The air is thick
Like molasses
So heavy, I
Can barely breathe
Wishing the gray sky
Would release its weight
And ease the tension
If only for a moment
But relief remains
Quietly hidden
Providing no clue
As to its arrival-
Perhaps it waits
For me, for you
To push through
And greet the day
Take my hand
Together, we’ll walk
In and out of the haze
Into light on the other side
Tag: hope
Marriage
I can’t say there’s
A set recipe
For thirty-two years-
Only that laughter
Eases many tensions
Creating lasting memories-
Patience and understanding
Cover a multitude of
Life’s challenges-
And commitment is
A bond that carries
Far beyond feelings-
All of these ingredients
Leave me with a grateful heart
Looking back and looking ahead
Simply Sunday
Faith
The proof is often hazy
Evidence sometimes vague
Requiring intense searching –
You know the sun is there
Its warmth permeates your skin-
Your eyes see the light- But lines
Painted across the clouds
Are so faint
That they are visible
Only through squinted eyes –
And even then a sliver of doubt
As to your squinty-eyed realization
Creeps its way into your thoughts –
Close your eyes
Feel the warmth on your face-
Open your eyes
Believing the source remains
Even when temporarily out of view
Before Sunset
We took a walk
That time of the afternoon
When it feels like
The minutes pass by
A bit slower
A time when weeds
Serve as flowers
For little hands
To pick and share-
Your tiny feet
Moved ahead of mine
Far enough to bring
A tinge of nervousness-Until
I recognized the feathery
Wings of an angel
In the wispy clouds
Gracefully floating across the Blue-
A protector of our path
A guardian for my heart
As we turned around
And walked side by side
The path leading back home
Approaching Storm
Dark clouds rolled in
The face of a grizzly bear
Leading the charge
Angrily spreading darkness
Over half of the whole sky-
The other half was
Partly covered with clouds
Leaving space enough for
A few patches of clear blue
Space enough for
A peak or two of sunlight-
Perhaps it was the sunlit blue
That calmed the angry grizzly
Reminding him of days
Spent fishing in clear waters-
I can’t be sure
But where the two halves of the sky met
Darkness and fear dissipated
And the rain began to fall
As thunder gently rolled away
Far off into the distance
Just For You and Me
Do you ever feel like the clouds
Are moving across the sky
Just for you?
A chance at amazement
An opportunity for imagination
Do you ever think the morning birds
Are singing their sweet melody
Just for you?
I’m certain I heard a song
Meant just for me
The other morning-
Floating clouds, singing birds
Pulling me away from outside worries
Into their world –
A place of safety between my thoughts
And all the noise around me-
A place not easily seen, but felt
In the same breeze that carries the clouds
And the bird’s song right into
The middle of my soul
I wrote the above poem in a recent writing circle. Another one of those sweet, safe places. 🩷 A huge thank you to Ali Grimshaw for facilitating.
Hold Tight
A rolling dark cloud
Greeted the day
Its growth visible
Second by second
Ominous, imparting a
Sense of dread and fear
On all who approached-
I felt it, too
A tightness in my chest
A furrow on my brow
But still, the day approached
And there was no place to hide-
A gentle tap tap on the window
Shifted my thoughts-raindrops-
As if to say, it will be ok
Yes, I hold heaviness today
But don’t be afraid –
Sometimes, tears have to flow
There’s no other way through
At least, not today-
It may seem darkness is growing
But the sun holds tight behind me
Waiting as the rain
Washes away my hurt
Preparing my heart to
Receive and reflect the light-
So, I wait for the sun
Will you wait with me?
Hide-n-Seek
You attempted to hide
From me this morning
But I saw you-
Your light is not
One so easily dimmed-
Like the morning sun
Resting behind the clouds-
Look closely
And you will find
Its presence visible
In pale pink streaks
All across the sky-
And once you see
Those pale pink streaks
You’ll be reminded
That even the tiniest
Reflections of your light
Offer encouragement to those
Fortunate enough to cross your path-
Even when you attempt to hide
Simply Sunday
I find myself more
And more often
Marvelling at the tiny things-
A singular whispy cloud
The feet of a bird
The way the wind echoes
While making its way
Through the row of pines
Across the street-
Even now, the gentle tap
Of raindrops on the roof-
Sometimes I feel silly
Talking about such things
Especially during times of heartache and confusion-
But I cannot ignore them-
I think maybe it’s these tiny things
That are holding me up
Pulling me through
Reminding me to see the hope
In my granddaughter’s eyes
Happy Easter! ✝️🕊️💜
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
Isaiah 9:2
Moment of Hope
For more than a week
The words felt stuck-
Like tears caught
In the back of my throat
Unable to complete their journey
From the heart to the eyes-
Perhaps there were too many of them
Perhaps they needed to learn
To share space
To slow down-
Taking extra care to flow freely
Only once able to provide
A moment of hope
In a world heavy with fear
Only once able to speak the words
I see you
I love you
This morning, I participated in a writing circle facilitated by Ali Grimshaw. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ It was just what my heart needed. 🩷
Piano Girl 