For Him

Every day
I wake up
And ask
God what would
You have me to
Say today
Do I stay still
Silenced by a crowd
Hoping I fall
Or worse fail
What you
Don't know
Failure is key
To my
Greatest work
For Him

French fantasy

Dreaming of
A silent waltz
In wildflowers
A Provençal entrance
Into purple lavender
An escape
From reality
Where nature
Has my undivided attention

April

In the silence
It's you I need
I hidden long enough
And my soul
Seeks peace
You
Are the only
Rest that
Revives
And rejuvenates
A worried heart
And leaves me
Thankful
For a choice
I made an April
Morning

😃

Frosty
Crunchy grass
Bitter cold
Means
A fireplace
Is roaring
And I'm grateful
For the blessing
Of safety
Within these four walls

movie

Christmas movie
Apple pie and ice cream
Blanket and sweater
One with the
Maple leaf
Smiles aglow
Just happy
With the
Simple things

Montreal

Space heater on
Chilly bones
And yet
Eating lunch today
Brought back memories
Of Montreal
Eating French fries
Dipped in mayonnaise
Travel
The price
Can't be put
On a memory
That doesn't fade

Friday

A sleepy haze
It's Friday
And the world
Says Thank you

Everything

Everything is a choice
Dear one
Smile through the pain
Bring joy to the hurt
Seek forgiveness
In place of vengeance
My boundary
Is not for you
For me
To love you
From afar
If I let you in
You are desired
Like a ruby
Ready for its close up

strain

Falling asleep
At six pm
Who knew rest
Could exhaust
The body
And leave
A brain fried

😀

Cozy day
Sun shining
Crisp air
Blanket and dog
In tow
It's going
To be a good day

Cranky

Honestly
Procedures are rough
I don't know how
But the needle
Never gets easier
I am tired today
It may take a few days
I'm cranky
If you have your health
Your wealth can't be measured
I'm grateful for a team
Of equipped health professionals
That allows you not to see
What I tried to hide

Prayer

Lord
I come
To you
To praise You
For the strength
I have
To face
The uncertainty
May I never
Let go
Of the
One
Who
Saves me
From me

Pray

In the silent
Morning dew
I find
Needing the stillness
To quiet a soul
Needing reprieve
From a world
In disarray
Beloved Venice
Flooded
Saint Marks
Closed
Children dying
Bullets flying
God, hear from
This child
Pleading
For calm
From a madness
Growing
Faster
Than
I can
Wrap
This brain around

😀

Crackling
Smoldering
Stoking
An orange blaze
To keep warm
On a dreary day
A cup of tea
And French toast
Fill the belly
While writing
Lifts the spirits
Of a weary soul

❤️

American born
European style
Spanish flair
Southern mercy
Wrapped in
A je ne sais quoi
Un platano
Con mi abuela
Jesus
Mon Dieu
El Senor
American drive
French ease
With some spice
Three in one
And you get me
In all its glory

Francis

The Vatican

Where Holiness resides

The beauty

Where Christianity

Comes alive

In splendor

Italy

First 

International trip

Travel

Where memories

Are as vivid

Even more

Than a decade

Later

It's a gift

I don't want

To take for granted

something

Dreaming of a time
When life
Was an innocent experiment
But then I remember
Nothing is ever easy
I've mastered it
And made it
Look easy
You can't teach
A determined resolve
To thrive
I raise my arms
In amazed reverence
In how God
Makes something
From nothing

italy

Venice
The start
Of adventure
Freezing in
February
Wine
In a gondola
Saint Marks
And a pigeon
Convention
Gnocchi and pizza
A stomach's pleasure
Murano
Blown glass
A warm fire
To still
Chattered teeth
Blessed to be
In tune
With European elegance
Gucci
Italian workmanship
La dolce vita
Transported in Fellini feelings

❤️

In the rain
The purpose
Is here
To remind us
The pain
Is necessary
To appreciate
The joy
And privilege
To wake up
And ask
What is today's mission
On the color coded
Calendar
Is to enjoy Netflix
Write gratitude lists
Or simply be silent
And still
In the presence
Of the
Heavenly hosts

