Trying to Make Peace With The Ways of Time and A Blessing For the New School Year

...and just like that; another summer in the books! 

The fast-forward of summer days are spilled

Like sunbeams on a leaf they glance then flit

Into that far-off place where time is stilled

While hearts make room to wear the ache of it

Daunting Unknown waits behind ev’ry door

We are not brave, save by the grace of God

For He alone can hear the heart implore

While all the while seasons fall prey to sod

We make peace with the hand of change and then

Before we scarce have learned its foreign drill

The hand of change changes its ways again

To jar the heart and vex our human will

And we would be intimidated, oft

By the relentlessness of tick and tock

As it deceives with kisses hunger-soft

Then leaves its laughter on the leaf-strewn walk

The brunt of years startles us with good-byes

Its August afternoon, castles of sand

Caught in the quick of summer-skies and sighs

As waves erase its traces from Time’s hand

Loss would be our lonely boast, but oh

Upon the bittersweet of Bygone’s isle

A fresh-faced cast of memories ebb-flow

To tease the face of time into a smile

© Janet Martin

The bus came early, before any of us were expecting it so the first back-to-school-morning had no time for sentimentality or voiced first-day-of-grade-nine-anxiety-attacks. I heard Matt giving Victoria some do and don’t advice just before the frantic ‘oh no! the bus!!’ scene…so, needless to say, no pictures; except one I couldn't resist of the neighbors across the road waiting for their bus on this rainy morning.

A Blessing For the New School Year

Lord, bless and keep them as they go

Hold them within Your care

Let laughter make their faces glow

As You instill our prayer

And let their way be blessed with friends

Help them be a friend too

For past mistakes, Lord, make amends

And help them start brand-new

Be with each teacher; make words wise

And kind and valuable

To these so young, their ears and eyes

So impressionable

Give them minds of discernment, Lord

As they learn what they can

Then, bless with happiness, each child

And young woman and man

© Janet Martin