hawaiian spider lily

Uncategorized Mar 04, 2020

She reaches arms out,
little spindles, spokes
of a botanical wheel--
tentacles of light
about to explode
into floral fireworks.

In pre-profusion,
mystery yet unfurled,
she's overlooked,
ignored; no one cares
what she might be,
until one day she
bursts forth, emanation
white and star-like,
and then someone
...

Continue Reading...

arm and legs

Uncategorized Feb 19, 2020

                  “I would give an arm
          and a leg," she said, and then
               one day they were gone.

                 ...

Continue Reading...

peace, be still

Uncategorized Feb 12, 2020

A worried world won’t let the weary rest;
amid the clamorous din, beleaguered kneel,
begging for crumbs at the communal feast,
like hungry dogs scrounging for a meal,
and broken down, they long for sweet release,
balm of Gilead poured on beaten backs.

The rock at the base of the tree cries...

Continue Reading...

paw prints

Uncategorized Feb 05, 2020

Whatever walked ahead of me
  Left paw prints in the snow
And wild or domesticated,
  I will not, do not know. 

I think a squirrel or otter may
  Have passed this way before,
And humans with their canine friends
  Have passed this way before,

A bunny may have hopped this way,
...

Continue Reading...

broken scissors

Uncategorized Jan 29, 2020

She spoke her mind
like holy writ;
a double edged sword
of small proportions,
designed for parsing
joints and marrow,
for penetration
to the heart, words
now lying like broken
scissors, flattened in the street,
trampled underfoot.

Liz McFadzean

Continue Reading...

uppity women

Uncategorized Jan 22, 2020

Some of us know the privilege
of burning bras, of Title Nine
and following our bliss.
But, O, those uppity women
in Seneca Falls.  Shoulder to shoulder
they stand in crinolines and petticoats
that belie their ramrod backbones;
unwilling to settle for second class status
or scrabble for leftover...

Continue Reading...

standing in the gap

Uncategorized Jan 15, 2020

“This is not paradise, but we would really like it to be.”  Richard Lints

Throughout Advent I met twice a week with a friend to pray for our families, our church and our fractured country and world.  One of the weeks, as we struggled with the sense of frustration that we...

Continue Reading...

sign of jonah

Uncategorized Jan 08, 2020

Near the middle of Matthew’s gospel account, in Chapter 16, Jesus is asked by two separate groups of people to do something extraordinary.  This comes right after the account of Jesus feeding the masses with just seven loaves and a few small fish.  The two groups that approached...

Continue Reading...

christmas comes

Uncategorized Jan 01, 2020

Christmas comes.
We count down all the days;
We shop and shop and plan.
We decorate our place
In glistening lights again,
As Christmas comes.

Christmas comes.
We wrap up gifts, surprises
In boxes, paper, bows;
Anticipation rises
Amidst the candles' glow,
As Christmas comes. 

Christmas comes.
Despite...

Continue Reading...

o, holy night!

Uncategorized Dec 25, 2019

At the eastern edge of the estuary
The Widgeon floats and fishes
While Skimmers swoop and dive,
Piercing the smooth surface of the bay
Like the spines of a crown of thorns
Probing deeply through holy flesh
To purest life-nurturing blood;
And not to be counted out,
The Least Terns do their nightly dance,
...

Continue Reading...
Close