Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Two-for-two Tuesday...Ah, Mystery

PAD challenge day 15: two-for-two Tues: write a love poem. write an anti-love poem





Worthless when kept
It is laughed,
Groaned and wept
For it we die
And live
None are so rich
That they no longer need it
Or too poor to
Have It to give

Climax of joy
Yet apex of sorrow
Bitter and sweet
Intertwined
It can never be
Stolen or borrowed
Mystery
By God designed

We cannot gather
Or hoard it; its increase
Can only be given
To prove
Its divine fullness
Ah, who can explain
The glorious Mystery
Of Love?

© Janet Martin

Ah, Mystery (Anti-love)

Gentle and kind
Holy, humble Healer
Heavenly Father
Comforter, Friend
Lamb on a cross,
Pardon perfected
Hope and salvation
Love without end

Gentle and kind
Yet scorned and rejected
Holy humble Healer
Yet pierced with a sword
Heavenly Father
Hated without reason
Comforter, Friend
Crucified; our Lord
Lamb on a Cross
Bleeding redemption
Pardon perfected
For hate could not slay
Hope and salvation
Free through the ages
Love without end
…yet we turn away

© Janet Martin





 

Monday, April 14, 2014

Chosen Generation (re-vamped re-post)

 
 
We are not just ‘playing house’ here
As we toil and plant earth’s sod
We are treading mercy-moments
On a stairway up to God

We are not just biding time here
Twixt the rise and set of sun
We will give account to God, dear
For each deed that we done

We are not soul-less flesh shadows
Skimming time’s fugitive glance
Nor are we a fluke of nature
Victimized by circumstance

We are precious blood-bought creatures
Bearing an eternal soul
Jesus gave Himself, an offering
To make broken sinners whole

We are born with holy purpose
Not earth's meaningless off-spring
Like a field of dandelions
We are children of a King

...created in His like-image
Knit together by the touch
Of a kind,heavenly Father
Who loves us so very much

© Janet Martin
 
As Easter week-end approaches are you not over-come with awe at such a love as Jesus has for us?

 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Gen. 1:27
 
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

April Showers



 It is WILD-windy-rainy today! but what was a snow-drift the other day is now a puddle;)

April shower melts cold mantle from woodland and garden plot
Stirring buds of tulip, lilac, violet, forget-me-not
Long the fists of Old Man Winter clenched spring-sashes in deep freeze
Now we dream of fragrance snowing white from bloom-frothed apple trees

April shower stirs the cheer-a-lee from robin, dove and lark
Probing to the pulse of petals cupped within hope’s budded dark
Soon the stricken form of winter-land will flaunt fresh robes of green
As we gaze in renewed wonder where brown barrenness had been

April showers, heaven’s canticle from lowered laud-less strings
Yet we feel a reel of flowers forming in these brooding flings
Dance, the dark of winter passes in spring’s rain-drop symphony
Soon the earth will be a garden where the winter used to be

© Janet Martin

If I Were Not a Poet...



 Having some fun with PAD challenge Day 14: write an if I were' poem. Visit this page  for some very interesting 'If I Were' perspectives!

If poets were not poets nights would be for sleep and dreams
A tree merely a tree; moments the measure of life’s streams

We would not be tormented, teased or tested by the taunt
Of syllable, iambic pentameter and word-want

A river would run wild and free without vexing allure
Suggesting thoughts that poetry alone must thence procure

The tiralee of lilt and rhyme would rivet, rouse, but then
Fall prey to appetites of Time immune to ink and pen

We would not groan and grovel at the footstool of Her Muse
If poets were not poets strumming silence for its dues

But God knew His creation would inspire poetry
And so He added poets to His awesome ‘let there be’

For God gives to His creatures sundry attributes and gifts
What we do with His granting is not for our boast…but His

© Janet Martin

Sometimes I think 'oh, if I were not a poet how freeing that would be'
yet I know I would miss it and I wouldn't feel like me!

Hubby doesn't really mind my writing but every so often he'll mutter... 'how the heck did I end up with a poet?!'

If I Were You...



   

Image Source

PAD challenge day 14; write an 'If I Were' poem

If I were you, then I would be
That person in my life with me
And I would need to see and hear
The ‘me’ I am to you, my dear

If I were you I’d come to know
The person from the outside so
I wonder if I’d be okay
To hear only the things I say

If I were you right next to me
Would I enjoy my company?
Or would I find a quick excuse
To rush away…an age-old ruse

If I were you would I call me
To share life over cakes and tea?
Or would I grumble inwardly
To spend an afternoon with me?

I think I’d learn a thing or two
If for one day I would be you
I wonder what my thoughts would be
If I were you instead of me

© Janet Martin

ugh! self-examination is brutal!  
'sometimes I wish you could hear yourself' I was told this week-end...and I know its true; ' that which I would do I do not and that which I would not, that I do! oh, wretched man that I am...'

If I Were Lucky...



