Christmas Lights Upon My Tree

Christmas lights upon my tree
Sparkle, glimmer, and smile at me
The advent candles flicker and glow
Standing tall so all can know
Christmas time is growing near
Listen close and you might hear
The carol sung by every soul
Of joy and love that won't let go
It's a beautiful sound that rings out cheer
A sound so bright and loud and clear
Bring joy tonight, do not grieve
For tonight, it's Christmas Eve
Make sure to light your Christmas tree
And think fondly of the carol you sing
Be kind to everyone, what joy you share
When you smile and show everyone you care
You light the room up for all to see
Like a brightly lit Christmas tree.

Winter

Chills that grip your skin and bones
Refuse to let go and leave you alone
White blankets cover the ground
As the night winter wind howls and pounds
Against the house, my windows and walls
Louder than the woman that calls
out a name into the night
But it's caught by the wind and swept out of sight
Snowflakes fall, unobserved
Falling, falling to the earth
Each unique, none the same
A couple gather on my window pane
A dreamy sight, the endless white
That glows and glimmers in the moon light
So gentle, peaceful, falling still
Touching every heart it fills
This time of year with joy and hope
A sweetly silent gentle note
Of peace on earth good will to man
There's joy in this winter wonderland.

What Good is Today?

Poetry Prompt - Write a poem using the following start: "What good is a day..."


What good is today if I couldn't elicit a smile
From my favorite person in the world so wide
If I can't say I did my best to go the extra mile
For the world and the people inside
If I can't say I was friendly and helpful
If I can't say I was strong and had courage
If I can't say I was kind and not hurtful
And had wisdom beyond my age
If I can't say I was kind to those in need
If I can't say I was kind to those who don't need it
If I can't say I planted the seed
If I can't say I earned the air I breathed in
And out. I need to care for that air
I need to care for this ground
It's all we've got, so we should all care
And it all starts with one and then goes around.
The most I can hope is to be one or two
In an effort for tomorrow.
I hope to be caring and true
Save your tears and sorrow
Together, as one we rise and take flight
A movement to move from darkness to light.

Old Poetry

Old Poetry

You have betrayed me

Yet showed me growth 

Showed me a young innocence

So ignorant to the imminence 

Of hormone imbalances and

Permanence like shifting sand

You showed me how I dealt with pretentious jerks.

Showed me how I wrote poems with titles identical to existing works
A natural born parody writer aspiring toward originality

With faith in infinite generativity
With childlike eyes and a smile so wide
To make darker rooms bright 
I wrote makeshift poetry
I wrote old poetry
Old ideas, already used
Recycled and abused
But learning did occur, thank goodness
I no longer look like a total novice.

Uninspire Me

Uninspire me

I'm too full of poetry

Writer's block is a blessed curse

A drought of money within my purse

Nothing to spend; nothing to waste

Nothing to encourage a refined taste

Nothing too polished; nothing too pure
A flowing stream with a dry drought cure
A deadline approach, inspiration much needed
A clear mind wanted, yet the ground is well-seeded
The soil is sometimes a little too fertile
Inspiration doesn't always come with free will
Some days, inspiration is a rowdy  din
A fight for attention fought within
Other days, it's quiet - too quiet
Too quiet to want to fight it
Poetry poetry poetry too many words
There are subjects nouns adjectives verbs
Tenses, numbers - So many combinations!
So much to write, such little time for creation.
This is the poet's issue.

Fences

Poetry Prompt - Write a poem using the prompt: "chain-link fence"


Chain-link fences separate me from you
Chain-link fences turn the sky from blue
To rainy gray rusty patches
Some brown some copper, nothing matches
Chain link fences convolute faces
Keep me from going to the places
That draw me closer, closer to you
Keep me from doing things I could do
Like running, running, running free
But this chain link fence is holding me
Back from freedom - open skies
Keep the sunshine from my eyes.
Clearly marked metal boundaries
Like that foamy line between land and sea
Keep the freedom far from me
But I won't rest until I see
Sunlight and open sunny space
And that smile upon your face
Saying
             Welcome home, welcome home.

Don't Turn Away (Part 5 + End)

Next, I came back to the States,
Found my self in a high school's hallways
A cluster  of students surrounded a boy with glasses
"Stop it guys, I just want to get to class!"
He clutched his books close to his chest
Sucked in a deep breath
And tried to push through the students
Attempting a cool hand at prudence
But they  continued to push him around,
Grabbing his books and throwing them down
Onlookers passed, no sympathy seen
Those who were not involved considered themselves lucky
This time, I felt something
But could do nothing
I was paralyzed, unable to do anything but watch
as the bullies took it up a notch
The bell saved the boy
and he stooped to gather his books, annoyed
He saw me and then turned
And the feelings inside me began to burn
I was tired of doing nothing, but it was no longer a choice
I'd lost control and my voice
The anger continued to burn away

And I had no choice but to turn away

~

When I woke up, my heart raced
Chris, beside me, turned to face
Me "So what'd you get out of that session?"
I laughed at his innocent expression
He had no clue
that I had slept through
the session, so I said, "More than you could know"

Don't Turn Away (part 4)

