Home

Home


To invite someone into one's home
means one is willing to discard coat
of anonymity to expose what is real
shed every ounce of ambiguity
without usual superficial pretense.

Outside the home one can pretend
parade flamboyant finery for all to see
but inside dark corners are visible
the dust of one's life is on display
an invitation to see is an act of faith

To invite someone into one's home
is a sign of trust that the other
will still find one worthy despite
unwashed dishes in the sink
and carpet replacement overdue

To invite someone into one's home
is an act of courage as well as a gift
to accept an invitation is a willingness
to observe what is real and true and
to know secrets beneath the surface.

This is written for Poets United Poetry Pantry

Absence

Absence

Our lives are surrounded by absences
parents who have left us
pets who have crossed the bridge
children who have moved away
friends no longer in our lives
lovers who have moved on

Some absences we welcome
absence of illness
absence of pain
absence of loneliness
absence of toxic people
absence of fear
absence of winter chill

Some absences leave a hole
absence of purpose
absence of a full family table
absence of hope
absence of faith
absence of passion
absence of a place to belong

May we come to accept that
absence makes presence possible
that absence is not void
but can inspire the great
reaching out to something new
to fill the echoing void
loving acceptance of what
is already present in our lives

Our lives are surrounded by absences
may we find the presences hidden within.


Written for Poets United Poetry Pantry.

Travel

Travel

Every time you leave home
you travel somewhere......

sometimes it is a familiar path
and sometimes the journey
brings you somewhere
you did not choose to go

Some paths are busy
and you meet many people
and some streets are bare
and you have only yourself
for company

When you travel
the importance may be hidden
until some future time
when you reflect
on all you have seen

Even if you travel with someone
you really travel all alone
as your thoughts are yours
and your inner journey
belongs to only you

and when you return home
you should be refreshed
enriched by the path you took
chosen or unchosen
the journey was yours alone

Every time you leave home
you travel somewhere.....

Written for Sunday's Poetry Pantry

Keep the Faith

Keep the Faith

When the light around you lessens
seek the flicker in the dark
there is always a spark to be found

When your voice begins to quiver
continue to speak your words
know you are being heard

When the world seems unsteady
and the ground beneath you shakes
seek a hand of support.

When you feel bereft of faith
look deep within your soul
one spark will become a flame.

Keep the faith.

For Poetry Pantry
Do you ever write a poem to inspire yourself?
Occasionally I do.  This is one of those poems.

Bloom

Bloom

As the blooms of summer fade away
I await the bloom of hope
to dispel feelings approaching doom
these early September days

the climate is on the cusp of change
anxiety hovers wearily in the air
future lurks heavy beyond the horizon
I wring hands and wonder

what will November bring.

For Poetry Pantry this first Sunday in September


I wrote this poem in September, 2016, before the last Presidential election.  This poem is interesting to me now, as I was feeling quite anxious about who would be elected.  As it turned out, my anxiety was warranted.  I am sharing this poem again  - as now I am more than a bit anxious about our November elections -- Senators, Representatives, governors nationwide.