Simply Sunday

Trumpeter Swan

Image by Paul Porter


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

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

Not the Only One

Pink lines and blue spaces
pulled me into the day
Inviting my thoughts,
one note at a time

A quiet calling, not
rushed, but encouraging-
Today waits for your melody.

Waits for our melodies-
Whether joyful
or melancholy
Raucous or
Peaceful

So, go ahead, sing
Let your notes float on
the breeze, blending
with others before
returning to you

A new song-
not meant to soothe
every worry, but to
remind us that we are
not the only ones singing

Simply Sunday

Revisiting a poem from 2020. The list of names, already too long, continues to grow. No title this time.

His child, spouse,
sibling, parent-
Helpless, watching
as he lies on the ground

Terrified, he struggles
begging for breath-
A knee pressed
down on his neck

Calling out
Mama!
His cries for mercy
ignored-then silenced

A family left
grieving-
Another name
added to a list

Life, liberty, and
the pursuit
of happiness
denied, destroyed

A weeping world
refuses to look away
A weeping world
will not be silenced

“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.””
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ ‭



A Little Preview

Sharing two poems from my upcoming collection, The Space Between Clouds! Release date March 15,2026!

IN THE CLOUDS

Posed on a calm
quiet breeze
or shouted
in frantic storms
The question remains the same

Do you see me?

My soul longs
to slow down
to be still
Locking my eyes on
The whole of you

Do you see me?

Recognizing the purpose
provided in your design
whether serene or inclement
Answering your question
as you answer mine

Yes! There you are! I see you!

SMILING BLUE

A patch of baby blue
cheerfully smiled,
Good morning
A welcomed greeting
following recent gray
heavy-mist days

Even the sun
attempted a greeting
but its rays produced only
a white glow behind
the lingering clouds-
An overcast day lay ahead

One glance in the rearview
and there was that smiling
patch of baby blue
reminding me of you-
Your smile, even in passing
always a welcomed sight

Forever remaining close
Even if the day is long
Even if the day is gloomy
Even if I’m simply wishing
for more time with you

Simply Sunday

The reasons are many,
both logical and emotional.
Reasons we hesitate to speak
the names of those we miss.

Concern about how
Others may respond, or
how we ourselves may react.

Yes, emotions can be unpredictable,
But it is imperative to remember.

It reminds us of the immense
capacity of our hearts
to hold love along with grief.

So, go ahead, speak their
names. Let the sound of
Memories wash over you.

Echoes of a Season

The last of the Fall leaves
let go, falling to the ground
Bare branches stretch,
reaching toward the Sun

Wonders hidden in the
heart of the tree, protected
from the elements at
their most vulnerable,
now sit in plain sight

A carefully woven nest that
once held delicate eggs,
patient parents and fragile
chicks-now, its walls hold
only the echoes of life

The cracking of shells
by tiny beaks, little chirps
sweetly announcing
We have arrived!
Sleeping, eating, growing, learning to fly

Whether the leaves,
The mama bird, or
each of us-Letting go is difficult
But, oh, what wonders
wait to be revealed

May my hands always
stretch toward the Light
as my heart remains open
to that which needs protecting-
Even when only for a season

Happy Christmas Eve! ❤️💚

Simply Sunday

Photo by Paul Porter

Always a welcome guest
Your brightness,
not to be ignored

As you gently alight
on the fence
I catch my breath

You seem to smile as
Snowflakes land on
your scarlet feathers-
A perfect contrast

Perhaps that is why
You so often shake
me out of my grief

Taken back by your beauty,
I sweetly reminisce
And for just a moment,
See the faces of those I miss