In loving memory of my grandmother, Minnie Owens, 2001
When our loved ones depart this life,
They have eluded all of Earth’s strife
And angels take them to Heaven above
Where they are at peace, at peace like a dove.
Of course, we will all be sad,
But we should really be glad.
They have moved on to a better place –
Wonderful Heaven – filled with God’s grace.
It is our loss – but it’s Heaven’s gain.
Our loved ones will have no more pain.
In Heaven they will with the angels sing
And to the Lord honor and glory bring.
By JO & JD, 2001
“One day,” said the little girl--
She wanted to enjoy her childhood.
“One day, I’ll give my life to the Lord,
But for now I’m just a kid.”
“One day,” said the teenage girl--
She would only be a teen once.
“One day, I’ll serve the Lord--
A teenager can’t do much anyway.”
“One day,” said the bride-to-be--
She wanted to enjoy her honeymoon.
“One day, I’ll be a missionary,
But for now, I’m just a wife.”
“One day,” said the mother of three--
She had to teach her kids first.
“One day, when they’re grown I’ll be free,
Free to go wherever He calls.”
“One day,” said the elderly grandmother--
But now she was crippled and old.
“One day”—but one day became another,
And increasingly her age showed.
Soon she was on her deathbed--
She was weary, tired, and sick.
“One day,” she solemnly said,
“One day was much too late.”
Outer Beauty, Inner Beauty
Inspired by a challenge from a friend, 04-16-02
Outer beauty is the curls so golden,
Or the locks as dark as night.
Outer beauty is the eyes so round
That shine with a brilliant light.
Inner beauty is the heart so big
That gives of all its substance.
Inner beauty is the soul forgiving
That gives you another chance.
Outer beauty is the skin so white
That’s baby soft and smooth.
Outer beauty is the teeth so bright
That allude to certain youth.
Inner beauty is the ability to see
Past outward scars and flaws.
Inner beauty sets the spirit free.
It gives you a round of applause.
Outer beauty is what lust sees;
It sees what sin has done.
Inner beauty is what love sees;
It sees what Christ has done.
Snow Silences
01-16-03
The snow falls softly, lightly brushing my cheek.
Crystals form in my hair, making it sparkle.
Wind whistles through the branches, making them gently sway.
My footsteps are obscured, for snow falls steadily.
The snow falls steadily, kissing my cheek with flakes.
More crystals collect, dampening my hair.
Branches catch more wind, bowing with each gust.
My way will soon be lost, for snow falls severely.
The snow falls severely, cutting my face and cheeks.
Crystals begin to freeze, stiffening my hair.
Branches bend; the wind and snow break some.
My world is going black; I am lost in a blizzard.
Summer
01-23-03
In the days of summer warm,
When the breeze blows softly thru,
They all cease—the rain and storms
Lend the sky an azure blue.
Clouds float lazily in the sky;
The trees sway gently to and fro’.
A noise! ‘Tis bluebird’s whistled cry,
Sweetly singing both high and low.
He rushes through the grass so tall
To find a spot on which to land.
He settles on a petal small
And sings his song both loud and grand.
Alas! The summer days are o’er;
The endless days are now no more.
A Good Balance
3-16-08
Some people are rocks,
That never have fun.
Others are water--
Just "fun in the sun."
Some folks can't see
Past the end of their nose.
Others' interests vary,
Where'er the wind blows.
I like to think
That I'm right in between--
Not spotless or messy,
Just reas'nably clean.
On My Mind
1-12-11
I can’t remember a day that’s gone by
That I didn’t think of you at least once or twice.
Maybe one day, on down the road,
I’ll be able to keep your memory out.
But until that day, you will be on my mind,
Ever so softly, on my mind.
Good times replayed, happy and free,
Every day on my mind.
What if things turned out a different way?
A parallel universe, alternate reality.
“What if” is too big to know
So I’ll just keep my memories.
Maybe I’ll never let you out.
Just stay in my mind, quiet and small,
Float on the edges of my consciousness.
Stay in my mind, I’ll always remember,
Always on my mind.
Good Decisions
1-14-11
When I reach the end and I look back
Regrets seem piled up high.
A yelling match here,
A friend ignored there,
Then shining through in little cracks
My good decisions peek their eyes.
I sift through the bad to uncover the good
And there we were--
There we are--in all our splendor.
Our first date, our first kiss,
The first time we said “I love you”.
The ring, the vows, the dress--
So bright and glorious the day.
The honeymoon, our first-born son,
And all the days from then till now.
How did you do it?
Regardless--thank you--
You helped me make my good decisions.
Beautiful People
7-16-11
Long locks, clear eyes, skin smooth and clean.
What makes a beautiful person?
A deep tan, a well-placed dimple.
Can glasses frame the face?
A shy glance down, arms thrown open in jubilance.
Can a person be beautiful inside and out?
A chuckle, a smile, a kind greeting.
Is this touch out of concern?
Beautiful people roam throughout the earth, sprinkled among the more ordinary folk. They do not proclaim themselves for all to know, but instead exist on a higher plane. To find a beautiful person, one has to look deep and sure. A single characteristic most possess, but couple together the dashing good looks of a tender and generous soul, and a truly beautiful person is born.
I love you
10-14-11
To see with eyes that look beyond the surface, into the very soul of a person, that is how you see me. In little things that float in negative space your caring shows through. The light I dance in, the snow lightly falling and clinging to my hair, the joy of spinning slowly are ways I say that I care too. My heart should burst if I hold in my love. The rooftops have never heard of such depth and passion. The skies do not have space enough to hold all the letters of love I could write. The wind has never carried joy and happiness like mine before. Oh for the thrill of love, the vast fullness of the heart, the dark ocean-depth of passion shooting forth in brilliant bursts!
Directions
3-2-12
My heart says right but my head says left.
My arms reach up but my feet stay put.
My lips say mean but my eyes look soft.
My heart screams yes, but I whisper no.
Which way is up? Or will I drown?
Can the light of day reach deep inside?
I’m gonna fall down to the ground.
My heart has failed me one last time.
I will not listen to the tears.
I will not clean up the blood.
How can my heart know what is best?
It’s in a million pieces, broken, torn.