The Picture of November's Twilight

 Because nothing slips out of the reach of a poem...

This one is for my sister. 

She called before supper and wondered if the evening captured my attention too

and did I write a poem?

 Dear, sweet sister, often calls if only to ask 'What did you write today?'

I answered her kindred-spirit question tonight with "yes, I stood there soaking it in for a minute and even dared to wish for a moment of Quiet To Write, but then was immediately convicted with 'careful what you wish for' and that no, there is no poem, 

but there is extra guests for supper and Grandson etc. 

and we chatted a bit about why the colorless colours were so captivating tonight

then each returned to our own supper-chores etc.

The sky has been shedding its softness ever since she called...

(this photo was taken the other 'less-lively' evening😉)

The moment passed.

The air, like smoky flannel fell, 

then blue

Then black

And snuffed the images 

of dying day from view

But could not steal 

from wonder’s reel

God’s tender work of art

The picture of 

November’s twilight

Wrapped around the heart

…and so is life.

Its moments rife with heaven’s 

emptied jars

And such

Where touch is quick to cool

 but not its aftermath of stars

That brush the air 

and places where

Only Thought’s Owner sees

The frame filled with 

soft shimmers

Of love’s precious memories

© Janet Martin

Majesty's Showcase

 Any of you long time porch-visitors HAD to know this song was coming😀

 It's one of my favourite almost Christmas snow-songs!

The sullen bars of earth are swaddled in a starry spree

It decks the scars of plant and harvest with soft purity

As boulevard and yard and hill

Where songs of summer-long lie still

Are like a Christmas postcard hung for everyone to see

The pot that Old Man Winter’s been a-stirring day and night

Has overflowed at last in feathered froth of downy white

As street and fallow field repose

Beneath the diamond-dazzled throws

Where Mother Nature warms her toes and shivers with delight

Each fence-post is a snow-cone and each frond a piece of lace

Each barren tree a metaphoric Masterpiece of grace

Where Mercy clothes the naked world

In bolts of sequined silk unfurled

And turns all of creation into Majesty’s Showcase

© Janet Martin

As First Snow Falls...

For today’s Two-for-Tuesday prompt:

• Write a quiet poem. Or…
• Write a loud poem.

in the plush hush

of star-brushed morn

a blue jay calls

prelude to joyous noise

of girls and boys 

as first snow falls

Janet Martin

Ah Say, What Is This?

Ah say, what is this pantomime that thrums these walls of air

Is it the song and dance of time or

Simply someone’s answered prayer?

Ah say, what is this rise and fall that rushes and recedes

Is it the Tide of dawn to dusk or

Simply wind among the reeds

Ah say, what is this lilt and lull of plant and harvest-hymn

Is it the push and pull of toil or

Simply Season growing dim

Ah say, what is this gold and gray that floods sky, sea and sod?

Is it glints from The Painter’s tray

Or simply glimpses of God

© Janet Martin

Monday Morning Mantra...

It’s a new day

A new week

A new start

Time’s refresher-course

For the heart

Don’t let the baggage

Of yesterday

Drag us from making

The best of today

It’s a new day

A new week

A new start

Waiting to turn into

Yesterday’s art

Don’t let the sorrow

Of morrow's distress

Keep us from tasting

Today’s happiness

It’s a new day

A new week

A new start

Let’s make its moments

A work of heart

© Janet Martin

A Half-Apology

Yesterday's prompt on PAD challenge was; write a forgiveness poem.

Here is a long over-due one to my family and friends!

(a poet's song to an almost-poem)😂

 

I'll ask for your forgiveness in advance

Because I know I will not change my ways

So if you would be good, could you perchance

Forgive my foible-garbled Poem-craze? 

I cannot change just for the sake of peace 

I'd rather look for new ways to impress

The whisper of a picture to the crease

That fills the face with poem-happiness

So, I'll ask your forgiveness in advance

And shake the poem-tree for all I'm worth

Who knows what waits in ink rhythm-and-dance

To fill your somber stance with poem-mirth

This is only a half-apology

Please excuse the audacity of it

For I am asking you to forgive me

For Something I do not intend to quit

Janet Martin~

Moment-ous Alliance

Because this precious element

That drips in pillaged plume

That falls beneath the shadow-tent

Of what none can exhume

That grants but once to everyone

Without re-run, each day

That tunes its tide of rain and sun

With what no one can sway

Or hoard, or take the credit for

Or curb, extend or mime

But is a gift; none should ignore

This element called Time

…because what-is fills what-has-been

And no one can re-do

But grace and mercy intervene

With morning, always new

To brace Time’s coffers, full of change

With thorough confidence

That all that none can rearrange

Does not estrange the Thence

Where recompense and Charge ally

Where we with grit and grin

Should take the Time to satisfy

The moment we are in

© Janet Martin