When the Glass Breaks is a collection of poems divided into four sections: Living, Breaking, Mending, and Reflecting. Today, I am sharing a poem from the second section, Mending. Thanks for listening! ❤️
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The voice in my head screams
As the one in my heart sobs
A flood of questions
Fills the gulf in between-
Unable to understand
Darkness capable of
Instantly turning
One heart against another
With no consideration of
The humanity within us all
Instead, focused on labels
Created, then vilified by men-
My head barely remains above
This continuous current of Information-
My heart aches for a sign of hope-
Sunlight after a storm
Twinkling star in the night sky
Laughter of a child-
The beginnings of truth
A calling for peace
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
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. ❤️
I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite decorations and carols. Wishing you the joy and peace of Christmas! ❤️
Blue morning clouds
Gently float across
Downward streaming
Sunbeams gracing
Dewey green grass-
I cannot tell if
The Sun’s rays
Are in front
Of the clouds
Or behind them
Or perhaps
Piercing right
Thru their center-
Not for purposes
Of Destruction
On the contrary
For giving guidance
Providing warmth
On their journey
Whether it means
Quickly dissipating
As they transform
Into raindrops
Quenching parched
Ground below
Or peacefully
Lingering
Long enough
To provide shade
For someone in need
For all the hurrying
To complete
The next task
Reach the next
Milestone
I am finding peace
In the unfinished
Relief in knowing
There is more
To become
Simple changes
In the day to day
Or transformation
Across the years
A me anyone has yet to know…
Hopefully, one who is
A bit wiser, one
Who remembers
To slow down
So as not to miss
Even the singular
Steps of growth
Requiring
The most faith
Revealing
The simplest joys
So much
Talk
Of rights
Not yours
In companion
With mine
No, mine or yours
Exclaimed
Over and over
IN ALL CAPS
Making certain
Everyone knows
And no one
Disagrees
How lonely
It must be
Concerned only
With oneself
Not interested
In truly loving
Another
Or in understanding
That our hearts
Are Capable
Of beating
The same rhythm
At any given
Moment in time
Another poem from a recent writing circle with Ali Grimshaw. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/. You never know what’s going to show up on the page. And the critical voice is not invited. Love this process! ❤️
The ground
Is parched
Grass once green
And inviting
Grows brown
Crunching
Beneath my feet
Trees struggle
To survive
Their leaves
Hanging on
For it’s too soon
For them to fall
One single spark
And the results
Would be
Devastating
Praying for rain
The Earth
Is parched
Tears shed in
Sadness and grief
But also in
Reconciliation
All dried up
People struggle
To survive
Their children
Hanging on
For it’s too soon
For them to fall
One single spark
And the results
Would be
Devastating
Praying for rain
How can this be?
Seems only yesterday
The ground was wet
With the tears of an entire world-
Are there no more left to cry?
I do not believe so, but what is the answer-
My soul
Is thirsty
Longing for
A cool breeze
A steady rain
Not a storm
Filled with
Lightening
And thunder
No loud voices
Sharing dissent
For all to hear
Instead, the quiet
Whisper of love
Sent in raindrops
Coaxing our tears
To once again join in
Watering the ground
One glance
Then a second
Wrinkled brow
Curious smile
Where do the mountains end?
Where do the clouds begin?
A closer look
Would perhaps
Provide answers
If answers are
What I seek-
On third glance
I choose to simply wonder
At how this
Humble horizon
Takes over my thoughts
Leaves me dreaming
Of sitting
At the foothills
Longingly
Looking up
Toward the highest peak
Where questions cease
And peace overcomes
With the passing of a gentle mountain breeze
Piano Girl 