Pondering the Inevitable

Parting; inevitable severing

Of hand and lip-soft touch

We cannot tell when death will claim

Those that we love so much

And so, before we lay our head

Upon some cold grave stone

To weep for laughter that is dead

And music that is gone

We ought to hold them closely

Tell them, tell them again

How much we love and cherish them

Before grief's parting pain

© Janet Martin

He (my friend’s dad) trembled as the woman held him; loving husband of many, many years murmured, ‘parting is hard’ and his friend replied, ‘yes. You had a long life together and even though we all know its coming, when it does it is still so very hard’.

I just returned from a wake for my friend’s mom.

Thursday Christmas Thoughts

 Surely 'don't touch' couldn't possibly be for all those beautiful, colored , shiny balls!

Song: Old Tin Star

If I could have one wish, my friend

I think that it would be

To wonder like a child again

In joy’s simplicity

***

Only God can give it

Coveted release

If we trust in His goodness

Then He will give us peace

***

None of us are so poor

That we cannot give

Thanks

***

None of us are so rich

That we dare not

Give thanks

***

Though we are not able to help everyone

We are all able to help

Someone

***

The weight of duty and expectation

Should never out-weigh

Hope’s celebration

***

Jesus, You owed us nothing

And yet You gave Your all

Jesus, we owe You everything

Why are our gifts so small?

***

Words;

Their cruelty

And their kindness

Are limitless

Let’s keep them beautiful,

Not only at Christmas

But let those sentiments

Written in cards

Become testaments

Of who we are

***

Nobody is a nobody

And that is why God came

So sing a song Of Christmas joy

He loves us all the same

And could not bear that any

Should perish without Him

So sing a song of Christmas joy

To Christ of Bethlehem

© Janet Martin

Oh goodie! She's gone...back to business:)

Ah, Tender-sweet December Eve

Ah, tender-sweet December eve

Blue, blue you let your curtain fall

In solstice-song and snowflake throng

And starlight-spangled Christmas carol

The gentle gleam of home-sweet-home

Beams circle-beacons to the street

Across the yard and boulevard

We hear the homeward haste of feet

…where mothers hold their children near

And suddenly the world is right

The wood-smoke curls in dolor swirls

Against the canvas of the night

We serve the soup and say our prayers

And count our blessings one by one

Ah, tender-sweet December eve

How soon another day is done

© Janet Martin

They are all home again:)

 

Of Muse and Madness

I did not ask you, darling

To love me; unborn jot

You vex me before I am up

And tease my every thought

I cannot bear your essence

Matrix of ice and fire

Yet, how I crave your presence

Provoking my desire

Did you happen upon me

Or is there something more?

You press against a levee where

Ten thousand whispers roar

Ah muse, what keens your spirit?

Are you a curse or gift?

For I can hardly bear it

...without you I’m a-drift

And you pursue me, madly

I laugh and weep and groan

But oh, if you would leave me

My pen would turn to stone

© Janet Martin

Ephemeral Exchanges

The wind that blows the storm to shore

Will bear it back to sea

The dearth that draws you from my door

Will bring you back to me

The stream that steals my now-to-then

Will carry on its tide

The virgin morn waiting its When

As night and day divide

The breath exhaling to the blue

Replenishes its space

Where missing you and wanting you

And loving interlace

The wave that rolls across the beach

Dissolving in a gasp

Is like that moment out of reach

Yet slipping through my grasp

© Janet Martin

Do you ever feel this? I did just now as my daughter left for work.

Winter Quietude

Gone, gone, the laughing leaf of auburn fall

Bronze timbrel tucked into white solitude

The crinkled creek, a placid, polished hall

Its melody of merry May subdued

The song-bird choir that heralded the morn

Is mute; its choristers far, far away

And fields, stripped of wild-bloom and rippling corn

Roll soundlessly to skylines dull and gray

Forgotten fronds shiver, bereft of smile

Betrayed, it seems by winter’s gilded guile

On street or field our muffled footsteps fade

Stillness of white blankets hushed countryside

Somewhere bare feet pause in kind, crooning shade

Where heaven’s eyes are blue and open wide

Here, where the zephyr teased bracken and bloom

Now winds wander earth’s stricken emptiness

Searching through nature’s whitewashed living-room

For something more than stiff, stoic witnesses

Beneath the spell of sequin-silver kiss

The world is wrapped in winter quietness

This is the hour of tranquility

Do not despise the door that leads to spring

The barren tree in meek humility

Trusts He who holds and molds each season-thing

Though stalk has rendered its bloom to the sod

Farewell is not its death, hope fills the seed

It slumbers where the faithfulness of God

Does not forget for He beholds each need

While now we wait; our wanting will subdued

In cathedrals of winter quietude

© Janet Martin

Because my mind is racing this morning I decided it would be good to focus on quietude! :) Merry Christmas all, and may your days leading up to His Birthday Celebration be peaceful and bright!

Soliloquy

I like the way you come to me

So far away and yet so near

You whisper soft against my ear

A winter-night soliloquy

I like the fire in your eye

The way you look, just standing there

Etched tender on the frost-keened air

You warm the dark with summer’s sigh

I like the way time cannot steal

The fellowship of memories

Where you and I like midnight’s breeze

Dance soft and slow on winter’s field

I like the way you touch me, dear

The silence would be crass and cold

But for the echoes that unfold

In white moonlight against my ear

© Janet~

I Love You Too

 

When you speak them to me

No other words will do

So I reply; those four best words

“I love you too”

Three words are wonderful

And forever new

But I tremble at four words;

“I love you too”

We cannot speak these four words

Out of the blue

But they fit perfectly after three;

‘I love you’

“I love you too”

© Janet Martin

Beyond Today...

