Night Journey on the River

We push off from the bank rowing out into the current moon is full, and high shining on the water scattered clouds skitter across the sky and a chill wind blows making us shiver wrapping our coats around us Our boat catches the current and takes us, swift and sure past houses, under bridges until…

My Dream

Everybody’s got an opinion Everybody wants to complain Everybody thinks they know better Everybody’s insane   What’s so hard about talking together What’s so hard about being polite What’s so hard about communication What’s so hard about doing it right   All I ask for is peace and quiet All I ask for is silence…

Before it is too late

A tree stands at the world’s edge roots clutch stubbornly to the crumbling cliff confronting the abyss defiantly ‘I shall not be moved’ Sun dips low, and in the dying light branches stand out clear and stark Solid and strong, built to last But the cliff keeps crumbling   Come, let us shore up the…

Water lilies

On a cool clear day a lake lies gleaming rushes define the shore while lily pads dot their way across to where the distant trees sway and dip, waving swishing out a greeting and a summoning if I were light as air I would dance across the lilies to answer the call of the far…

For the displaced

Lean on me, my friend let me shore up your weakness You seem to be thirsty I will give you a drink When did you eat last there is food here for you And a bed when you’re ready for much-needed rest   Here is a shower to wash away the dirt Clothes? I have…

Moonrise

Moonrise paints the land in an eerie glow yellow fire on the lake trees and grasses painted black against eldritch light lap of water, sigh of wind song of nightbird and insect otherworldly land presided over by the golden, alien moon   Moonset, fade to black for a moment only awaiting the dawn sun shining…

The Burning Year

A country, wreathed in smoke coughs its way to a new year homeless and displaced fleeing the lethal fires lives and livelihoods gone wildlife wiped out the burning goes on and on hospitals overrun by the breathing compromised no end in sight hope fading fast   while the ones in charge insist all is well…

Singing Christmas

I love a good Christmas carol Singing peace on Earth Christ is born Come let us adore Him   We sing of shepherds getting supernatural visitation we sing of wise men taking a leap of faith we sing of a family out in the cold of a child born in poverty bearing the gift of…

A midnight, clouded

And man, at war with man, hears not The love-song which they bring; O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing. No! shout the people of strife We won’t listen! Love is meaningless Peace is for the strong Justice is for the rich So tell heaven’s all-gracious king we will…

Keeping Christmas

Check the clock, organize shop, visit, eat, drink invitations issued and accepted, cards dutifully filled out gifts dutifully bought tick off the to-do list until at last it’s all organized Christmas by the numbers   How much is duty how much is expectation how much is actual love how much is remembrance of God’s great…