Golden Resolution

The only leaves left to fall are gold. 

On hillsides, in valleys, along lane-ways and streets their lanterns beam!

As much as we can

Whoever we be

Wherever we are

And whatever we see

No matter our druthers

No matter our place

We should love each other

And this, by God’s grace

Give all that we can 

And keep just what we must

And treat our fellowman

How we hope they treat us

© Janet Martin

The other night Boy one flicked water in the face of younger Boy 2 as they were washing up after dinner.

I suggested to Boy 1 that it is good to remember the Golden Rule.

'Do you know it?' asks I,

No, says he

'Well' I tell, 'it means to treat others the way you want others to treat you.

The Golden Rule is, Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

Do you think you can remember it?' I ask as he heads down stairs.

"Yep."

"Tell me..."

And he confidently replies,

Whatever others do to you, you do to them! 

The Golden Rule

 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, 

do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matt.7:12

Ink-wired

PAD challenge day 5: write a wire poem.

The heart of her is caught of guard 

By blur of blue through stir of leaf

Her breath is stolen by the bard

Of summer's ghost on autumn's heath

She fights syllabic undertows

And writes from soul-springs never drained

For ever through her bearing flows

Phantom fathoms of ink untamed

...and she would burst, save for her pen

That spills the yen of word to verse

She, wired with a poet's ken

Lives, torn between blessing and curse

Janet Martin

After...

Autumn stretches and settles now

Her call of beauty heeded

Over and done, her color-show

Expectation exceeded

She lays her head on summer shed

And lifts a toast to winter

While some onlookers ache with dread

And others host a shiver

Her limb and scrim a farewell hymn

To nature’s leafy laughter

And hillside lamplight growing dim

Poised on the brim of After

© Janet Martin

That Is Why He Came...

" ...you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 

Matt.1:21

He saves us; that is why He came

Atonement's endless Being

God gave His Son whose precious name

Sends demon-darkness fleeing

He came; this of His own accord

Mercy, purposed and fervent

He, King of kings and Lord of lords

Came to us as love’s servant

He came; Perfection put on flesh

Hope’s Promise for all nations

Immortal God; man’s righteousness

And blood-purchased salvation

He came; left Heaven’s throne for us

Sin’s curse broken forever

He came, God’s only son, Jesus

Deliverer and Saviour

He came so when we leave this place

Death will not be our sanction

He came to save; His love and grace

Will be our Resurrection

© Janet Martin

Have You Joined The Throng That Sings This Song?

When wending through time’s newborn hue

That turns blue-gray before our eyes

When stretch and yawn of fresh-faced dawn

Fades to the spawn of lullabies

When have and hold of plum and gold

Relents to tatters, umber-toned

And laugh and love must learn to prove

The words that star-eyed youth intoned

When hope and pray becomes the way

We cope with visage juxtaposed

With what we earn and what we learn

Of the return of deeds exposed

When wending though the dream-and-do

And blue and green of sky and grass

We join the throng that sings this song,

'How swift the sift of seasons pass'

© Janet Martin

Victor of the Spills or Truth-teller

Time,

You roar,
spill chill through new chinks in my shield

(How true Truth is)

While,
on the soft brow of untried ideals

You place your kiss

And sooner then,
rather than later, too

Each victim victor earns

Through lessons learned,
the yearning sting of you

And your no returns

© Janet Martin