Hidden Hope

The meaning is hidden now…

I know

But you do not long remain

A child

…and our hope

Is to raise

Not a child

But honorable,

Independent

Willing

Hard-working

Contributing

Adults

My dear,

The present is always

Vapor on our fingers

But the future depends

On it

The meaning is hidden now

But what you are learning

Is not for today

But for an eternity of

Tomorrows

Janet Martin

Dad, Mom, the future is in our hands...ever so briefly!

Hidden Art

Poetics Aside Prompt: hidden

Mom, why do we need to learn this? they wail
To learn the art of learning, her reply

God, why do I need to learn this, she wails
To learn the art of trusting, His reply

Janet~

Hidden Ocean

Sometimes I keep hidden

Those thoughts I should let show

The pride I have in my children

And the gift of watching them grow

Oh, they all know that I love them

And often I tell them so

But the depth of it is hidden

In life’s constant ebb and flow

Beneath the holding and scolding

The trial and error of youth

I see the future unfolding

And past’s undaunted truth

Time’s swift tumble is hidden

In a volley of laughter and tears

It comes and leaves, unbidden

From moments to hours to years

…passing through my fumbling fingers

Its eagerness I cannot quell

But oft in the evening lingers

A low and bleeding knell

…because sometimes I keep hidden

Those things that I should not

While time speeds by unbidden

On the heels of second-thought

© Janet Martin

…I remember my dad telling me,

‘there is so much I want to say in too short a time’

Often he spoke by the way he lived and I am learning

as I watch my children grow, that what I thought at times was ‘hidden’

was there all along…and suddenly I hear him, not by what he said, but by what he did.

The photo was taken the other night when I insisted that Matt and Tori come with me on my run/walk. The protested vehemently and then ended up having a blast! 
This could be the beginning of a beautiful...habit;)

Poetics Aside Prompt. hidden

Inside the Bud

Under those freckles

And under your blush

Beneath your ‘caught-between’ voice

Of adolescent rush

Inside this bud

Of ruddy tan

I see the stirring

Of a man

© Janet Martin

Poetics Aside Prompt: hidden

Easter/Hope Sonnet

Come; lay your sin-stained burden at His feet

Oh, do not try to carry it alone

He bids us come to heaven’s mercy-seat

Forgiveness pours in oceans from His throne

The way of man is doomed to fear and need

The vile deceiver taunts with poisoned fruit

Brushing his vulgar lies against our greed

Desiring to draw us from Saving Truth

But hark, what rings across earth’s weary field?

“Come;” it is by His stripes that we are healed

When will this endless war and fighting cease?

When will we lay down hate and embrace love?

Oh, look upon love's glorious Prince of Peace

Did He not leave His holy throne above?

To suffer in the place of wretched men

And give His life for all humanity

A ransom for our awful debt of sin

He died; a perfect Lamb, to set us free

How long will we resist Hope's grand appeal?

Come; it is by His stripes that we are healed

The wages of our sinful lust is death

The gift of God is everlasting life

He sealed redemption's plan with His last breath

As ‘it is finished’ lifts us from this strife

Dare we to scoff at such a work as this?

Or break his heart and turn away our eyes?

Dare we to face Him then without His gift

And thus reject eternal paradise?

The day of grace is now; oh will we yield?

Come; it is by His stripes that we are healed

© Janet Martin

Inspired as I listened to Alas, and did My Savior bleed (link in previous post)

³ He was despised and rejected by mankind,
   a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
   he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

 ⁴ Surely he took up our pain
   and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
   stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
   and by his wounds we are healed.  Isa. 53:3-5

For the wages of sin is death,

but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

I Don't Understand...

Just As I Am... 

Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed...

I don’t understand

As I look upon

His nail-scarred hands

and thorny crown…

…and as I think how He

put on flesh

so we may obtain

His righteousness…

…or how the perfect

Lamb of God

Left heaven

For this sin-cursed sod…

…or how, when He knelt

In Gethsemane

His thoughts were for

Humanity…

…and how, as He hung

Upon that tree

His cries were still

For you and me…

…or as the spear

Thrust deep, His side

It was still for us

He cried…

…or how, by

Jesus' dying breath

We receive life

Through His death…

No, I don’t understand

Why I receive...

