luggage

and what
may i ask
are you packing today

in your suitcases
of memory



* "We do not remember days, we remember moments."
                                         ~Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand

doll

and what little girl
took care of you?

told you her secrets
and dreams

saw herself in your perfect
porcelin features

to whom dear doll
did you belong?



*"Happy is he who still loves something he loved in the nursery: he
has not been broken in two by time; he is not two men but one and
he has saved not only his soul but his life."   ~G.K. Chesterson

limes

they have the look
of 
"old world"
about them

and well they should

carried across the high seas
those first luscious limes
of india

their sour pulp
a sailor's godsend
saving him from scurvey

tiny fruit of yellow green
sent
for a mission
long forseen

catching up

there is something
charming and loveable
in our frail humanity

sometimes colorful and winsome
we must be
in His eyes

end of day

it's in the silence
of the sunset

the unbusyness of it
that our Maker speaks

quiet yourself
He seems to say

"be still and see
this reflection
of me"



*Psalm 19:1  The heavens declare the Glory of God.

ready

come
sit and sup
with me

let us take time
for food
flowers
and friendship

let us share
the bountiful
mercy



*flower arrangement by Nan Nelson. . .made with flowers
from her amazing garden.

paint job

the spindles are getting
a new coat today

lucky spindles

having someone
come along
to take such
sweet care of them
just when they are beginning
to peel and
crack

freshen me up too
i think
as i stroll by
drinking in the smells
of fresh paint
and iris




*happy footnote: I found that the smells of the paint and iris and the scene of the "lucky spindles" did indeed refresh me. It seems as though it is usually through the small things that God chooses to encourage us. :)

lemon

tart
smart
lemon

what would the world
do without you?

how would i get by
without lemon pie?

and what of the dressings
and drinks
you enhance

you're definitely here
by more than
chance

at the feeder

incredible,
the journey of a tiny seed
sent to feed
a sparrow

rooster

well, don't you stand out!
that bright red comb
and wattles

and your beady little eyes

you don't look very happy
but then
one shouldn't judge
by appearances

i'll focus on your colors

the amazing white and red
against
God's good green
earth

merry go round

"you must become
as children"
the teacher said

and why are there
so few

who do

gate

is there an open gate
before you?

step through
and see what new awaits

few things are more rewarding
than exploring

and who knows

this turn your story takes
might loose you from a mooring
and set your soul
to soaring





* "Be strong and courageous. I will be with you wherever you go."
                                                                                 ~Joshua 1:9

bell tower

i cannot see a bell tower
but the melody and words
of a favorite Christmas carol
run through my mind

the one that mentions
doubt
at their being
"peace on earth
good will to men"
even though the wild and sweet
strains of Christmas
insist on it

the honesty heard in the age old
hymn
tolls loud and clear to me
as does the victory
at the end

yes "hate is strong
and mocks the song"

but louder still
the truth peals deep
"God is not dead
nor doth He sleep"





*Yesterday i heard Mr. Forrest Robinson speak of experiences he had over 60 years ago as a liberator and witness to the horrors of the holocaust. He spoke of entering a concentration camp to a scene more horrible than he could take in. He found himself moments later, raising his fist to heaven and cursing God. Later in his talk, he credited God with the grace of erasing his memory of some of the horror. He ended by describing the scene in a small German town when the bells began to peal out the news that the war was over. People began streaming down the village streets to the church. He made the walk, arm in arm with a German soldier. His story was told with the passion and humility that only one who had been there could muster. It is recorded in a book entitled Liberators by William Hirsh.

