Are my hands open,
gently reaching?
Arms linked
in cooperation
Ears open to
understanding
—Or—
Are my hands clenched
into tight fists?
Arms stoically held
across my chest
Ears closed,
even to my own voice
I have choices-
And my choices
offer clues as to the
health of my heart
May my hands remain open
My arms graciously linked
And my ears, intent on listening
Simply Sunday
Take the photo
out of the frame
Hold it in your hand
Feel the precious paper
between your fingers
Study the image
An image someone
chose to capture
Were you there?
Was it before your time?
Is the one pictured
someone you know?
Someone you miss?
Perhaps it is a place
that holds meaning
Or simply beautiful scenery
Take the photo
out of the frame
Hold it in your heart
I wrote this after digging through photos at Mom’s last weekend. School photos, trips, holidays…family. I brought a few of them home. ❤️
Let Go of the Rope
I am standing in a field
holding tight to the
middle of a rope
A foolish attempt to
bring balance in an
unexpected tug-of-war
On my right, grief
grips the cord
with all its might
On my left, love
holds firm
Always fierce
Suddenly, I understand-
Neither one can let go
They are forever bound
Now I’m faced with a choice-
Allow the tug-of-war
to continue within me
or let go of the rope
Reach for images,
past and present,
patiently waiting in
the back of my mind
Watch, as grief and love
fall into each other,
simultaneously releasing
laughter and tears
I am lying in a field
having let go
of the rope-
Exhausted, grateful, content
Simply Sunday
Pearls of Wisdom
Their formation takes years-
A process hidden from sight
in the depths of the heart
A heart learning to wrap
life’s difficult bits
in opalescent layers
of mercy and grace
Not ignoring the irritants,
only processing-
Some taking longer to
transform than others
Yet, each one eventually
emerges- Iridescent gifts
of hope, love, and wisdom
A delicate string of
pearls, not displayed
around the neck, but in
the affectionate smiles of
those standing the closest
Morning Minute
Yesterday morning’s fog
held a tinge of pale pink
A slight relief from
recent grays
There was something
varied in its lifting as well
No intention of completely
disappearing into emerging
sunbeams – only hiding
for a bit – waiting for
an opportunity to once
again share its surprising tint
Patience – let the soft hues
permeate your dreams-
And who knows, your
soul may be soothed by
an appearance of peaceful
pink in tomorrow’s sunrise-
If you remember to look
A Shared Lament
Like unwanted vines
choking a rose bush, it
blocks the sun and rain
until delicate buds,
nearly ready to bloom
Whither and fade-
Their true colors
never allowed to
grace the garden
I would miss your
beautiful colors
even more than
those of the roses
So, let’s face our
grief together, and
let tears fall like a steady
rain, reviving wilted buds
And with open arms
invite others who are
hurting to join us until
we are wholly comforted
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5: 4
Simply Sunday
Trumpeter Swan
Before taking flight
your snow white wings
gracefully expand
above the water
Scalloped feet paddle below-
An unseen source of
strength supporting
your angelic dance
An unseen
Source of
Strength
Not strength
displayed with
force, but instead,
filtered through grace
Each gesture
a reminder-an
ethereal expression
of eternal affection
Book Cover Reveal
Available March 15, 2026!
A big thanks to Raw Earth Ink! And also to my friend, Bill McCloud, for the following:
“Kelley Morris deciphers cloud shapes as an attempt to understand the world, and her place in it. It’s a comfort read that will bring a sense of calm into your life at a time when we need it the most. Her dialogue with the sky is not done in a naïve manner, but with eyes wide open. Reading her work is breathtaking.” Bill McCloud, author of The Error of the Stars
Winter Wisdom
My breath catches
in the bitter cold
Teeth chatter
Shoulders shake
To escape Winter’s arrival,
I need to move faster
Instead, my motions slow
Besides, there is no escaping
And winter won’t last forever
Merely long enough
to remind me what
is important
Warmth from
a cozy blanket
Steam from a
cup of hot tea
The much-needed
rest that occurs
as I lean my head
against your shoulder
Simply Sunday
And in Turn
Have you ever noticed
how clouds, while providing
shade for the Earth, also
provide shade for each other?
Strange
I never thought of
clouds needing shade
Then I think of a parent,
providing comfort
for their child, suddenly
the one being comforted
Or a teacher, planning
lessons for her class,
realizing her students
may be her best teachers
Like the clouds, our layers
carry such a variety
in their purpose
To give and receive
To hold and be held
To cry while also
drying your tears
To feel the sweet relief
provided by a cloud on
a blistering hot day
And in turn, offer
a cool drink of water
to the one standing just
out of reach of the cloud’s
soothing, reassuring shelter
Piano Girl 