May your troubles be loosened today, dear friend – may you find yourself letting go. May you be filled with grace to finish your race. May blessings arrive each morning.
something is loosening the laces
of all that was tightly held
white knuckles
clinched fist
rigid wrist
something's emerging
from the deep
could it be courage
untying the knots?
fingers uncurl
hope begins to swirl
something sweeps
through bones and veins
washing away
aches and pains
with outstretched arm
grace takes my hand
things tightly held
fall to the land
covered by dirt
nourished by soil
no need to work
no strife
no sweat
no toil
troubles now are planted
in the ground of grace
where goodness knows
how beauty grows
alive in love's embrace
May the garden of your heart be in perpetual bloom!
the azaleas bloomed
then blew away, the lovely
pear blooms did not stay
so brief is our bloom
gone tomorrow before we
are fully aware
of the beauty we
carry, the spring in our hearts
the bloom in our cheeks
rose petals softly
fall at our feet, covered with
soil, buried again
to be nourished in
the deep, rising in glory,
the cycle of blooms
Do you look for signs of spring? In south Louisiana, the pecan tree is always the last tree to sprout buds. We like to take that as a sure sign that winter has ended, no more freezing temps, it is now safe to plant spring vegetables. Legend has it, when the pecan leaves come out, winter is finally over. But sometimes winter doesn’t give up without a fight – so we hold our breath and root for the pecan tree, rejoicing at the first sign of green, celebrating the strength of spring.
The pecan leaves have sprouted,
always the last to emerge.
Legend foretells this is the sign of
spring, the promise that winter is over.
That was before climate change:
all bets are off now.
This morning a powerful north wind
blew, chilling the air
threatening to tear off the tender
tufts of green
shaking the limbs of the steadfast
pecan tree
yet the baby leaves held,
clutching momma's fingers
and momma wouldn't let go;
the green remained
evidence of the strength of spring
in the face of power
proof that winter must finally
blow away
There’s more than one way to celebrate Easter – wishing all of you peace and blessings today!
the sun finally came out
the wind kicked up her heels
trees danced to the rhythm
of a bird chorus, insects
hummed a steady underline
as barking dogs joyfully
joined the symphony
a piece of tin from
an old storage shed
rattled and banged
a perfect percussion
green blades of grass
shimmied in the warm
air like hula dancers
a rustle of new leaves
rose and fell like
applause, it was
quite a show
this spontaneous
spring performance
in the mysterious
world of nature
leaving gifts of peace
and contentment
the music of heaven
filled the hearts of every
creature with ears to hear
may we hear the music
and be blessed, may our
souls be at rest, may we
receive all the goodness
life has to offer
filled to overflowing
expanding and growing
living and giving life
loving and beloved on this
Easter Sunday afternoon
This message is for all of us – a reminder to get up each morning and keep going.
For every one who walks the line
between beauty and the broken
For every seeker who takes the time
to look for the good in life
For every hunter of lasting treasure
buried beneath the ordinary
For every runner falling short of the
finish line
For every dashed dream leaving its
stain of disappointment
For every broken heart gathering its
pieces to be sown like seeds of hope
For every warrior who has lost his
way
May you stand in the presence of
light today
May you walk in the company of
everlasting joy
May you rise each morning and
begin again
Keep walking, keep moving, keep
going, dear friend
A poem for anyone who has ever put pen to page – may you know the power of the pen.
my pen is my voice
a silent voice streaming
ink-covered thoughts
across the page
my pen speaks softly
words wrapped in truth
like breath flowing
through moving lips
the kiss of language
pressed from person
to person, blessing
upon blessing
soundless messages
quietly welling up as
the eyes read the words
again and again
the power of the pen
This is for everyone fighting a hard battle: may victory come today.
Add a little sunshine
to chase the shadows away
Throw in a dose of kindness
to keep the monsters at bay
If you want to slay a dragon
begin with the light of day
Fly high the flag of victory
as the nightmare fades away
Let hope take wing and angels sing
Go forth and conquer this day
This is a short story in verse, about ordinary brilliance and the inner light we carry. It is a reminder that all of us are light bearers – we are made to shine.