Small Symmetries

she allows herself a moment
to gather
her thoughts
twirl about the room
a madcap extravaganza
upon which she smiles
in mild horror
before breathing deep
whispering lines of eternity
laying her hand upon the book
dreams of ancient stories
her heart sang in harmony
in strong swift music
upon which she stands
a sunlit autumn meadow
and a picnic feast laid out
she muses
open hands
broad lines down the highway
time stretches

Snowfall

what do you want for Christmas?
I could do with something simple she says thoughtfully
Perhaps a scarf or a new mug or even a candle
I know it seems trite but sometimes the little gifts
shine brighter in my mind
than all the elaborate gifts that require me to smile louder
than my heart truly means
you know right?
I’d take one night with you cuddled up on the sofa
watching a silly holiday movie
perhaps with a hot drink
and we can giggle together and feel there is no tomorrow
sometimes those nights are best
I think perhaps that can be arranged
you pick out the movie and i’ll start heating up the milk
yes sir we have a deal

Vine

we sit around this table and share our burdens
and our sorrows and our fears
and it’s alright that we do so
for is it not better that we bare our faces
instead of holding in all that ails and brings us pain
the fruit of the fall that still haunts us to this day
so yes let’s come before one another
these brothers and sisters with whom
we break this bread and drink this wine
as our faces glow and hearts akindle
we speak of our older brother who went before us
our Jesus who bore all that we might draw nigh
and we consider that day we shall
see him face to face
oh soon we pray come our Jesus come

Faithfulness

he sits under the maple tree
and scribbles in his little turquoise notebook
as he breathes deep of scents of fall
woodsmoke on the breeze
gently crunching leaves
and he sets down his pen and cocks his head
waiting for the dinner call
for through the kitchen window he sees her
finalizing the dinner spread
rice and good spiced beef and maybe okra too
it seems he’s hungry after all
his writing done he leans back his head against the bark
while he ponders of the richness that has been granted him
and looks up at the first of the evening stars
this night while he sits
under the maple tree

Tobias and Penelope

tell me i said
what have you written of late?
oh you know, bits and bobs
she asked how’s the family
and i said oh they’re well
and the silence began to stretch
for there was nothing more to be said
than all the words that were not said
so many years ago
but you know what?
that’s ok
and we smiled as we parted
and our memories remained

Spirals and Buttercups

she leans across the table and
stretches forth her hand
of course i respond

a dash of cinnamon into the cup
why can’t i taste
the subtle intermingling you describe
am i that much of a barbarian?
perhaps

what does it matter she whispers
why shouldn’t we
why not
you’ll understand when you wake
this dream is not for us

my heart races as trembling
i place my hand atop hers
it is well with my soul

A Mailbox at the End of the Lane

A well-loved book is similar to a
favourite coffee cup
for both have been lovingly cradled
and from both have they been
drunk deep
mined for the sigh of joy that comes
with a sip of perfection
a well turned phrase
then she says to me
babe listen
do you hear the rustling of the leaves?
No no I say sitting here on this wrought iron bench
I’ve been considering books and coffee
and how they fit each other well
that may be so she replies and rolls her eyes
but your coffee is cold and your book is closed
and I could use a little love
but of course my darling
and I hold her close to me and
drink deep

Reminiscing

again in the silence spirals up
a bit of smoke
does it come from the corner
where that woman stands alone
i wonder if she prays as i do now
looking up to the sky that darkens
looking up at the stars that cry
i cannot guess but i hope so
just so i’m not quite as alone as i feel
sitting on the bench in front of the
convenience store
scribbling in my notebook
breathing out prayers
in the spaces between my tears

Pumpkin Time

Hello friends! Thought I’d write a quick few words this Friday evening. How wonderful it is to get a little bit to rest, I do say! I am also eager at the moment to test out this new laptop which I’m writing on. It’s been eleven years that my previous one lasted and while it is still limping along, I felt it was time to transition to the next generation. It is kind of nice to have a laptop that boots up in mere seconds instead of a minute or two! And the keyboard is glorious. Is it weird that I particularly picked out a laptop that would have a decent keyboard? And didn’t at all consider gaming capabilities? Ah well, I guess I have aged a few years since my last laptop purchase and thus it makes a bit of sense that my priorities would have changed. Now I’m more concerned about how it will feel to type long passages of text than on how capable my graphics card is. Things change. Of course, that change comes with the hopes that I shall at some point type long passages of text that actually have a slight bit of depth or beauty. Praying for such.

And now for what do I hope? I hope for a quiet night in which I am able to truly rest. Grateful for the few minutes I’ve had now reading a lovely and inspiring book – “The Imitation of Christ” and looking forward to a yummy dinner of burritos and avocado/tomato salad. Shall I write a few words now to christen this new laptop keyboard? I’m not sure my mind is settled enough to compose anything suitable. Perhaps I shall attempt nonetheless.

she turns back from the ledge
and smiles at me
reaching out her hand that I might
join her
and then I step forward and take her hand
our eyes meet
in solemn concord
and together we bow our heads and pray
under the sun that blesses
let’s walk forward as pilgrims
bear our crosses as our joy
for nothing else
will satisfy
Christ crucified is our cry
better than life as kings and queens
why do we wail for the want of jeweled crown
when we have one that went before
from whose crown-pierced brow that blood fell
mingled with those tears for us

Parking Lot

I sat with my hands folded in my lap
Waiting for you to make a move
But you didn’t
Because you couldn’t
Even though you wanted to

Perhaps your doubts or your
Self loathing
Or perhaps uncertainty that all our checks
And superficial chemistry amounted
To much

I don’t know
I don’t care
I wish my eyes showed the pain I felt
All I wanted is for our hands
To touch