swinging in the wind
temple bells
sing songs of joy
joy
Christmas Thoughts
Snow falls in a
driving wind.
If the roads become
too awful, I will
celebrate Christmas
alone.
An awful experience?
No.
Beauty lies outside the windows and
in my heart.
Heat radiates from the fire.
Food fills my refrigerator.
Music bursts from CDs’.
Joy!!
Christmas always brings delight and
reflection.
You do not have to be a Christian to
feel the meaning:
Kindness
Tolerance
Empathy
Giving
Receiving
Accepting
Families
Friends
Love
Joy!!
The Encounter Poems
Throughout my life, I seem to experience what I call encounters: meeting people I never saw before and having some type of connection with them. Various things occur under these circumstances. Sometimes I keep in contact for at least a while with these people and sometimes not. This week I am going to post several of these poems. Here is the first one.
In Line at a Fast Food Restaurant
Caramel eyes
glowing in a brown face
Panama hat
Intricately carved silver cross
Crisp, snowy linen shirt
No collar
Slacks loose.
He’s lost weight.
I think,
“Gorgeous brown man.”
He says,
“In case no one has told you lately,
you’re gorgeous!”
He walks off to meet
the pregnant woman in the corner.
Recipe for Life
Yesterday, I attended the memorial service for an extraordinary woman, Paula Porterfield. As a young woman she exhibited remarkable intelligence and leadership skills. She attended college and became a nurse. Then without warming, schizophrenia struck. She kept on going and attained a second degree. She never gave up. Her generosity and kindness remain legendary. She both loved and wrote poetry, created hand made gifts for friends, and gave endlessly, never complaining no matter how bad her health, how distressing her living conditions, or how badly her hands shook. She never spoke ill of others. She modeled how to live life well in spite of awful odds. Here is her recipe for life:
3 c. Love
1 c. Understanding
2 tbsp. Concern
2 tsp. Emotional Security
2 tbsp. Joy
4 tbsp. Hope
1 c. Loyalty
3/4 c. Committment
Pinch of Support
Cream Love and Understanding. Mix Concern and Emotional Security. Fold in Joy and Hope. Sift Loyalty and then blend in pinch of Support and Commitment. Sprinkle with Humor and cover with Dreams.
Put into a beautiful Being and share with the world.
Paula will be missed.
writingontherim 