Lounging Lakeside

Lap of lake lulls;

pulls us into pure purposelessness

 

Slap of sea-song slides;

glides like a hymn of happiness

Hint of wind-wisp rifles;

trifles with a green- leaf clock

Glint of silver bobbing;

lobbing diamonds to the dock

Traffic made of ripples;

stipples hazy, lazy bars

Laughter wafts;

soft petals skimming a blue lake of stars

© Janet Martin

Faithful Fulfillment...

Does your heart feel full of holes? Let the love of God fill/heal it.
He is the Saviour of souls!

The flesh and Spirit duel

We need mercy’s kind plan

The love of God to fuel

Our love for fellowman

His everlasting promise

Our utter need defends

And sanctifies man’s office

As love of God befriends

No other joy delights us

Nor sets the heart ablaze

Like He whose love invites us

Into hope’s courts of praise

And rouses awed endeavor

In we, righteous by grace

Where love of God forever

Cements man’s hope in place

© Janet Martin

... but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, 

in those who hope in his steadfast love. 

Psalm 147:11

Sense of Summer Slipping From Her

The light of summer lingers

Like raindrops gilding leaves

Like zephyr’s feather fingers

Soft-tracing memories

Sometimes the sense of summer

Is more than she can stand

Like girlhood slipping from her

Like Child from mother’s hand

Like Flower’s fading flourish

Like daughter’s restless sighs

Like echo-stars that nourish

The hunger in Her eyes

Like Time's tenuous tugging

Like sea-song’s unfurled fist

Like fishing-boats chug-chugging

Into the morning mist

As darling days of summer

Splish-splash against the dock

Something is slipping from Her

Like heartbeats from a clock

© Janet Martin

Though It Is Still July...

Not all of our family could be at the cottage this year 

and all of them needed to get back to work mid-week. 

Silence seemed exaggerated as the last steps thump-thumped 

up the stairs and away!

The sky seems near to tears

Moved by the word ‘good-bye’

And suddenly October nears

Though it is still July

A blur of Beauty hints

At summer passing by

October’s premonition tints

The green glints of July

I feel the heel of thrills

Leave imprints in each sigh

I reel; October’s aura chills

The foothills of July

Cricket cantata starts

And I cannot deny

October tugs at summer- hearts

Though it is still July

…where fullness of a day

Can drain a season dry

October hides in fields of hay

Though it is still July

© Janet Martin

A Prayer

Lord, keen in us a hunger for more than this world can fill

Move us with gladsome wonder where earth’s founts and bowers spill

And keep Faith fixed beyond this place where fear and doubt could hound

Lord, help us help the the wayward who seek but still have not Found

Lord, drive us to our knees with pleas roused by love’s tender care

Let us not be appeased by ease that else might set a snare

But keep us kind and humble; if we stumble help us stand

And never dare to grumble; blessed and covered by Your hand

Lord, let us not lose heart but use our lives to honour You

Where change constantly estranges us from what we hold or view

But leaves us disappointed without You; Lord, let us move

With footsteps grounded firmly in the comfort of Your love

Lord, lead us for we cannot see beyond each gifted breath

But this we know; no one evades the Reaper's Scythe of Death

Then keen in us a hunger for more than this world can give

And draw us to more need of you in each day that we live

© Janet Martin

 Let us not become weary in doing good,

 for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Gal.6:9