The Un-Secret to Going the Distance

PAD Challenge Day 4: Write a going the distance poem

Nobody knows for certain just how far The Distance is

Life’s change of plans and circumstance does not adhere to dreams

And oft upon our willful way we lay Intent amiss

Then battle the despair when care ignores thought’s subtle schemes

But since the dawn of Time, through pantomime of season-spawn

The way to go The Distance has not changed; keep keeping on

The Path of Least Resistance may appear an Easy Street

It lures us to loiter where life seems easier until

The day when who we thought we were is mandated to meet

With opposition where wishing won’t rearrange God’s will

Then we, faith-pioneers must learn, like they who’ve come and gone

That all who went the Distance did so just by keeping on

Those who have gone the distance knew love’s hurt and hunger too

How un-brave hope can be, how common-hard this forward-plight

But with prayer-primed persistence, step by step they saw it through

And victory is sweet because it comes after the fight

Thus we like those before us use the same old stumble-stone

But we can go The Distance too if we keep keeping on

© Janet Martin

Going the Distance Between Echoes and 'Hello'

PAD Challenge day 4: For today’s prompt, write a distance poem.

We wear worlds within us

Darling, you and I

Though miles apart are near at heart

And distance but a sigh

Tug-of-will-and-wanting

War where future-past

Spurs us to ‘when me and you

Are together at last’

When and why and wherefore

Wakes an aching plea

For the day when we can say

Hello, you, it’s me

We wear worlds within us

Hearts can cup a sea

Where a splurge of echoes surge

Keeping you with me

© Janet Martin

It wasn't quite the same...a belated family Easter-dinner yesterday with one missing. 

but at the end of April when classes are done she might come home for a few mos.!!!:)

Going the Distance With Old Man Winter

PAD Challenge day 4:  For today’s prompt, write a distance poem.

 Yesterday dawned somewhat snowy...

but after emptying its storehouses all day long, today dawns without a blade of grass in sight...

Those pictures that we clung to through long winter’s whitewashed hours

Of April waking daffodils and singing in spring show’rs

Must pause because it seems Old Winter is not willing yet

To fall prey to the way of warmer-whispered pirouette

The wearing will of winter wails and flails where dreams persist

In spite of white anointing where hills should be soft-green kissed

And though we thought bloom-bells ought to be ringing, roaring gale

Gilds April’s world as winds unfurl a snowflake bridal-veil

Be of good cheer, the end is near; winter for all its bluff

And bluster cannot muster for much longer, frosty fluff

So thus he howls, his jowls drip with the gripping undertow

Of visions shaped in flower-gardens draped with April snow

© Janet Martin

...yes, we know spring is on its way...why? Baseball has begun!

Toronto Blue Jays

1-0, 1st in AL Eastern Division

American League

Final - yesterday, 4:05 PM

Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) 5 Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) 3

1:17

Sorry, my fellow-Floridian friends...you get the sunshine and we got the win:)(AND the blizzard;(

Three-year-old Teachers

PAD Challenge Day 3: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Three (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

 I babysit two three-year-olds.
They always make my day!

You always make our day
Your innocence, care free
You teach us how to live in Now
Though you are only three

You teach us how to love
Without a second thought
And when you sing the world is spring
Our discontent forgot

You teach us how to laugh
No malice clouds your view
You do not will revenge or ill
Your skies are always blue

Dear three-year-old, you teach
Us to believe, not doubt

With grin and kiss we learn the bliss

Of what life is about

Janet Martin