Thank God, that in the end, bells, trumpets and shouts of victory will overcome the sounds, sights, and smells of war and death.

companions

oh, the places i've been
with such
lifelong friends



*"A book fitly chosen is a lifelong friend. It pours its heart into our own."   
                                                                             ~D. Jerrold

under construction

i don't know about you
but like this barn
i find myself
still "under construction"

the rafters are set
the body braced
but so much work
yet to be done
before i'm filled
with the wonderful treasures
of harvest

it's not a bad thing
though

being raised up to heaven

professor

what a lucky man
to stand among the young
and bright
you must have done it right
to have earned their
trust and respect

and when autumn comes
you will start again
with another group
of eager men

may your love of learning
and your passion for urging
be rekindled again
and again




*Though few of us are professors, i think we are all teachers in some form. And i would daresay, that most of what we teach is by example and usually when we are totally unaware that we are teaching. So, the wish for "rekindling" is for all.

horizon

if she could speak
what would she say?
to her tiny seedlings
when they fly away

"be good
take care
say thank you
beware"

or maybe

"fly high little children
discover within
that you can surely rely on Him
whose breath gives birth
to the mighty wind

sail long, sail strong

and all will be well
when we meet
again"




*Congratulations to those who are graduating. .  .and their families. :)

miracles

miracles?
oh, i believe

i've already seen three
and it's not even noon

four, if you count
waking up

then the moth on the stove
waiting serene
making the scene
of frying an egg
most magical

the sound of the strong
spring breeze
through the cottowood trees

and the olive green moss
on the lampost

on second thought,
there were countless more
than these marvelous
four





* "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."    
                                                        ~Albert Einstein

rainy day

i'm a messy cook
but i have such fun
throwing and mixing
all the ingredients into one
savory concoction

today, healthy,
yes, "healthy"
orange poppyseed muffins

mmmmm, love smelling
that real vanilla
as raindrops strum a sweet refrain
along my kitchen window pane





* note: I must say, "Those were SOME muffins!"

snack time

it's cute to see you munching
but it's your eyes
that vie
for my attention
they look like
round glass
marbles

i've read
that your field of vision
is almost a complete circle

and that you can see
above your head
without moving it

something i
for sure
can't do

but you have a blind spot
right in front
of your nose

and that,
i can identify with

morning sky

rise up
ye clouds of heaven

lift up your hands
oh trees

witness
and receive
this miracle

of a new day
dawning



*"morning by morning
  new mercies i see". . .
     line from the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness"
          by Thomas Chisolm and William Runyan  (1923)
      

knots

could you be having
one of those days
months
or years

that are riddled with knots

and you are tired
of trying to
untangle

it may sound odd
but do this

grab hold of that
which is tight in you
and swing out

let the knot
be a servant and tool
let God use it
to lift your feet
from self reliance

and take you soaring
above
and beyond

shining through

and every day
the light shines on
through miles
and years

arriving here
this very morning

may we
like this leaf
be

transluscent


*God is light and in Him in no darkness at all.  ~1John 1:5

together

still together
after forty years
of tears
and happiness

comfortable
after pounds lost and gained
dreams accomplished
and the strain
of annoying little habits

bound
by love found
promised
and
chosen

opening

they open widest
just before their petals
drop

slowly
gently
ever toward the sun

their whole life cycle
an "opening" one

and in the end
their hearts are bare
free from coverings
and worldly care

make believe

shhhh
she's sleeping
and one mustn't wake
fairies

so let's
make ourselves
be still

and take a moment
in our real
lives

to visualize and
fantasize

this dream
within a dream

gold fish

your quick
graceful movements
and your vibrant color
beg
be captured

oh, that i might
brighten up this world
awash with blue

as you so flamboyantly
and effortlessly
do

caps

the caps
in honor of Amelia
who took to the runway
when women didn't do such things
remind me too
of Harriet
one of my heroes
leading her relatives
and so many more
through swamps of danger
to safety and freedom

helping them fly, fly
fly away

leaf

the basic elements
of His design

color
texture
and line

or would it be
faith, hope
and a miraculous kind

of love

Daffodil

Dear daffodil,

this note is to thank you
for the lovely gift
of your visit

it came at just the right time
and was something i most
surely needed

i will forever treasure
the serenity and pleasure
of your company

your cheerful presence
was truly a reminder
of that which is
good

Sincerely,
t.w.

P.S.  I look forward to next spring's visit with most eager anticipation.

llama

that's a  "l  o  n  g"  body
you've got there

long enough for me
to stretch out
and take a nap on

"and so?"
you say
"i like the way
God made me

glad to be sassy
and strong minded

serene
in my place here
as queen
of the pasture"