PAD Challenge day 14: Write an 'If I Were...' poem

If I were lucky I'd win lotteries
and draws and bets and wishes on  a star
Each four-leaf clover, stack of cards the means
To dinners with champagne and caviar

If I were lucky I'd take every chance
Without a care or second thought to need
Thirteen would be a god and I would dance
Against the odds with Lady Luck to lead

I don't believe in luck or chance or fate
The stars do not align just right for me
And often all that I can do is wait
And work and wonder at God's will for me

If I were lucky that were second best
Each day I'm awed to know that I am blessed

Janet~


Sunday, April 13, 2014

...And Then It Fades Away




 I took these pics off the TV screen so they're not that good...I always feel incredibly happy for the winner of a competition and incredibly sympathetic to the disappointment of the 'almost winner'! Congratulations Bubba! and we will see you next year, Jordan. what a day at the MASTERS!

…and then it fades away
The screen of twilight dark and deep
Where both triumph and heart-break sleep
In Past’s Immortal Day

That pinnacle of bliss
Where grit and glory coalesce
Soon falls beneath the burnished tress
Of Bygone’s faded kiss

Life’s bitter loss and tear
As dreams die on hope’s gilded green
Amalgamates upon a screen
Of middle-night and yester-year

A blend of gold and gray;
On one hand joy, the other grief
A moment free-fall from Time’s sheaf
…and then it fades away

©Janet Martin

In an interview tonight they asked  Ted Scott, Bubba's caddy 'what next?' he replied  'its a little soon to think about that but he knows he's going to bed tonight to sleep and tomorrow morning we begin another day...' Isn't that what we all do? Triumph or disappointment, we go to bed and begin again in the morning!

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde





Tonight there were two of me inside
...Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Strange tug-of-war like spring-winter-north-south
Laughter and growl juxtaposed in my mouth

Sometimes sweet spring is what I want to say
But out comes the wrath of a wild winter’s day
While family chuckles, quite amused as I toss
Burnt pans to the counter-top, feeling quite cross

Some days are blossoms of violet and rose
Some bear the brunt of our unspoken woes
Two forces battle and we must decide
Between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

I hope if you ask my children someday
Whom I most resembled they’ll be quick to say
‘Mostly Dr. Jekyll, easy-going, good-lookin’
But all Mr. Hyde when she burnt the cookin’…

© Janet Martin

Trying to have a little fun with more than one failure today;(

There are few things that rile me like burnt cooking and baking so I was ranting at myself as I pulled almost burnt granola bars from the oven after supper. (I was going to take them out mid-supper but of course, forgot all about granola bars as we enjoyed baked chicken, baked-potato wedges, green beans and coleslaw)
I was in the middle of a rant at myself when Matt taps me on the shoulder…’sh-h! here is the phone and I’m not sure who it is!’
Oops!! I switch to ‘hello…oh, hi, how are you doing?’ in my most cheerfullest trying voice and I heard one of the kids say. WOW! Mom’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!!

The worst part is that I couldn’t tell that person I was raging at myself…this is a lesson for Mother to try to be self-controlled and moderate no matter what…sigh.
…so now we have granola bark instead of granola bars ‘cause they were too hard to cut.

Today’s Saturday muffins are Carrot-raisin-nut. My fav’s.

Between Saturdays



I'm not going to say it! Well okay, maybe I will...'Saturday already?!' We are a much less snowier Saturday today...YAY! Farmers are beginning to ready equipment and hearts for another year of trusting...



Life slips between Saturdays; Time’s hungry sea
Claims another week to history
Tempest and tiralee tucked to its keep
Day-by-day death-bed of Duty and sleep

Worrier, wanderer walk side by side
Fellow-companions on Time’s taking tide
Fruit of each season a brief bounty where
We plant and gather; a constant affair

...for we are never done; dreamland's lofty towers
Rise above this quickened sally of hours
How is it Time in its subtle-soft ways
Fashions a life between Saturdays?

Hold and let go; breath-stealing ballet
Between Saturdays raven youth turns gray
We bear its beauty of buffet and bliss
Marveling oft at how brief a week(or life) is…

© Janet Martin

Well, I'm off to taste what this Saturday is already eagerly spilling...moments:)

I hope you have a good one.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Love Never Fails...



   

PAD challenge day 11: make a statement as your title and expand on it

Words fail; sometimes they spew twisted, black
And I wish I could have them back
My only hope for mercy hails
To Love because it never fails

Deeds fail; I blush to view my thought
Of good intention never wrought
Accomplishment for all its pain
If not for Love would be in vain

We fail; but Love is there to mend
Where other attributes pretend
This daily death to Self prevails
And satisfies; Love never fails

© Janet Martin

Morning is a Lovely time of Life...



PAD Challenge day 11: 'make a statement as your title and expand on it' poem


Morning is a lovely time of life
The old has passed and on horizons new
Hope spills across Time’s pitfall-avenue
For we are creatures born to toil and strife
But morning is a lovely time of life

The old has passed and on horizons new
Mist-melodies unfurl on waking hills
And though we drink the gall of spills and ills
See, now our cup is filled with virgin hue
The old has passed and on horizons; New

Mist-melodies unfurl on waking hills
The glory of God’s goodness and His grace
Cannot be sealed in midnight’s dark embrace
As mercy from ten-thousand legions spills
Mist-melodies unfurl on waking hills

The glory of God’s goodness and His grace
Though oft misunderstood abides full, free
He knows, though storm may rend the sky and sea
‘Tis then we seek that comforting embrace
...the glory of God’s goodness and His grace

© Janet Martin