
(Image description: Sunset over the ocean; the image framed by a heart shaped wave.)
Note: Many this week have felt weary for a host of reasons: The pandemic, prolonged lockdowns in many global locations, and long-term stress.
Here is a grouping of poems about light and hope. May you be encouraged.
(Several poems reference the “calming of the storm” – as recorded in several gospel accounts.)
Light a candle
For the those who cannot see
For the wounded whose cuts are unseen
For the trembling one without clarity of thought
Shine a light
For the ones just..barely hanging on
For those weary of the fight
And for those who are mistreated for simply existing
Shine a light
For those who mourn
And whose thoughts float along
With their beloved ones along the river
As neighbours gasp for breath
Hoping, they, to abide longer on the shore
Shine a light
For those seeking peace and healing and safety for all
Amid bombs going off in the night
Creating shelters
Out of everything they’ve got
A lean-to of the heart
(Steady on)
Shine a light
So that
The angry
Resistant
Reactant
Arrogant
Ignorant
Towers may topple
And never again rise
Shine a light
That every human
Might believe and hold on beyond this strife
Weary not of shining
Think of those whose light for you has shone
Shine a light
For those not yet moored
At the harbour
That they might find their way safetly home
—-
Storm
The storm
Has gone on and on
The bread eaten long ago
And here we are drenched
And bailing
The storm
Returning fast as we can
The storm to itself
Up over the side
(Be gone we cry! Til we are hoarse.)
The wind wails
Whines weeps
Sweeps, soaks our ears
And drys our eyes
We can hardly see
We hear hardly
Chapped with crisis and chaos
Hands coarse
Our ears ring
Our arms heavier and heavier
The weight of water
The weight of grief
How long
We cry
As we return again and again the storm
Up over the side
Saying “not here!”
May our feet stay dry
—
Asleep
Asleep
Almost an art piece of peace
Snoring
Full of bread
Teaching all day
Sleeping all night
Unwearied
Of heart
With us
Inviting us to join
Him
(At peace)
—
Up and Over
Up and over
In a moment
On his feet
Eyes
Hands
Voice
Louder than the storm
Silence
Ears ringing
As the sun beat down
Buckets in hands, forgotten
As they weary leaned
Upon each other
And as the boat reached land..
And all stared…
Who was this – with them?
–
Who
In the storm
In the boat
With us
Is who he is
And louder than the storm
Or the night
Yup. That’s him.
—
See
See your own freedom
Far from here
Joy and peace
See yourself
There
When all this has faded away
When and where laughter
and sleep
Both
Come easily
See you living
The story of restored
and healed
And yes
This can be here..
See…
Look…
LIFE is before you..
Good work. I appreciated the storm metaphor and the clever use of language and form.
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Thanks. 🙂
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