...but this I know

I believe

© Janet Martin

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 

 not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish 

but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him.

John 3 :16-17

Cause and Effect...

Song: Jesus paid it all

Dear God,

Our hatred causes us to do the unthinkable

But oh, God

Your love causes us to believe the impossible!

Janet Martin

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, 

so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Cor. 5:21

No 'Free' in Freedom...repost

Somberly, up the quiet tree-lined street
The steady stream of solemn ranks are led,
As sun-beams dance to the drummer’s beat
Filtering through the branches overhead
Beyond the tears and past the trees
The music of a small child’s laughter swells
Stark contrast to the infantry
Bowing ‘neath the tolling of the bells

Then, as the bag-pipe sound exalts
The melody of sweet Amazing Grace
The banner-covered coffin halts
For it has reached its final resting place
The last note fades, the cannon flies
Echoing across a distant shore
But none as stirring as the mother’s cries
“There’s no ‘free’ in freedom anymore

Put down your banners, lay down your guns
My sweet baby boy has died
Tributes, salutes, many battles won
Won’t bring him back” she cried
“Take away all the roses for nothing will be
Like it ever was before
The price of freedom is too hard for me
There’s no ‘free’ in freedom anymore”

Freedom (part two)

Up the rocky skull-strewn trail
A teaming, screaming throng of hatred surged
Swarming ‘round a form so pale
Upon a place called Calvary they converged
Beyond the tumult, wild and raging
Not a solitary friend is found
Stark contrast to the shouts and praising
As the palm-tree branches decked the ground

Then as the sound of steel on steel
Rings beyond the horror on the hill
As they drive in each cruel nail
‘Gainst the cries of ‘Father, not My will’
And as they raise the blood-stained cross
In victory the maddened thousands roar
As Mary weeps her deepest loss
“There’s no ‘free’ in freedom anymore

Take away your hammers, lay down your swords
My dear precious son has died”
As the lightning flashed and the thunder roared
There at His feet she cried
“Take away all your hatred, your jeers and chanting
For you have slain my Lord
Take away all your weapons, your raging and ranting
There’s no ‘free’ in freedom anymore”

There’s no ‘free’ in freedom, oh what a price
So that we may be set free
There’s no ‘free’ in freedom, love's sacrifice
Is beyond understanding for me
There’s no ‘free’ in freedom, let us value each day
And cherish each living breath
Oh, what a price someone needs to pay
For the cost of freedom is death

Janet~

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross...Fernando Ortega

Before My Time

I've heard tell

Before my time

Poets revered 

Rhythm and rhyme

Janet~

Poetics Aside Prompt: before our time...
I just couldn't resist this;)

Before Micro-mentality

Before micro-waves, dishwashers

Riding mowers, computers, cell-phones

Before instant potatoes, rice, oatmeal or pizza

Before instant anything

Before gyms to de-stress

Or talk of fitness

 

Before X-box, i-pod, Nintendo

You-tube, game-boy and  500 TV channels

There were twenty-four hour days

Of hard-work…and play

…and front-porches in the evening

With families on them

© Janet Martin

Poetics Aside Prompt:  write a poem about something before your time.

The Glory Days

Image Source: gazettextra.com

First game of the season...

They tumble onto the ice

Miniature robots

And darting minnows

Each a super-star

In the rite of innocence

Because at four and five years old

You can do nothing wrong

These are the true glory days

© Janet Martin

I read an article inviting kids to Mites/Tykes Hockey...

"Come! chill out and have fun because mites hockey is all about having fun! That’s all!"

What happened to the rest of the levels? Oh, right! Expectation…and fear of failure.
 

NaPOWriMo Prompt: In honor of opening day! 

