Evaluating Point of View

When we recognize the Giver of all we are privy to

It affects our behavior and humbles our point of view

For all we have and hold to buoy us through highs and lows

Should make us meekly thankful for the blessings grace bestows

And never should we dare to raise a proud and haughty head

But ever be compelled to praise the Good Giver instead

And never dare to utter thoughts of complaint or ill will

But bear in mind mercies designed His purpose to fulfill

© Janet Martin

While We All Are Feeling Our Way...

He has told you, O man, what is good; 

and what does the LORD require of you 

but to do justice, and to love kindness, 

and to walk humbly with your God?
 Micah 6:8

I had hoped through all ‘This’ most of us would turn more loving 

but it seems its still the same; loving only on our terms 

and hating with a passion those who do not agree! 

And we cannot blame this on COVID-19, only on our hearts!

Seems some things never change; 

below an excerpt from a conversation between Robbie Burn's father and a neighbour

in Scotland in the 1700s

from the book The Wind That Shakes The Barley

Not one of us had been through anything like this before

Some call it COVID -19 while others have called it war

So while we all are feeling our way through the unknowns

Let’s make our greatest effort yet to love and not throw stones

This life we live is precious and a sacred, single leap

Not much we can take with us to that Great Immortal Sleep

So while we have each other, should we not strive to be kind

For though we take nothing with us, we leave so much behind

...and all the stones we hurl accomplish only hate, not love

No matter how uncertain times may be, we ought to prove

Not with loud lashing out about things we see but in part

But with sacred awareness for He who beholds the heart

The greatest of these, love, does not release us from its charge

When we are disappointed in life's circumstance At Large

But even greater then, the need that we stand strong and true

Revering life’s Creator with what we are called to do

Abhor that which is evil and cling to that which is good

And though we are appalled at evil's multiplying brood

Pray we do not confuse opinion with our Utmost Call

To love Him and each other; this, the Greatest Law of all

Advancement does not absolve our 'whole duty of man'
These modern days we live in too will end where Time began
And pray, what will we do when, face to face with God above

He opens up our book of life and finds we failed to love

© Janet Martin

 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: 

Fear God and keep His commandments, 

because this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment, 

along with every hidden thing, 

whether good or evil.

Eccles.12:13-14

 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart 
and with all your soul
 and with all your mind.’^[a]  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it:
 ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matt.22:36-40 

 We are all COVID-19-restriction weary, but come on,
let's not make it worse by hurling stones as we disagree on how things should be handled!
 Let's please use this as a time to love more, not hate more!
Things are hard enough without lack of love!

First Day of May Farewell...

First day of May is almost done

Tossed in the rays of the setting sun

Fading back to where it all began

Always a-once-in-a-lifetime span

First day of May is almost spent

Going the way that all other days went

Never to warm to its smiling hello
Or bear the brunt of its less stellar blow

First day of May is almost cast

One Journey Schooner has lowered its mast

Soon to be harbored at far westward shore

Never to sail time's high sea anymore

© Janet Martin

Woodland Vespers

Then May!

Happy, Happy 

Sweet-sweet welcome,

May!!

A few first day of May thrills...

We weathered the tether

Of parka-mitt weather

We shoveled and shoveled some more

We hailed snowflake-choirs

And stoked smoky fires

And wished old Man Winter would snore

We pined for first flowers

Withstood pelting showers

In hopes of a grand hip-hooray

Because always after

The storm spills the laughter

Because first comes April

Then May

We dreamed in full color

And planned garden-splendour

(No aphids to vex fantasy)

We endured the mayhem

Of March-April tantrums

Knowing that what must be must be

We baked till the oven

Protested the lovin’

Of bread, bun and muffin foray

We shook the dust-bunnies

From book-nooks and crannies

Because first spring-cleaning

Then May

We pored over packets

Forgot last year’s headaches

That planting is certain to bring

We flung windows widely

Then drew them shut tightly

With blue lips and teeth chattering

We busied our fingers

While dizzy with hunger

For blossomed and sun-warm entrée

We waited and waited

Till one morn, elated

April turned a corner

 Then May

© Janet Martin



Enough...

We sprawl ‘neath a shawl

of bottomless blue sky

And soak in a sauna

of sun

It is enough

Enough, we sigh

To know spring fought winter

And won

We take to the yard

All poets at heart

Whether we admit it 

or not

Imbibed with a sheen

Of countryside-wide green 

The shiver of winter

(almost) Forgot

© Janet Martin

Last night the stars fell

in violets

Dotting a sky of green

I tiptoe

For fear I will

wake up

And find it was only

A dream

 © Janet Martin