Of Purpose, Passion and Poetry

Sometimes I fear

It may seem trite

To string words together

To soothe and delight

As many suffer

Begging for relief

From pain, fear, sorrow

And gut-wrenching grief

As wars rage

And innocent die

As the homeless wander

And the lonely cry

But then again

Surely there ever must be

Room for hope

For love and beauty

As nature reminds us

This earth is mere sod

Forever at the mercy

And order of God

And surely then

There must ever be

Room in this world

For poetry

© Janet Martin

Sometimes I really struggle with being certain of my calling. I would hate to devote my thought, time and energy to something God did not intend and it is easy doubt; yet we trust that if we plant for Him then God will give the increase.

We all are created with purpose and talents

God, teach us how to employ

Our gifts and passions to Your honor and glory

So we may hear these words with joy…

‘Well done, my good and faithful servant’.

Out of Storm's Reach

Whispered vespers elevate

To an ominous roar

The ocean is a monster

Devouring the shore

Where we strolled

Leisurely

On boardwalk and beach

We tuck tender memories

Out of the storm’s reach

© Janet Martin

Thoughts and prayers remain with those hard hit! The winds are receding a little here…but we will need to hang onto our hats and hair-dos for a few more days.

Of Preparations...

Matt. 25: 1-13  

Warnings sound

Loud, they abound

Prepare for a storm is coming

The foolish sleep

Or ignore its plea

The wise man heeds the warning

The warning sounds

Long it abounds

Prepare, for the Lord is coming

The foolish sleep

Or ignore his plea

The wise man heeds His warning

© Janet Martin

As we diligently heeded the warnings and prepared for the storm today I had to think of this parable...

We know the storm is coming and so we do the best we can to be ready.

We also know it is inevitable, we are going to die, we are going to meet God. Are we doing our best to be prepared for this?

Goodnight all. Be warm, dry and safe. May God bless and keep us all in His tender care.
I hope to 'see' you tomorrow if our hydro is not out.

In Poetry

It is a little like love, I suppose
The height and depth and breadth of it
is not distinguished by whether
you are far away from me
or close 
But love loves in spite of circumstance
It is not a fickle fantasy
nor a hapless dance
but it is the matter in all matters
and such is the lure of the word
whether you are there or here
my want is stirred
not by your nearness or distance
but by an aching passion beneath my ribs
pressing against the levy
longing to break through its hold
and spill unchecked
urgently and bold
as thought is set free
to fall wheresoever it may be
in the inexplicable joy of poetry

J~

On the Fringe of a Hurricane...an edited re-post

The wind bends the air in mutinous growls

Baring its jowls, a ferocious beast

Yesterday’s sunshine is swallowed by scowls

As hurricane Sandy arrives from the east

Fall's jaunty languor has furrowed its brow

Purpose of plundering rides on the gale

As shutters flung open are bolted now

Respectful of nature’s preeminent wail

Elements tremble beyond man’s control

Over our delicate measure of thought

As we recognize the vulnerable whole

In every achievement that human has wrought

Faith, hope and trust cling tight to the arm

That gives and takes in a flash on the sod

As nature unleashes its wrath in a storm

Mankind acknowledges his dependence on God

© Janet Martin

They tell us the hurricane forces have not yet arrived and it is WILD out there. Many in the area are already out of power. It seems this is going to get worse before it gets better. My thoughts and prayers are with those in the brunt of it now.

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
⁶ For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
    Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,
⁷ a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
    and awesome above all who are around him?
⁸ O Lord God of hosts,
    who is mighty as you are, O Lord,
    with your faithfulness all around you?
⁹ You rule the raging of the sea;
    when its waves rise, you still them.
¹⁰ You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
    you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
¹¹ The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
    the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.
¹² The north and the south, you have created them;
    Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
¹³ You have a mighty arm;
    strong is your hand, high your right hand. 

Ps. 89: 5-13

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." Isa. 12:2

In Thankfulness...

In thankfulness lies this thing

Which we all thirst for and covet

So instead of intense searching

For the elusiveness of it

We should lift our heart,

And bow our head

And bend the stubborn knee

For to be truly happy

We must learn to live

Thankfully

© Janet Martin

A Holy Experience

Of Us...

I cannot get         enough of you

The shape   of your words

Or your silence teases,

Pleases me, and oh my 

darling, while others fuss

over love’s inadequacies

I smile because

I just can’t get

enough

Of

Us

J~

The Imminence of Autumn-past

The cold wind broods in morose moans

Its iron-girded stance

No longer frolics o’er the stones

In willow-song romance

But tugs and tears fragmented leaf

From stiff, saturnine limb

As heaven sheds its torrent-grief

From dark, nocturnal scrim

The imminence of autumn-past

Seethes in the evergreen

Its petulance an icy mast

Of purple-frosted sheen

The skyline seals its sullen dome

A scowl upon its face

And suddenly the hearth of home

Beckons with warm embrace

Somewhere the languid sigh of spring

Cajoles the budded strand

And lovers, carefree and laughing

Meander, hand in hand

Somewhere in distant, dew-drenched fields

The sanguine sunbeams drip

While here the barren landscape yields  

To Old Man Winter’s grip

© Janet Martin

 We are bracing ourselves for Hurricane Sandy! I didn't know what to do with all the leaves we raked up the other day...I guess now I'll wait and see what Sandy does with them:)

I pray for those without 'home' to go to during miserable weather. Please be warm, dry and safe.