Here is one of my all-time Favorites by Kenny Rogers

 

Sullied Intention

I would stay up all night to love

You. I am eager for your charms

I have no objection as you delight

Me. Weaver of a thousand poems…

Your phantom lips breathe thought

I have never heard

as my expired dream is stirred

and resurrected by a jot

of crazy longing in my thought

for you have never sought my heart

without intent to tear apart

the wall of my guarded torment

you scale it; the resistance I attempt

insists on begging you to stay

for you are never far away

and yet you dangle in mid-air

somewhere beyond

my hemisphere

perhaps, perhaps I ought to sleep

I cannot write; you’ve cut too deep

J~

Of Great Privilege

It is no small thing

This privilege we are given

To approach the throne of grace

And God of earth and Heaven

To make our wants and wishes known

And claim His victory as our own

It is no mere thought

That we can freely call

Upon the Name of Christ the Lord

Creator of us all

That He who formed us from the dust

May be the One in whom we trust

When we beckon to Him

It is no casual place

That we approach with love and shame

To kneel in His embrace

But by His holy Blood-drops spilt

He vanquishes our debt of guilt

It is no small thing

This little word called prayer

As He makes intercession

For those groans we cannot bear

And there He lavishes on us

The hope we find in Him, JESUS!

© Janet Martin

 Pray without ceasing; 1 Thess. 5:17

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26

Four Easter Tankas

The Tanka is a Japanese poem of five lines. The first and third are composed of five syllables, and the others seven. In Japanese, tanka is often written in one straight line, but in English and other languages, we usually divide the lines into the five syllabic units: 5-7-5-7-7.

Poetic Bloomings Prompt: tanka poem

While I chose my pride

He chose three nails and a cross

A spear in his side

While rivers of holy blood

Poured in streams of redemption

***

While I stood with them

Scoffing to hide my just fear

He gave perfect love

As He bowed His thorn-crowned Head

Declaring, ‘it is finished’

 ***

While I stood condemned

Jesus signed my redemption

With His sacred blood

And now all who will believe

May have everlasting life…

***

(I was going to stop here, but how can I? One more tanka of humble grateful praise)

Sing hallelujah

Lift your voice in joyful praise

Christ reigns forever

This King calls us His children

All we must do is believe

~Janet Martin~

100% Crazy

The way you unzip my heart

with your half-grin words

the way you undo my will

in an almost perfect hurt

the way you touch me

from a thousand miles away

drives me 100% crazy

every day

the way you lure me

with vowels and consonants

holding me captive

without resistance

because the seduction of poetry

will have its way

and drive me 100 % crazy

every day

what perfect torment

of soul you have stirred

in the inexplicable haunting of

unwritten word

for Muse oft elusive

will have her way

and drive me 100% crazy

every day

J~

Poetics Aside Prompt: 100%....something

A Couple of Blues Songs

Housewife Blues

Mama always said that there’d be days like this

Oh, mama always said that there’s be days like this

But ‘dis dog days been so doggone long, I think that’s all there is

Chil’runs got my van and they got my money too

Oh, them chil’run’s got my van and they got my money too

But they brung the van back with an empty tank, what is a mom to do?

Sonny, grab a pail, the roof’s begun to leak

Oh, sonny grab a pail ‘cause the roof’s begun to leak

But we’ll be fine, a little laughter and wine, until sunshine next week

Got me some lovin’ and I got me some singin’ to do

Got me some prayin’ and got me some thankin’ too

The Lord never leaves us, we’re gonna make it through

Blues Song

he flew in on a horse with one bad knee

naw, he rode in on a dragon from the sea

and everyone wondered who this man could be

he stole the heart of every maid in town

no, he stole the will of every girl around

while every man began to hunt him down

his words were brilliant like a halo-wreath

his words were smooth as honey-buttered breath  

but when he smiled he had maggots in his teeth

sally, don’t chase those lies of  azure blue

he’s a’gonna break your spirit if you do

‘cause nothin’s gonna last that’s too good to be true

he flew out of town on the end of a loaded gun

no, he rode out of town on the fist’s of every man’s son

and when they put him down oh, you shoulda’ seen him run

Janet~

NaPoWriMO Prompt: Write a blues song

A Royal Wedding

Image Source:  wordincarnate.wordpress.com

Behold: look yonder

See what breaks the ramparts of the sky

As golden thunder

Sends the stars in showers from on high

Behold; who comes

In royalty on heaven’s mercy seat

With angel legions at his side

Winged creatures at His feet

Behold; what sounds

What fills the air with roar of rushing water?

And who descends

With glory rare in search of Zion’s daughter?

