This Moment Softly Stealing

  

 

We are 'playing' today:)

This moment, softly stealing

Like the nighttime from the sea

Melds its measure like a mantle

Gently tugging you from me

This moment, sweet enchantment

Of life’s ordinary things

Is all tangled up in memory

Tugging innermost heart-strings

 I don’t tell you how this moment

Of mixed joy and grief imparts

Tenderness into my teardrop

Tugging echoes to my heart

For in moments softly stealing

Love and loss and hope entwine

As we, at a moment’s mercy

Dream and leap, reach and resign

© Janet Martin

As Emily left the house just now it hit me; we worked side by side for the last time this morning, as her 'living' here in our home (she is doing all the bride-to-be stuff from now until Sat.)…yes, Lord willing she will ‘come home’ often, but it won’t be the same because she will be ‘visiting’.   

As I mentioned something about next week she grinned mischievously and said, I won't be here!
 

...Where Memories Grow

The rhythmic chant of tick and tock

Soon strips the rose and hollyhock

Its song of leaf and garnered sheaf

Wan remnants on hillside and walk

The minuet of rise-and-set

Cradles our victory and regret

And still the clock chants tick and tock

In dusk to dawn-sky pirouette

How soon the swoon of sun and moon

Slips over December and June

Its silhouette a seamless thread

Of midnight, morning, afternoon

The ebb and flow of bud to snow

Of holding on and letting go

Drips from life’s spoon, its tender tune

Falls to a place where memories grow

© Janet Martin

Here's to another day of planting memories!
(Victoria just now announced, 'tomorrow we can say, the wedding is tomorrow!';)

The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. Ps. 118:14

Making Treats and Memories

Victoria was the camera-girl last night as we, with many friends, made 'memories'.

Life and
memories are not a practiced thing...
they fall around us
like rain in spring
or summer sun
or autumn leaves
or flakes of snow...
These gathered sheaves
adorn  thought's landscape
...precious glow.
and we pray
as days repeat
oh, come what may
that its harvest
will be sweet

Janet~


The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. Ps. 116:5

Of 'Once, Those Days...'

We have been waking up to rainy mornings for almost a week! This morning the sky was gorgeous...

We do not live in picture frames

Or echoes of our former days

But once those days were mercy-kissed

As this new day rising from mist

Once, those days were the ‘new’ as now

Dawn tugs night’s mantle from earth’s prow

Where we, with holy acquiescence    

Should take its gift with reverence

...for soon its scribbles, spills and jots

Will fill our pictures frames and thoughts

And soon the ‘now’ will join the haze

Of memories and bygone days…

© Janet Martin

Looking forward to the 'pictures' that await today. Rob's (Emily's Fiancee) family from Nova Scotia arrived last night! They will be here soon to help.

Thus, Beneath Your Mercy, Lord

 We looked out to see this while we were eating supper...(no, it's not tomorrow:) The timer in my camera is 'off'.

We bear beneath Your mercy, Lord

Life’s triumph and its woe

Gleaning sweet comfort through Your word

As by Your grace we go

Each faltering and fumbling step

Would be our hopeless shame

But You forgive Lord, then forget

Teach us to do the same

The filament of mortal skin

Does not reveal the whole

Lord, you behold what lies within

Of thought and heart and soul

…and yet Your promises remain

You gather our guilt

And wash away its wretched stain

Where once Your blood was spilt

Once and for all You paid our debt

Removing every trace

We are vile creatures Lord, and yet

You save us by Your grace

…and thus beneath Your mercy, Lord

We bear life’s humble due

Teach us, as we look to Your word

How to be more like You

© Janet Martin

The Heart is Like an Autumn Day

The heart is like an autumn day

It holds the blue, the gold and gray

Where hope is heavy on the vine

As love and longing intertwine

The heart is like an autumn sky

A moody blend of smile and sigh

Its pulse a complex symmetry

Of euphoria and misery

The heart is like an autumn tree

Its pieces scattered silently

Along a dim and shaded path

Of summer’s precious aftermath

The heart is like an autumn day

It steals our impulses away

A minuet of raw romance

We close our eyes and dance…

And dance

© Janet Martin

The house is quiet this morning; a lot of thinking time while I stir popcorn and cut butters for the wedding...

Autumn Leaves

Autumn leaves, symbol of farewell

How is it, the heart laughs and grieves

Beneath the golden, glorious folding

Canopy of autumn leaves

Autumn leaves; but its returning

Trembles in the sky and sod

Where we plant and reap in yearning

‘Til we touch the arms of God

Autumn leaves fall; soundless, subtle

Weightless cups of memory

Scatter like life’s joy and trouble

Underneath the reaching tree

Autumn leaves; a silent journey

Stretching to winter’s unknown

Where the quadrille of life’s seasons

Draws us nearer to God’s throne

Autumn leaves; its crown of grandeur

Comforts our summer-grief

Autumn leaves in scarlet splendor

Autumn leaves in every leaf

© Janet Martin

I had a little 'cup of calm before the storm' this morning. 

5 days to wedding!

Garden Lullaby

The gardens are looking tired and sad and ready for bed...(after hearing the forecast on Saturday afternoon I realized we better quickly rescue what we can before dark!) I'm glad we did.

Go to sleep, dear garden

The leaf is in the sky

And every bloom has fallen

Into the by-and-by

Go to sleep, dear garden

May your repose be sweet

For soon your paths will beckon

To music of bare feet

Go to sleep, dear garden

Well-honest is your rest

You harbor hope and harvest

Beneath your umber crest

Slumber now, sweet garden

Where dreams and duty bled

You spilled your vibrant laughter

In green, orange, gold and red

So, go to sleep, dear garden

All tumbled and forlorn

Soon, soon you will awaken

To spring-time’s gladsome morn

© Janet Martin