Fly

Sunday, March 20, 2011

A Pianist...

Passion, bitterness
you pour it all
into one sweet melody.

Strength in your fingers
expressing
what you cannot.

Keys come alive
as you touch them
they fly.

Speaking truth
and wearing no mask
laughing as they travel.

This is how you face
what most
cannot bear to see.

On and on
the music sings
aching and soothing.

Desperate to let go
longing to hold tight
this is your moment...your song...your life...you are brave...

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Sun

Clouds come, I watch it

through the haze.

Slowly, faithfully

it burns all haze away.

As it dances

teasing me across

the field

I bend my cheek

it kisses my face

I long to stare

to turn my full gaze

as deep as I did

in the midst of the haze

but brilliant

far too brilliant

is the beauty

that meets my eyes.

It shines far above

and I, a mere human

love, yet can not bear

the full power of its warmth.

It plays along the water

a sweet song I see

but do not hear

not with a mortal ear.

It laughs through

the trees, makes

jewels come alive.

All things grow towards it

all diminish and fade

in the depth of its light,

without it there is no beauty.

And at night, in the dark

it takes no rest

it needs no rest

I see it still

reflected high

looking calmly, peacefully

down on me.

Then, and only then

in the shadow of its might

can I turn and have my fill

in the stillness of the night.

For its rays and its beauty

are only a taste and a touch

of your greater

much greater glory.

Monday, January 31, 2011

How Many More?

How many more?
My heart weighs heavy,
my soul screams out,
my mind rages
in anger,
in grief,
in strong disbelief.

What happened,
and why?
What went wrong?
Hear my cry!

How many more?
How many will fall?
Believing lies
not esteeming
their hearts
their minds
their singular beauty.

What happened
and why?
Who planted
that sad lie?

How many more?
Though faith overwhelms,
and love consumes
the question continues
in my anger,
in my tears,
in my grief filled heart.

What happened?
Father, why?
Draw them close,
hear their cry...

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Here it comes...

Here it comes!

It's coming hard,
It's coming fast,
It never slows,
It won't stop,
It cannot be held back!

It waits for no one,
has much to say...
It's beautiful,
painful,
and, oh, so short!

Its love is life,
Its end, at times,
is death...
It cannot be bribed
or borrowed.

Can you see it?
Can you hear it?
It's the future!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Dusty

Each particle of dust

gathered

gradually on a shelf.

There they sit.

wiping can remove...

blowing can diminish...

water can wash away

the intensity

that,

put all together,

they create.

They cover the shelf

in a haze...

like memories do

my mind.

And, I, myself

am the room

the shelf sits in.

Quietly...

Calmly...

Dusty...

Thursday, December 23, 2010

My Christmas...

When I was a little girl Christmas had a certain meaning, taste and feel. Snow and cold were usually there. A family party, Christmas shopping, turkey dinner, Christmas Eve Church service, and even Subway, all meant that Christmas was coming. I always knew what Christmas was really about, and loved singing Christmas carols. The mixed smell of pie and pine tree, or a yummy candle were always around as well. I never believed in Santa, but I saw him all around every year. And if there was enough snow, sledding was the best thing to do before or after or on Christmas day...especially since I didn't have to do school! I have fond memories of my childhood Christmases. They're special, they're a treasure. I remember being in a Christmas play one year when I was six or seven and how much fun I had. Pizza Hut for dinner before picking out a tree was something I loved...it meant I could have pop!

There are lots of good memories in there...but this year I find myself comparing. The taste and feel are so different now. When someone says Christmas, the first thing that pops into my head is not snow or presents. It's not even a tree. I see great mounds of ripe, sweet tangerine's, and piles of sugar cane. Piñata's, the rush to finish up the Christmas play preparation, and lots of good hot punch are what come to mind. Turkey dinner, and the tree, are still there. But I have forgotten snow...if it were to snow here everyone would freeze...it would be awful! The cold winter frosted mornings and nights are enough around here. I don't dream of a white Christmas. I envision a bright, clear day with just enough chill in it to need a long sleeved shirt or a sweater. I see stall upon stall downtown filled with sparklers and "onions", and hear the grating music of Christmas lights. I see huge manger scenes in restaurants, on the street, or in the Catholic Church. And I see my Church. I see its stage. And I remember my very first Christmas I ever spent here. All of it. I can see year after year, and play after play acted out on that stage, but the first one...the first one is the dearest and the clearest.

God has given me so much. And while I remember the biggest gift He gave me this year the same as the others...I remember everything else He's given me since then. I was given a toilet plunger as a joke one year (please don't ask why). Needless to say I didn't love that present. But as strange as it sounds, I'm thankful this year for all the toilet plungers that God has given me, in other words, all the presents I didn't want or enjoy, but needed. I've used that one many times, and it's been a great help. And so have all the others. We can ask for what we want, but it won't necessarily be what we need. Thankfully, God loves us. He puts us where we are for a reason. He lets things happen to us for a reason. Thankfully, He hasn't given me everything I've wanted, but much more than that. He's given me gifts that I didn't want or even like, because He knew I'd need them later on. And thankfully He continues to do so.