

And to break out of the cell

Beliefs break them out to be free

not caring  who sees them dance

to the music in their own band

knowing they have won