Expression of Awareness

May we live to remember 

the freedom we enjoy 

whether in outings...

...or ordinary days

...is something we should never take for granted!

For what we have

Someone gave

For how we live

Someone died

Someone who

had families

Who filled them

with love and pride

Someone who

laid hopes and dreams

on lines

they didn’t want to cross

someone who
for freedom’s gain

suffered loss

Should we not then

Reflect in all
we do and say

A love-and-kindness
gratitude

For the freedom we have

Today

© Janet Martin

Sum of It

 PAD Challenge day 10: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) of (blank),” replace the blanks with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

one precious 'moment-crumb' in the sum of it!

 

Oh, what will become of it

This which weaves the sum of it

Shaping what we thought we knew

Into revised points of view

Where life’s drill of give and take

Spills into hope and heartache

Turning what we thought we learned

Into degrees not yet earned

Teaching us as we grow old

Thankfulness for what we hold

Waking us to bit-by-bit

Creating the sum of it

Making us, as we proceed

Keened to moment’s potent seed

Where not some but all of it

Will become the sum of it

© Janet Martin

Lifetime of Memories

PAD Challenge day 10: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) of (blank),” replace the blanks with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

Oh, the sacred stitches in what slips away with ease
weaving from mere moments a lifetime of memories

That which seems so staying in its present tense of trust

That which keeps us praying as it tries and teaches us

That which makes us humble where we are so prone to pride

That which startles us with ways as old as Father Time

That which rouses laughter up to rafters of blue sky

That for which we weep in utter grief and joy, oh my

That which cheers and vexes, velvet and Velcro infused

That which turns us old with ballet slippers and work boots

That which plants and gathers, grants the lyric to the tune

That which binds and scatters, wind unraveling the bloom

That which grips and itches as it slips through us with ease

Weaves with sacred stitches a lifetime of memories

© Janet Martin

Prime Example

PAD Challenge day 11:For today’s prompt, write a prime poem.

Our Prime Example grants pure, perfect purpose to

all we do...for Him!

Lest love leaves us looking for a little more than life can give

We should use its Prime Example to learn how we ought to live

He, for our benefit, looked far beyond the present price

Bringing many sons to glory through love’s precious sacrifice

He with a Father’s compassion primes dawn’s blush on eastern brim

Where He longs with time's extension to draw all of us to Him

How He cares for we who He formed in His image, soul instilled

Letting us through His son Jesus gain the joy His grief fulfilled

Lest we, caught up in the moment overlook The Greater Plan

(So much more to love’s big picture than these little days of man)

We should strive with awed endeavor to mirror God’s sympathy

(He who did not spare His Best for the sake of humanity)

We are all brothers and sister, born to love and not to slay

None of us is least or greater (no matter what people say)

All unworthy benefactors of love’s holy agony

And His precious Prime Example; only love can set us free

Then, lest love should leave us looking for less than Mercy’s intent

We should imitate the passion that left the temple’s veil rent

Allowing by faith, free access to approach God’s throne with awe

Granting hope far better than the letter of a works-based law

God is love; from, through and for Him we lack nothing if we trust

For he knows how we are formed and he remembers we are dust

As a father has compassion for His Children, so the Lord

Does not give what we deserve but reserves Heaven as reward

© Janet Martin