Next, I landed in a central Indian market, People all around
But i only saw a girl and her father, the girl keeping her eyes on the ground
"She will go to school and have a very good life"
Said a man with a gleam in his eyes as sharp as a knife
"I give you 100 rupees, you give me girl
I pay you to let me rebuild her world."
The young girl bit her lip, afraid to leave her dad
Something about this seemed wrong and bad
Her dad looked at the money and then to her
This seemed like a wonderful offer
and blinded by the fact he couldn't even feed her daily
He agreed and thanked the man with overflowing glee
While this was happening, the girl saw me standing nearby
and could tell I knew what really happening in my mind's eye
I considered speaking up, but had suddenly become mute
But the transaction was over, There was nothing I could do
The man took the girl's hand, leaving her dad behind
She looked over her shoulder to wave goodbye
And she turned once more to me, looked me in the eye
I knew I should've stepped in to help
And I was shocked at what I felt
Nothing, nothing I could do or say

And I turned away

Don't Turn Away (part 3)

Next I flew east and landed in Africa
Found myself in a village of Uganda
Watching a girl who was at least 12
Gripping a necklace made of shells
She hugged a young boy, fear in her eyes
He hushed her, "Quiet, don't cry.
If they take me, I'll be all right
I'll think of you every night.
I must go now back to the hut
back to my family before the warning comes."
With that he turned and left her behind
As she remained and feared for his life
The soldiers were closing in, recruiting boys to fight for a cause that was not  their own
They recruited them young and old; even boys that were not yet fully grown
The girl knew she might lose her best friend,
Never see him again
Above all else, she needed hope
That I could have given her, but no
When she turned to me for some type of help
And I was shocked at what I felt
Nothing, nothing I could say

And I turned away

Don't Turn Away (part 2)

The first thing I saw was the radiant sunrise
The beams so gloriously bright
In a dazed dream state, I sat back to enjoy the show
and let this adventure take me wherever I was to go

First I travelled South to Haiti an island
To meet a girl who was nine and
who fought to ease the continuous shaking
From When three years ago the earth was quaking
and she couldn't make it stop
She cried out for her mom
Then  her mom had saved her, but not herself
When her girl went to find help
She knew her mom was gone
She sat on the debris-covered lawn
and hugged herself so tight
Knowing that this was not right
She became angry that her mom had left
(which) Left her with all the chores and stress
of taking care of a family on her own
I saw her, only 9 years old
She was shaken with sad
Feeling like with her mom, she lost all she had
Her eyes cried out to me and asked for help
And I was shocked at what I felt
Nothing, nothing I could say
And I turned away

Don't Turn Away (part 1)

I recently had a vision-like daydream and just had to write it down
I almost couldn't, but my heart felt bound
As well as drowned, and I'll tell you why
Let me tell you the whole story, well, I'll try
First, the setting I must confess
I'm sixteen at a college student conference, no less
Where speakers told us of lostness and need
That we are the workers to reap the seed
"The harvest is plentiful, the workers are few
Go into the harvest, where God will have you"
I confess my chair had become invitingly comfy
My eyes were with lack of sleep heavy
I was staring out a window, eyes glazed over
All my attention had reached closure
I couldn't think straight and ward off sleep
The man on stage had just started his speech
On nations in need
And poverty
But my mind was elsewhere
The location unclear
Until some sun shattered the clouds
And everything disappeared from the ceiling to the ground.
That is where my journey begins

So come along and join me, friends

If You Just Believe {old song lyrics}

Verse 1

 Do you know in your heart that you are worth it?

Do you know in your mind to Him you are perfect?

Do you know with your all that you are strong?

Do you know He's been with you all along 

Chorus:

If you just believe that He can

If you just believe and give Him your hands 

If you just believe He is victorious 

If you just believe that He is glorious

If you just believe that this He can do

If you just believe because He believes in you

Verse 2

Do you know in your dreams you can fly?

Do you know in His hands, "You are Mine"?

Do you know in His sight you are new?

Do you know that in time, you'll see the truth?

(Chorus)

Verse 3

Do you know everyday you bring glory?

Do you know that your life is your story?

Do you know that He is all you need?

Do you know there is more than you can see — 

There's more to you and me 

(Chorus + refrain)

Snowflakes

Each snowflake is a work of art

Each one is unique

The snow is my favorite part

Of Christmas's many treats

Most Christmasses here are not white

But once in a while, it is

So we do our best not to white

But take everything as is

Because each day is like a snowflake

Each day is different

But they'd be boring if the same

So make sure time is well spent

Each moment is as meticulous 

as the snowflake's form

So look for the beauty, simple and fabulous

Look for difference from the norm

Because that is where the beauty is

right below the surface

Right below the chaotic fizz

and right above the lower unknown and darkness

Foggy Evening

Tall trees –

Stationary giants

Silhoutted in the night.

Pacifistic soldiers

Stand against

Fog-reflected light.

The silence

Fattens the fog –

Brings it down into dewy drops

On the ground

Crystal clear

The air convoluted in the suspended fog

Distorted giants

Tremble then still

In an invisible breeze on the night air.

The leaves

Rustle and giggle

A gentle whispering everywhere

Catches my breath

in a thick, muggy snapshot

Everything suspended 

Still and motionless

In floating tiny drops.