Behold; behold

It is the Lord. Behold the Bridegroom comes

As hallelujah fills the air

His bride is coming home

Behold the Love

He sees her there in linens bright and clean

Behold the blood

That cleansed Her where vile sin-stains once had been

Behold the song

That rends the earth; behold the great I AM

‘Blessed are those invited to

The wedding of the Lamb’

© Janet Martin

Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
"Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
both great and small!"

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.

8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)

9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

Rev. 19: 5-9

NaPoWriMo Prompt : write an

Epithalamium

(wedding poem)

No Apologies Necessary

You will never apologize to me

For taking my heart

One small piece at a time

Love expands hearts, I suppose

Because no matter how many pieces you take

There is always a little left

And I know you will never apologize

For the way you twist those remaining pieces

Inside-out

…but that’s okay

If you never apologize to me

I never apologized to my mother either

© Janet~

For Poetics Aside Prompt: Apologies or not

I'm Sorry, Dear Sir

Poetic Aside Prompt: An Apology or Un-apology.

I’m sorry, dearest sir
but you seem quite unaware
of the dangerous stir
in the atmosphere
and you seem oblivious
to my sudden attraction
Kind sir, may I offer
an explanation?

My dear sir, I’m sorry

but it is not your hair
though it is quite attractive, I agree
and the thing that is causing my open-mouth stare
is not your fine physicality
Your eyes are a striking and breath-taking blue
and I'll admit your face is quite handsome too
Your jeans, I am sure are a quality brand
but today I am drawn to that thing in your hand
and the scent that startled me as you strode by
rousing a wild, dangerous insanity
so unless you care to finish what you have begun
I suggest you hang on to your coffee and run!

Janet

Gleaming or Looming

The day looms before us

We know not its sands

Its mystery unfolded

From Heavenly hands

Shall we approach it

With trembling and fear

Or with the assurance

That our God is near?

The day gleams before us

What comfort to know

That God watches o’er us

Wherever we go

© Janet Martin

The unknown has the potential to fill us with fear...

...or hope. Which will it be for us today?

Does the unknown loom or gleam?

  So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isa. 41:10

Time's Pennies

Clenching my fist

What good can it do?

Life’s transient moments

Still trickle on through

Clinging more tightly

To the one in my grip

Does not alter courses

Of the moments that slip

Ethereal river

How swiftly you run

From midnight to dawn

To the setting of sun

Wee moment, time’s penny

A miniscule lot

But put them together

And see what we’ve got

Moments of pleasure

Moments of strife

Gathered together

In a beautiful life

© Janet 

Unfettered Bliss

Abruptly from unfettered bliss

The slumbering mind is wrenched

As alarms clocks across the universe

Announce night’s sudden end

…then stumbling out to greet the dawn

A new bliss sweeps our eyes

As heaven spills its palette on

The floor of paradise

© Janet Martin

Trees at Dusk

Like stalwart sentinels they stand

To guard the waning day

Their shadows stretched on muted land

Enfolding work and play

Dark, raven spires reach to brush

The portals where the moon

Lolls in the periwinkle hush

Of day’s retiring swoon

Silhouette, precisely-sketched

Against the crimson dusk

Their flawless detail clearly etched

In shades of dewy musk

Faithful, four-season master-piece

Of intricate design

Timber art rivets our gaze

To dusk's horizon line

© Janet Martin

Visitor

Image Source:  http://www.wallpapers-free.co.uk/background/nature/flowers_and_plants/yellow-and-purple-pansies/

He loved pansies

So she plants them

Over his heart

Every spring

No one sees her

Kneeling there

Replaying

Life’s brief dance

With him

Grief never tires

Yet, it is not

Love’s revenge

But its bittersweet harvest

Pansies flourish

‘neath the tears

Of heaven

And one lone

Visitor

© Janet Martin 

Prompt: Visitor

Invisible Visitor

No sound of footsteps on the floor
No tender arm around me
No slightest creaking of a door
How is it that you found me?

My eyes are open wide as day
I know I am not dreaming
I cannot turn my face away
The silent air is teaming.......

.....with images and memories
and whispers soft and flowing
How is it that you come to me
Within the twilight’s glowing?

And how, with door and shutter drawn
With locks all firmly bolted
How is it that I look upon
you now with longing jolted?

Too long, too long I've missed you so
I draw your arms around me
Tell me dear, I need to know
How is it that you found me?

