Can one heart
Have too many
Connections?
I’m not sure
I don’t think so
Can’t think of
Any chords I would
Choose to cut-
Some are stronger
Than others
Some longer
But only a few are
Perfectly fastened
With each beat of my heart
Those are the ones
Keeping me alive
Or rather, making me
Want to be my
Best version of Alive-
I don’t always
See that version
In the mirror
But I know she’s there
Waiting for me
To give her some
Attention
Canvas
Fog rises over
A golden field
Not dense
Holding just enough
Presence
For sunbeams
To paint
Their portraits
Across the hazy canvas-
Temporary
Yet, beautiful
Reflecting
Yet, dissipating
Energy soaked in
Then released
Into another day
Another time
When light and mist
Once again
Cross paths
Creating art
Creating life
Simply Sunday
Counting
A variety of shades
So generous
No room remains
For counting
Though sometimes
Counting is fun
In this case
Any attempt
Seems futile-
But who knows
Maybe counting
Would serve to
Increase
The imaginings
That accompany
The realization
Of a new sky
On a new day
With countless
Possibilities
Ready and waiting
For our attention
Wellspring
I often forget
The depth of the well
And its capacity to hold
The fluidity of feelings
No matter their origin-
Until one sentiment
Rises to the top
Threatening a flood
Before slowly floating
Down, down, down
Once again resting
At the bottom of the well-
What would happen
If the tide was not
Contained
Allowed to spill over
Soaking its surroundings
With grief, joy, sadness, peace…
Perhaps next time
I feel a catch
In my throat
I’ll let all of the tears fall
Then search for my reflection
Along with those of the
Blue sky and green leaves
In the puddle that forms
Beside the tree
Where I choose to rest
Simply Sunday
The Earth groaned
Waking me from
A deep sleep
Is that thunder?
Growing stronger
And louder with
Each passing minute
Until windowpanes
Began to rattle
And floors shook-
Yet, we were
Motionless
Waiting for the ground
To stop moving
Listening
For the rumbling
To fade away
Realizing there was
Nothing else to do
As is often the case-
Life’s unexpected circumstances–
Sometimes
The best solution
Is to be still…
We know all about tornadoes in Oklahoma. There are sirens and weather reports. But earthquakes? They provide no warning.
Friday evening, we experienced a 5.1 earthquake. No physical damage, just a little jarring.
A reminder that grasping for control does no good. A life lesson I continue to learn.
”Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed…”
Isaiah 54:10 NIV
Nature’s Mirrors
When the Spring tree
Notices its green leaves
Shimmering as it peers
Into the clear blue lake
When the setting sun
Shares its warm glow
Lighting the leafless tree
With its dusky orange
When I see past
The marks of time
And see a bit of you
In my changing reflection
When I see myself
In your sweet smile
And wonder…
Do you see it, too?
Simply Sunday
When we know what our children want from life, we want those things for them. Whether it is finding that first apartment, going to college, getting a job, or finding their life partner.
That last one has its challenges. Finding that one person who gets us. One who loves us for who we are. But when it happens, there’s a profound combination of excitement and calm.
All that being said…
Our daughter, Rachel, got engaged this week! ❤️ Simply seeing the smile on her face (and his) makes me happy. And seeing them together gives me hope for the future.
Life Lessons
Will you push me on the swings?
Oh, please, please, please!
Ok, just once!
A tiny taste of the magic
That is flying up to the sky
Magic not diminished
When gravity pulls you back
Your only desire
To do it again, and again, and again-
There won’t always be
Someone to give you a push
But that’s ok because
Life has lots of lessons
And this one is important!
Kick your feet out
In front of you
Just as you’re about
To touch the sky
Pull them back
Repeat
Do it again, and again, and again-
Pretty soon
Your imagination
Will carry you
Wherever you wish to go
Still no sunshine…maybe next week. ☀️ Sharing another poem from a recent poetry circle.
Another Day
The sunrise blushed
A sweet pale pink
Hint of innocence
Not the crimson red
Flush of embarrassment
Strange to think
In the color scheme of things
Those shades are not
Very far apart
But when it comes
To matters of the heart
They are on opposite
Sides of the wheel-
Perhaps that blushing sunrise
Prepared me for
The gray days ahead
Bashfully saying
Don’t forget me
You won’t see me for a bit
But I promise to return
As soon as the foggy mist
Has had its say
And moves on to another day
Ready for a little sunshine here in Oklahoma! 💛
Both Places
I’m getting used to
Not knowing
What to expect
Or how to feel
Choosing
Not to view
This turn of events
In a negative light
That would be
A contradiction,
Would it not?
Light has a way of
Lifting, drawing out
Right as the heart
Begins to cry
Whether the tears
Come from the reality
Of grief’s reminders
Or from the joy
Of new life’s smiles-
Light can live
In both places
Perhaps that lesson
Is teaching me peace
Even in the not knowing
I always look forward to poetry circles with Ali Grimshaw of https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ I wrote the above poem during our most recent circle. Thankful for this space and the precious friends I’ve met. ❤️
Piano Girl 