I Wonder

Your passing was unexpected
but not a surprise.
I have to keep reminding myself
that you are not here.

And while well-wishers
and second cousins
continually proclaim
that you are
……..1) smiling down on us from heaven,
……..2) sitting in the lap of Jesus,
……..3) much better off now than you were last week,
I wonder.

What is it like,
shedding mortality,
crossing dimensions?

When it happens to me
and I step into eternity,
will it not mean we all arrive
together
only from different doorways?

As one
will we enter the sanctuary
for that neverending wedding party?

I wonder.

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PAD 30

Prompt: Write a goodbye poem.

Since these are April prompts, the 30th is the last day of Poem-A-Day,
that’s why the prompt is a “goodbye.”
This poem is for a dear friend who passed away. We had a memorial service for him today.

Vespers

We hung him there
(on the cross)
around our necks,
upon our walls,
and threw our sins and insults
at him
(made them stick).

Then
we carried on
living life
with him
(on the cross)
stuck
around our necks,
upon our walls.

Evensong calls
at day’s end:
Kyrie eleison
(praise and plea),
a gentle reminder
inviting us
to take him
down from the cross
and
stick
an empty tomb
upon our walls
and a temple
in our hearts.

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PAD 29

Prompt: Write an evening poem.

two (more) words

After a heated exchange
and hours of cold shoulder
my angry heart
meets its maker
and shrinks in shame.

If I could take back words,
wash them from memory,
I would;
but I can’t.

So I sincerely offer
the only words I have:
“I’m sorry!”

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PAD 28

Prompt: remix — take one of the poems you’ve written in the last month and rework it.

(See two little words from 18/05/2021.)

Long Wait

The Ford Ranger
told the Toyota Fortuner
who shared with the Land Rover
who passed it on to the VW Anarak
who mentioned it to our Land Cruiser:

there are three cheetahs in the grass
under that green bush
next to that dead tree.

We’ve been here for an hour
and I’m beginning to suspect
the Ranger saw a rock.

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PAD 27

Prompt: Write a BELIEVE poem.

It’s a Small World

My pal Bobby
knows Cousin Sam,
who knows Carla,
who knows Pam,
who knows Mandy
and her hubby Aaron,
who know Hiram,
who knows Sharon,
who knows William
(known as Bill),
who knows Barb,
who knows Aunt Jill,
who knows Brian
and his sister Connie,
who knows Jake,
and Reverend Johnny,
who knows Michael,
who knows Dawn,
who knows Nick
and his brother Ron,
who know my great
uncle Jim,
who knows Sally’s
sister Kim,
who knows Peter,
Paul and Mary,
who know Claudia,
and little Carrie,
who knows Chloe
who knows YOU!
Such a small world,
Yes, it’s true!

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PAD 26

Prompt: Write a poem with the title __________ World.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Each one
must topple pride
with its haughty attitude,
like hot air
puffing up
and rising to block the sun,
causing us
to grope about in the dark.

We must capture
every stray thought
and make them see
the Truth —
we are created
to reflect
the light
of God,
not the other way around.

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PAD 25

Prompt: Write a poem that captures a thought.

Psalm 24 Selah

It’s all about the entrance.

The King of glory
. . . coming to ancient doors,
. . . on a donkey,
. . . into lives.

And then
. . . — voila! —
it’s
ALL FALL DOWN!
(check out 18 John)

which is the answer
to the question.

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PAD 24

Prompt: Write a question poem.

For the question, you have to read Psalm 24 (which actually asks two important questions).
The one which is answered here is “Who may stand in his holy place?”

Appointment

Let me not forget
the most vital engagement
of each day.

Though intrusions may occur,
distractions pop up,
screens flash,
Twitter tweet,
Calendar send reminders,
apps push notifications . . .

help me remember
my face-to-face appointment
with You —
to begin each day
listening
to Your heartbeat
and giving You mine.

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PAD 23

Prompt: Write an appointment poem.

The Nature of Things

The giraffe
does not question
why he is made with such a long neck.
Nor does he fret over his funny ossicones.
He loses no sleep
worrying about what the other animals think of him
and his knobby legs.

He enjoys the rich, warm days,
strolling across the savannah,
nibbling from the tops of trees,
just trying to stay
out of harm’s way.

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PAD 22

Prompt: Write a Nature Poem.

Seems to me

Seems to me
the people who most need to be heard
are often the quiet ones
sitting in corners
watching the world parade by.

And the ones
who most need to listen
don’t stop talking.

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PAD 21

Prompt: _________ Me

I’m not really sure this is a poem. More of a midnight observation.
(I’m one of the talkers, in case you were wondering,
in school to learn to listen.)