J~

Prompt Poetics Aside Visitor

Black

 My brown book-cases were looking tired...I woke them up with black paint. I know this is a corny take on the prompt but it really was all I could come up with for now, having been immersed in black paint for the better part of a week:) Blame this on the fumes;)

Does your furniture need a face-lift?
Here's a plan of attack
Simply grab a brush
and paint it black

***

Don't know what to wear
to the party tonight?
If you choose black
You will always be right

***

Once I was a young thing
With heart still intact
But scars are a cruel thing
Invisible black

***


# 1 Song on June 7 1966 Paint It Black by the Rolling Stones...NaPoWRiMo Prompt; Use the # 1 hit on the day you were born for inspiration.

Think Spring

 

From This..

 

                                                    ....to this

Victoria and I were inspired by Megan yesterday:)

There is an essence of eternal spring
in little girls...
There is an essence of little girls
in the laughter of eternal spring.

Sweet is the carol
Of the robin's spring lay
Sweeter the orchard
decked in fragrant display
Are you heavy-laden
Lift your arms to the wind
Dance in the ball-room
Of beautiful Spring

Janet Martin

Whose There?

Knock, knock

Whose there

I open the door

But it’s just the night air

Knock, knock

Who could it be?

Misery loves

Company

Knock, knock

I guess I knew

Without looking

It was you

J~

Poetics Aside prompt; Visitor

Dear Yester- Girl...

Sometimes I wonder who you are

You seem different

Not at all like you used to be

Are you me?

Or just someone I used to know?

I’d ask you in for a visit

To get to know you better

Coffee, is it?

Or have you switched to tea?

You never can tell, these days

Sometimes I wonder who you are

And I want to know you better

But you keep inching toward the door

And all I can do is watch you go

...or do you even exist anymore?

Have you left for good, dear girl?

Being a woman is fine

But I must confess, I miss you

Dear, carefree, laughing

Yester-girl of mine

© Janet Martin

Poetics Aside PAD Prompt: Visitor

...and sometimes I wear a Cape

Image Source:  dannys-angel.deviantart.com

I must not neglect

To don this cape each day

It helps me rise above

Come whatever may

Within this cape I sense

A glorious super-power

A genuine defense

In life’s most troubled hour

One day I rose without it

Despair and fear loomed tall

Then suddenly I heard it

A Super-power call

I felt Him wrap about me

No ephemeral thing

But, a cloth that’s kindred

To the angel’s wing

The unbelieving call it

Fantasy on dead air

The believer whispers humbly

And simply calls it Prayer

© Janet Martin

Poetic Bloomings prompt; ..and sometimes I wear a cape

A Triolet: Not Yours to Keep

Give it back to the world

That whisper in your soul

Is a banner, waiting to be unfurled

Give it back to the world

For when fear’s clenched fist is uncurled

Hope urges bravery to its goal

Give it back to the world

That whisper in your soul

© Janet Martin

Inspired by a quote read here

No man should be shamefaced through his work, to give back to the world a portion of its lost heart. — Louise Bogan 1897-1970 American Poet

Comunicating to Self

Hey you

Yes, you

there in the mirror

STOP, taking yourself

so seriously

and just

live for the love of it.

Does the sun grumble

because it is too hot

or the sky long for substance

that it is not

Or does the dandelion covet

a shade other than gold

Or, does the oak tree sigh

because it is gnarled and old

I think not!

But they live fully

in their own skin

and never beyond

the moment they’re in

© Janet Martin

Poetics Aside PAD Challenge; Communicating

PAD Callenge: Communicating

I don’t care what you say, my dear

But just stay

Here,

With your breath on my hair

and your lips 'gainst my ear

It’s not so much the words you speak

as the rush of your scent and such

While wild crazy nothings brush my cheek

I melt beneath their touch

J~

Poetics Aside PAD Challenge

An Interview with You, my Love

You slip your fingers intimately

Through mine

For you know what I am thinking

By the hint of a smile

In the darkness

Between us

Is it an inch

Or ten-thousand miles?

Is there a difference?

For when it comes to love…

…to you,

There are no empty spaces

They are full of love

And  thoughts

Of love

The greater the distance then,

The greater the love,

But no,

For I love you completely

And in its completeness

There can be no increase

Or decrease

Simply

Love

J~