poetry party 58, Shine!

This is an offering in Abbey of the Arts'
poetry party 58, "Shine!"



shiny hopes

under my feet
a quilt of jasmine stars
over my head
a spangle of sky stars
summer breezes
surround me and
send hope shimmering
send despair scurrying away

poetry party 56: detours

In Praise of Detours, Abbey of the Arts poetry party 56. Christine invites us "to write a poem in praise of detours…one you have taken, or one you long to take."

This time I'm using my own photo; it's the labyrinth at the church up the hill from where I live. Jacob, who's now a university sophomore, designed and made it for his Eagle Scout project! updated in August 2015: Jacob graduated from University a year ago, and has been working since then.



detours and diversions (I long to take)

I knew I was keepin' on in the same direction
but straight as I tried to tread
the path veered, circled, backtracked and turned
to where I needed to be
I've heard in a dream
how the road that led you away
will turn and lead you home
home is what I need
I pray this time I'll get there

poetry party: jubilee edition

Abbey of the Arts poetry party 50



The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
Isaiah 35:1-2

Christine says, "I invite you to write a poem this week about this dual call of the desert and springtime.  How do you experience the invitation to simplicity?  How do you embrace the new life springing forth in your heart?"

I've illustrated this text from 1^st Isaiah several times, but today I'm including Christine's sunny photograph of crocuses—something else I've been known to draw and paint on occasion.

This is the 50^th poetry party, so it's the Jubilee edition! In the biblical Jubilee Year, debts are forgiven, land lays fallow and rests, and all creation rejoices in a new reality of freedom. Luke 4 records Jesus' fulfillment of Isaiah 61: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me … to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives ... To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

this time
simplicity needs to seek me out
new life needs first to embrace me
weariness overwhelms me
my head, heart, spirit and will
remain far too broken
and winter has been too long
yet we know the story—
when winter’s gone
the ground springs to life
love surprises us again
creation is healed
all creation is free to be
it is easter!

poetry party 41

Christine has announced Abbey of the Arts poetry party 41 and book giveaway so I'm participating and she tells us the books from the giveaway all have been given away, yay!

All month long I've been blogging daily thanks for National Blog Month, and I'm delighted to offer a few more reasons for thanksgiving.

I am excited about my Facebook page, suntreeriver design and all my fabulous fans. Since suntreeriver design debuted on Facebook just over six months ago, I've featured galleries of my own design along with ten guest artists so far; two more guests are scheduled for the near future.

Last Sunday we celebrated the reign of the crucified Man of Sorrows and risen King of Glory, and my heart holds immense gratitude for a God Who chose to come to earth in flesh that fails, bones that break, dreams that shatter and plans that implode and that God continues choosing far less than ideal circumstances as the ongoing locale of continuing Self-revelation

A Facebook friend quoted from Shane Claiborne in Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals "Christianity is at its best when it is peculiar, marginalized, suffering, and it is at its worst when it is popular, credible, triumphal, and powerful...." Despite my own tremendous ambivalence and pain, in many ways I yet am thankful for all these years of loneliness, marginalization and far less than full participation in church and world. After all, I'm a theologian so I do paradox and ambiguity very very well.

As we move into Advent's call to repentance and hope and then to the Nativity, the birth of the Baby Boy in Bethlehem, how can I not be everlastingly grateful for the Savior "Of Jesse's lineage coming ...amid the cold of winter when half-spent was the night" and for the Good News Jesus still brings, a gospel that fully engages and that calls us to stewardship of all creation.

poetry party 32: from dust to dust

abbey of the arts poetry party 32
from dust to dust

Ash Wednesday
cascading memories
Mississippi Delta dirt
Nana's zinnias
daffodils springing from Salem soil
on to the university greenhouse
begonias in living room flowerpots
digging troughs for tulips on 5th avenue
Heather's perennials
Nick's greenery
condo complex landscape committee
Ash Wednesday
liturgy and another memory
I am dust and
starlight and
golden
Jesus takes us back to the garden

poetry party 30

poetry party 30 – wings/taking flight
About twice a month, Christine Valters Paintners from Abbey of the Arts has a poetry party. This time I'm posting here and on this far by faith, my testimony blog where I usually participate in the poetry parties (and where I typically play Friday 5). As always, Christine hints at a possible focus and direction:

"In the US, today is of course Martin Luther King, Jr. day ...And tomorrow is Inauguration Day... So I invite you to enter into the image below. ...Write a poem about the process or the moment, or perhaps in honor of the significance of this day or tomorrow. (Photo taken at St. Bart’s church in NYC last spring)"

the angel
an ev-angelical
a messenger
"good newser"
announces fear not
to us has arrived a God-spell
a whispered do not be afraid
lift every voice and sing
our new day begins!