Epitaph for Flowers

I snared a few final flower-shots yesterday after hearing the forecast...

Farewell to thee of faithful post

That never waned thy blaze

And dids't many a glad sigh host

From worship's wond'ring gaze 

May beauty's echo linger where 

Thy well-earned rest is sweet

Where oft you stunned our downcast stare

With heaven at our feet 

Thou, laughter of the land, goodnight

And thank-you for each smile

Though winter tucks thee out of sight 

'Tis only for a while

With tender love,

Janet

Spending Habit Summary

Tonight's moment's ended our somewhat summer-like extension...

...so we celebrated with a supper in the dining room with some extras, 

the whole family minus hubby plus some extra boys!

Sorry, I was going to take some dinner-photos but we were having such a nice time I forgot!:)

Can't wait to begin 'spending' tomorrow!! G'night

For all the moments spent

Where ardor's good intent

Passed through time’s flue then went

To where spent moments do

Heaven’s pendulum grants

Unspent and second chance

To love, laugh-learn and dance

Like we were going to

That gasp of hours exhaled

Filled with guesses unveiled

Waits now to be regaled

With present sentiment

Then we should keep in mind

That the Past is designed

With what we leave behind

When the unspent is spent

© Janet Martin

I Would Be Careful If I Was You

PAD Challenge day 9: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) If (blank),” replace the blanks with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “Run If You’re Being Chased,” “Animals Are Cute If They’re Not Mine,” “I Am Ready To Eat If There’s Food Around,” and “Poem If You Need To.”

May we treat each day and each other as we treat those most precious to us...

(like 10 mo. old grandbabies:)

I would be careful if I was you

and you should be careful if you was me

Because we are always caught between

What was and what still waits to be

...and what still waits to be who knows?

Then we should both be careful; why?

Because we never know when love

Or life insists upon  'good-bye'

Janet~

So much happens every day to remind us of how ephemeral 'This' is!

Imagine If Faith Was Nothing More Than Luck...

PAD challenge day 9:  For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) If (blank),” replace the blanks with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “Run If You’re Being Chased,” “Animals Are Cute If They’re Not Mine,” “I Am Ready To Eat If There’s Food Around,” and “Poem If You Need To.”

 ...no matter what lies behind or ahead God is greater!

The Unknown; it could make us quake and shake in the shoes of new day

The path we cannot see could blind us to what is right where we are

And fear could keep us captive as we contemplate yon come-what-may

If faith was nothing more than luck or chance or ‘wish upon a star’

The Unknown could be like a stone around the neck; it would choke hope

And keep our feet from dancing and our mouth from tasting laughter’s bliss

The impact of its imminence could enslave us to its veiled scope

And cause us to completely miss This, weighted with love’s present kiss

The Unknown if we knew it would for all its gladness let grief rule

In spite of blessing-vaults outpoured we would be bound to mope and mourn

With gaze transfixed upon that Dreaded Place that renders Something cruel

Without assurance that God IS, how cursed the day that we were born

The Unknown is no secret to the Hand that aligns stepping stones

His ways and thoughts beyond our grasp; His promises sealed and secure

Then, though we do not know the content of life’s impending Unknowns

If we believe His Word, obey Mercy’s commands we will endure

The Unknown is a gaping tomb to those who shut their eyes and turn their backs

On He who leads, guides and protects through vales of suffering and death

Where all they know is what they see; no bulwark when their enemy attacks

No Rod and Staff to cling to or Triumph beyond their final breath

© Janet Martin

How does one explain the unexplainable

or faith to the faithless,

or how death is not defeat or the grave the victor? 

...and how, though worshiper's were pummeled with bullets

God did not fail them?!!

How, without belief in the Sure Word of God

does any of this madness make sense?

How will anyone find comfort if they never open

the Book by Love, Hope, Joy and Peace's Author? 

One can no more force belief than one can force love!

Both begotten in the heart of each and every one of us.

Both a choice we make

whether we think we make it or not.

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done,
    and proclaim that his name is exalted. 

 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
    let this be known to all the world. 

 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
    for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

Isa.12: 4-6

Ode to the East Window

PAD Challenge day 8:For today’s prompt, write a thing poem.
That is, pick an object to write a poem about.

 

 This morning's East-window Originals...

If not for you to frame the view of break of day then I would miss

The often speechless wonder of Creator’s grand good morning kiss

Where night, like a charcoal cocoon cradles a glorious butterfly

And as the darkness falls away it spreads its wings across the sky

My kitchen wall is like a hall showcasing Morning’s Grand Release

Each seasonal Original, Masterpiece after Masterpiece

And I would be remiss not to immortalize this in a poem

Each still-life like a costly painting in my humble home sweet home

The years go by but still my eye is tuned to what unfolds within

The rectangle around the rubric of life’s triumphs and chagrin

And I could stare for hours at the awesome artwork in your frame

Where even after all these years no two are ever quite the same

…so here’s to you, east window that inspires worship and reply

Where break of day spills fiery color-trays across canvas of sky

And come what may you always display testaments of God’s kind grace

Where He parts gates just far enough to almost glimpse the Artist’s face

© Janet Martin

 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: 

for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Ps.59:16 KJV

With Gentle Kindness While We May...

 So many respectful words tonight as the world, esp. the baseball world, 

mourns the loss of Roy Halladay ('our' Toronto Bluejay for almost 12 of his 16 baseball-career years)

Wow, what respectful tributes are honoring his memory tonight!!

If today was our last day I wonder what would people say...

With gentle kindness while we may

Ah, what a way to live

Not keeping score or taking more

Than we are glad to give

With gentle kindness while we can

For who knows morrow’s ilk

Then we should keep the words we speak

As soft and smooth as silk

With gentle kindness, would that we

Make this our humble cheer  

For none can tell when death’s farewell

Will touch those we hold dear

With gentle kindness while we may

Time grants no guarantee

Then we should live each day as if

No other day might be

© Janet Martin