O Holy Night

O Holy Night

*Oh holy night
the stars are brightly shining
     let us take time to reflect
     on the true Christmas meaning

*It is the night of the dear savior's birth
long lay the world in sin and error pining
til he appeared and the soul felt its worth
     let us just for tonight put our cares away
     and contemplate our joys intertwining
     and pray for all people of the earth

*A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
     when joy and hope will live
     with peace on earth and love reborn

*Fall on your knees
oh hear the angel voices
oh night divine
when Christ was born
     and feel the hope the babe brings
     and listen as the angels sing

*Oh night divine
oh night divine
     let Christmas come
     .....yes let it come

*Italicized words from "O Holy Night" (public domain) - one of my two favorite Christmas carols. I added a few of my own unitalicized thoughts that I wanted to share!  

For the last Poets United Poetry Pantry of 2015

This well known carol ("Cantique de Noel") originated in Paris, France in 1847.  The author of the words was Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure.  He was asked by his priest to compose a poem for Christmas Eve.  After writing the poem, Cappeau decided it should be set to music; so he asked a well known composer to write the score; and it was sung at a Christmas Eve mass.  It was eventually translated into English by John Sullivan Dwight.  There is a lot more history to this hymn than I can share here.  Quite amazing really.  If you are interested, read this:  Extraordinary Story of O Holy Night.

Design

Design

Who is the one who has designed the universe,

who has given us the sun and moon and stars?

It is God to whom we should give praise as

no human could have devised this creation

It is the season to give Him thanks and praise

as we would not exist if not for His design.

Written for Susan's Midweek Motif:  Theme is 'design.'

The Star

The Star - Konstantin Bogaevsky

The Star

At this time of the year
when I turn eyes to the sky
I ponder how it appeared
to the Magi 2000 years ago
when a star was the guide
to the child of peace and love

and I cannot help but think
if I squint my eyes just right
I might see the same bright star
which will pilot us through the dark
and renew  the love and peace
the world has long left behind.


This is written for dVerse Poetics (Tuesday) where the prompt is 'stars.'
I wish everyone a season of peace and love.

Poem in the Pocket

Poem in the Pocket

I found a poem in my pocket
I found it way down deep
I wondered where it came from
who gifted me in my sleep.

I found a poem in my pocket
perhaps it came from you
so filled with Christmas cheer
it melted me through and through.

I will keep the poem in my pocket
to remind me of you far away
it will warm my hands and heart
when I glance at it throughout the day.


I was in the mood to write something a bit light
to share with Poets United Poetry Pantry.

Autumn

Autumn

I guess summer is over.  No one visits.  No one sits in the beach chairs any more. Family only visits when the water is warm enough for swimming.  The water is cold now. They really don't come to spend time with me. Friends only visit when the tourist shops are open.  And most of them are closed now.  I sometimes wonder about the definition of 'friend.' So now I sit by myself inside my house with my memories.  It will be a long winter, but I will survive. I always do.

The bay is calm now
autumn is a lonely time
but I will survive.

This Haibun was written for dVerse Open Link 162 & also for my prompt at dVerse Haibun Monday - 4.   Please join us!

The Color of Peace

Roses for Paris

The Color of Peace

The color of peace is not red
its smell is not of gun powder
its sound is not of gun fire

there is no blood in peace
no guns, no bullets, no fear
no booms or cracks or ratatatat

the color of peace is not red
no blood on the pavement
no blood on the walls

there is no blood draining life
no bloodshed, no spatter
no bodies dead too soon

the color of peace is not red
the color of peace is not red
the color of peace........


This poem is written for dVerse Poetics (Tuesday)where we are to write about peace in some non-trite way.   This poem is also written for Poets United Midweek Motif (Wednesday) where we are to write 'color' poems.

Rain and More.........

Exhausted

I wonder how long it will continue to rain.  Should I walk to the nearest bus stop in this downpour, or should I spend hard-earned money to  catch a cab?  Usually I walk the few miles home, as money is tight. With money earned my family needs to be fed. It has been a long day, and I am not fond of getting drenched and risking the ruin of my one good pair of work shoes that I saved so hard for.

I am exhausted from cleaning so many rooms of rude hotel guests who think nothing of scattering their litter everywhere, food wrappers and beer bottles and towels strewn everywhere, never considering just who will clean up after them.  And though they have money to stay in a first-class hotel and eat in the finest restaurants, I never see a dime for all of my efforts after they are gone.   I really don't know if I can make it home tonight, exhausted as I am, unless I take a cab.  If only I knew how long it would rain. If only I knew....   I could wait.

Waiting in the rain
a warm home seems far away
June can be so cruel.

This is written for dVerse Haibun Monday where we are writing to one of the pictures shared there!

Ripples

Ripples

I remember when I was young, and my mother took me to sail my small boat in the pool on the grounds of the Louvre.  It was the thing I liked to do best in my childhood days.  Mother sat on a bench lost in her book or sketch pad as  I sailed the world, captain of my own destiny. For hours I maneuvered my boat around the outline of the pool, my world filled with possibilities as deep as the ocean and dreams as high as clouds.  Oh the adventures I had on those carefree spring and summer days!  A daring and brave sailor was I, but kind and gentle too. And as I sailed I was filled with the joy of my unlimited tomorrows, all as sunny as today, and I felt so very good.

Dreams float as ripples
spring and possibility
in a cloudless sky.


This is written for Haibun Monday at dVerse!  Join us at 3 p.m. (ET) Monday; and write a Haibun to accompany one of the 'water photos' presented there.

Delight

Lilacs in the Sun - Claude Monet

Delight

She sang in amethyst tones
her voice vibrant and free

beauty radiated from her presence
love emanated from her soul

doves perched on her shoulder
squirrels ate seeds from her hand

she walked with sepia steps
amid sweet scent of lilacs

in life's cerulean stream she danced
while water encircled shivery toes

as cinnamon curls tossed in the breeze
she beamed a savory satin smile

with face to wind and arms to sky
she exclaimed I am happy to be alive.

This poem is written for Poets United Midweek Motif for the prompt 'energy - vitality.'
It was also written for Thursday's dVerse Meeting the Bar for the prompt 'synesthesia.'

And So It Is

My cousin (on the right) and his (deceased now) wife

And So It Is

And when I made my way toward her casket
he greeted me there and said
'this isn't the woman you remember,'
and I said 'no it isn't' as I told him
I remembered her with beautiful voice and smile,
always graceful and proud of her children
and not the shell of a person I saw now
before I felt the pull of the trees
that bent inside the church to claim me
and take me away from it all and
he was Tarzan and I was Jane and
as I swung on the tree branches I
remembered that he had babysat for me
when I was a child and he was my favorite
because he got down on the floor and played
but now his wife was a shell of herself
lying there as someone unrecognizable
because Alzheimers stole everything from her
and I tried not to cry when he told me
she is at peace now and with the Lord
and  I knew it was true but I couldn't help
swinging in the tree branches with him
and we smiled and smiled and smiled.


This poem is written for a prompt at dVerse Poetics.   I am also sharing it with Poets United Poetry Pantry. A short time ago I attended the funeral of my cousin's wife....pictured with her husband above.  Alzheimers is such a vicious thing!