Thank you

The day
I stepped
Into the church
Singing
Dancing
An anointing
Of blessing
On my life
And as I write
It's the gospel
Sung by William McDowell
That keeps
The blood flowing
Through the veins
To communicate
To the African American church
One day in your pews
Gave my soul
Reason to elevate
Tap the toes
And celebrate
The reason
I have to give praise

Poppy

Do you divide
Unite
Or stay indifferent
Veterans' Day
The poppy
A reminder
For rememberance
Of a sacrifice
Of service
To a greater purpose
A plan not their own
Red
A blood shed
Human spirit
In dignified
And rarefied air

Wilt

Repose
Brought
On by remorse
Cold wilting leaves
A bitter reminder
Of winter's embrace
A classic tale
Of a changing season
Willing us to
Do the same
Amen

silent emotion

There's an ache
When people rather
You be silent
Instead of speak your mind
I'm sorry
I'm emotional
That I care
Cardinal sin
Any tips
I need not
To care
So I get along
With those
Who say I'm intolerant
Tribalism
Need a cure
Where's the prescription
We love a label
Republican or Democrat
Designer or dupe
Where reality
Hits the road
Or am I in
The wrong

Pain

Growth
The ability
To give grace
When not reciprocated
Growth
To put another
Before yourself
Growth
Humility
An act of service
I've been made
Strong through strife
And for the first time
I'm grateful
For the pain
Pain drives me
More than joy
Ever has

cookin

Friday
I'm saying hello
body needs yoga
mind needs rest
fingers roll on
glide the keys
channeling my
inner Ray or Stevie
music playing
in the background
hoping for transference
shaking my head
shoulders ready
for the next hook
the smile on my face
means i made
the right choice
even on this damp day
that says bring that
crockpot out
celery and carrots
onions simmering
in broth
for a roast
that is my dinner tonight

Pancakes and Tractors

Country girl chronicles
Eat IHOP
$4.99 special
Followed by shopping
At Tractor Supply
And dreams of St.Tropez
Everyday
Chanel
Has nothing
On an 8.99 Henley
My do I have a hearty laugh
Listening to the server
Regale me with
The story
Of a man
Who ate
A mess of pancakes
Sixteen to be sure
Which left me
Asking
Why
Unlimited
I might
Just test
My limits

Beautiful

You bless me
Love me
In a way
People cannot
You are protein
To a saccharine world
The sustenance
To sustain
Condition
Confidence
In Your Saints
With you
I don't waver
I move forward
I use my past
To propel
My heart further
To fulfill
The promise of God
In me
I doubt everything
And in it all
You give
Mercies
This child
Does not deserve

Cold sweaty mess

Sweaty
Messy hair
South Carolina
Hot or cold
Global warming
Poor circulation
The calloused toes
Could use a spa day
Podiatrist
Should be on speed dial
Scarred and callous
Memoir title
What say you
God
Any thoughts
The Master
I need your ok
Hot and cold
Sounds like my writing
Or like
Lukewarm
The symptom
That produces one more

Pray

Prayer
The only time
I am honest
The pain
The mask unveiled
The veil lifted
Bare boned
Broken
Wholly open
To suggestion

Today

Focused on today
The blessing of breath
The tree gets a new coat
I get new perspective
A new pair of glasses
Periphery
Hindsight
A gift
Like each autumn day

Jesus

You see
The tears
I shed
Like a weeping willow
Thank you
For seeing me
As I am
Not what
I should be
Vengeance is yours
My heathen self
Wants retribution
For the pain
The affliction
That never ends
The character assassination
Stops today
God loves me
If you have
A problem
With me
That's your
Cross to bear

Grace

Rubies
A pinkish red
Reminds me
Of a time in
Eastern Tennessee
Where joy
Was found
In dirt and simplicity
God I don't know
How you love
A sinner in need
Of continual grace
Help me
Love those
Who don't know
Me at all
Forgive me
Forgive them
I'm Yours
And that's all that matters.