Gathered Wealth

Gather your treasure

Do not wait till the morrow

To tally the measure

Of laughter and sorrow

Gather your treasure

Not in dollars and cents

But in the grand pleasure

Of simple events

Toss to the breezes

Your gathered despair

The darling wind teases

The soft morning air

 Gather your treasure
For time's temporal  strand
Dissolves in a moment
Like waves on the sand

Then gather the treasure

Of sapphire and gold

The sun on the water

The sea in its hold

The gaze of a loved one

The sparkle of joy

Dancing in freedom

Of wee girls and boys

Gather your treasure

Not in earthen parts

But kept in the measure

Of love’s thankful heart

© Janet Martin

When All that is Missing is Your Body Next to Mine...

As empty as a faithless prayer

Is midnight’s dark and naked air

Sheer will alone cannot replace

The haunting void of emptiness

Ephemeral want restricts clear thought

When all I know is what is not

But still I feel your absence near

Quiet observer of my tear

To drift upon a hapless wave

Is to lie early in death’s grave

The body is a transient shell

Where longing and fulfillment dwell

And whether you are far or near

It does not really matter, dear

For I hold love’s most sacred part

Within the sanctum of my heart

© Janet Martin

Written for IGWRT prompt: Bodies...

Shaping Heritage...

Dear Mother and Daddy

We hold in our grip

More than the turning of page

But in every moment

As softly they slip

We shape our child’s heritage

Dear Mother and Daddy

What do they observe

As they adapt our attitude?

Do they learn to trust beyond

Life’s startling curve

And know that God is good?

Dear Mother and Daddy

We cannot change

The sorrows that lay in the earth

But for our children

We can begin

A heritage of invaluable worth

Dear Mother and Daddy

Show them the stars

Point to the unfolding bloom

For as you do

You will stir in their hearts

The wonder of God’s living-room

Dear Mother and Daddy

One day at a time

Is given to learn and to teach

As God leads the way

He will teach us to climb

And attain what seems out of reach

© Janet Martin

Awhile ago I posted a poem with a footnote telling of how I opened my mouth to show them the moon…

And then shut it, thinking the kids didn’t really care how big and beautiful it was…a few comments reminded me to tell them anyway, because it will teach them to see, even if they don’t seem mightily impressed at the time. Someday they will remember, and understand.

Teach them to see God in life’s ordinary miracles!

p.s. is ordinary miracles an oxy-moron? 

I thanked God... as they boarded the bus, for the gift of watching this miracle....every school morning I have been given the health and ability for 15 years to watch and wave...

I was stirred anew when I read this: at Lilacs and Lavender just now...realizing how crucial, quick and precious those pre-school years are...

I borrowed this quote from Megan as well...

"It often happens to children

and sometimes to gardeners

that they are given gifts of value

of which they do not perceive

until much later."

~ Wayne Winterrowd ~

 

Phantom Dancer

Of all galactic establishments

You chose earth

On which to place your feet and dance

Its stricken girth

I stayed up to watch for you

But never saw you pass

And yet, you left a silver shoe

On every blade of grass

Janet

Gift of Infinite Compassion

Armed with the valor of new hope

Dawn sweeps the stringent sky

Outlining limb and darkened slope

‘gainst heaven’s waking eye

It spreads in victory certain

Up to the vaulted blue

And rends the heavy curtain

And bids the night adieu

As surely as God’s keeping

As surely as His word

As sure as every season

The pulse of life is stirred

To wake above, new morning

To nudge beneath, the seeds

As spring-time’s grand adorning

Its awesome Maker heeds

Armed with the surety of God’s care

We view this virgin day

Breaking across the atmosphere

In dawn’s perfect array

As we, earth’s vilest creature

Touch Mercy’s unmarred face

Trusting fair nature's Teacher

And God’s amazing grace

© Janet Martin

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lam. 3: 22-23

Perfect Timing...

Come to me

Not when the night has sealed its lips

But when the day laughs

In the mouth of the lilting sky

Then my fingertips will not ache so

To hold you

As I pluck the bloom from its stem

And brush the lock

From out of your eager

Memory…

Janet~

Ineptness of Ink

What is this raw and raging thirst?

This graven enemy

That sets itself against my words

And makes a fool of me

What is this savage, silent plea

That rages ‘neath my skin

And claims the very heart of me

In torment deep within

What is this strange and soulful dirge

That mourns the quickened dark

Tracing the tide where echoes surge

Yet never leave a mark

What is this lonesome melody

That whispers in my quill

It is the frozen agony

Ink teardrops cannot spill

J~

The River...

Image Source: panoramio.com

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhN7SG-H-3k

There is a river flowing

Not through earth’s pasture-land

Where buttercups are blowing

And shores are made of sand

There is a river gleaming

Not with slow, silver tide

Where now we lie a-dreaming

Against our lover’s side

There is a river running

No isle of barefoot bliss

Where summer-hearts are sunning

And old hearts reminisce

There is a river winding

Not through the tumbled grass

Nor ‘gainst the earthen binding

That holds its waters fast

There is a river roaring

Into a boundless sea

Its rushing waters pouring

Into eternity

There is a river passing

Twixt earth and Heaven's shore

Our final, farewell crossing

Into…forevermore

© Janet Martin