Beyond today we cannot say

What will befall or if perchance

We might be drawn from moment-spawn

For living’s ephemeral dance

Does not foretell when Time’s farewell

Will place its kiss upon our brow

We cannot see beyond today

The only thing we have is Now

And none can wheedle or demand

One glimpse beyond today’s firm hand

Beyond today we cannot say

What colors fill The Artist’s tray

The gold and gray that slipped away

Is nothing now but yesterday

And we, the love-and-learning squad

March ever onward up to God

Beyond today; a curious thought

Of fantasy and faith unwrought

We tremble twixt the ‘what-has-been’

And the ‘beyond-Today’s-unseen’

Beyond today oh, none can say of wise-man,

Soothsayer or sage

What Life will spill of good and ill

Upon its far and phantom page

Paris in June? Love’s Brigadoon?

What will it be? Ah, none can know

Its filament is lent and spent

Within a gasp that we call Now

And we can never snatch the thread

From He who gives our daily bread

© Janet Martin

Of Green and Gold and God

Behind facades of gold and green,

Of fields bathed bronze in early light

Or season-tides that surge unseen

Disguised as morning, noon and night

Within life’s little tick-tock share

Of hurt and hunger, laughter, grief

We stretch our hands but cannot snare

The nuances which fill Time's sheaf

The clock strikes twelve; another year

Slips soft into the atmosphere

The canvas where we oft laid bare

Love’s stunning attributes of trust

Its ravishment of hope, despair

Its pinnacles of want and must

Is snuffed by nothing but the chime

Of midnight and while wise men sleep

The subtle dictation of Time

Claims one more year within its keep

Futile to clench or shake the fist

We cannot cling to moment-mist

Is life but extolment of prayer?

While dream-slayers and sages vie

We stumble, fly and soon stand where

Another year whispers good-bye

Spring’s bully-green is winter-white

And youth, ah youth is borne away

Upon this morning, noon and night

And vapor shaping yesterday

Blessing and burden coalesce

To teach us trust and happiness

Ah, see the sun rise from the trench

Of twilight on a beach somewhere

Mercy and love’s compassion drench

Morning; ‘tis more than scripted air

And we are more than young and old

Marching toward death’s ether clime

Where history is but the hold

Of tick-tock chant and moment-mime

This green and gold season-facade

Unfolds the road that leads to God

© Janet Martin

Of Crosses and Comfort

 

We cannot bear life’s cross alone

Kind Mentor of our moments here

You understand each wordless groan

And count each solitary tear

The silent sorrow of the soul

My Father, is not hid from Thee

Come to us now. Comfort, console

Carry us in Your kind mercy

Sorrow and joy, complex alloy

Dear Father, help us meekly bear

Love’s mother-load; lest we destroy

The tender hearts placed in our care

 Guide us in each step of each day

Constrain our fears beyond its reach

And help us not to pull away

From love-lessons that life must teach

Oh God, alone we cannot bear

The hidden sorrows of the heart

But, as You hear our groaning prayer

Dear God, I pray, Your peace impart

© Janet Martin

Jesus!

 

Jesus, was ever there a name that didst such love and wonder stir?

Of Christ-child clad in mortal skin; the son of God, Mary, mother

He left His throne to be a Lamb led to the slaughter, meek and mild

Jesus, was ever there a Name such as was given this Christ-child?

Jesus; and He will save mankind from sin and death; how can it be?

The Godhead leaves His place to become ransom blood for you and me

As angels glorified the Father for salvation’s wondrous birth

Jesus Christ laid in a manger; King and Lord of Heav’n and earth

Jesus; name above all names and Hope whereby mankind is saved

Jesus, our debt of guilt and shame by grace through His shed blood is waived

Jesus; whoever shall believe will not perish in that last breath

Jesus; and by no other name can we escape damnation, death

Jesus; was ever there a name that didst such love and wonder bring?

Of Christ-child born in humble stable where the poor could come to Him

Ah Jesus, Alpha and Omega born to suffer Calvary

Ah Jesus; name above all names be praised throughout eternity

© Janet Martin

Listening to Christmas music as I work around the house...oh, what a name to sing. Jesus!

A Christmas Wish

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!

 Thanking God for a blessed year past and trusting Him for a blessed year ahead.

May we seek, and then may we find

The wonder of Love’s perfect Gift

The kindred Hope of all mankind

Implores us to come now and lift

Our hearts and hands in joyful hymn

To worship Christ of Bethlehem

May we in spirit and in Truth

Embrace love’s gladness and its joy

Relinquishing sorrow and grief

For hope in Heaven’s Baby Boy

And may we find from this day forth

A Deeper Meaning to life’s worth

May the grace of forgiveness cleanse

Us from the bitter thorn of spite

May the deliverance of Him

Who loves us so, make our wrongs right

And may we learn in word and thought

To worship Jesus as we ought

May we when this season has passed

Still sing its worship-song of cheer

And may we resolve thence to trust

In God all through the coming year

And may we find, each day we live

The Gift that Jesus came to give

© Janet Martin

Winter Worship

Earth is a pillow of diamond-stud dazzle

Lack-luster limb sporting sashes, lush, plush

Countryside, cityscape, woodland and hollow

Clad in a cape of grand crystalline hush

Opulent wonder in white winter-splendor

Kisses frail twig, bending hemlock and pine

Beneath a blanket of God-gilded grandeur

Earth is a hallowed, heaven-thrilled shrine

We, the sojourners of four-season homage

Claim common kin-ship of shovel and hope

Worship dons mittens and muckers and mufflers

Digging our way through north-wind calliope

Earth is a garden of gleaming frost-flowers

Earth is a wonderland whispered by God

Earth is a canvas where Time spills its hours

We, its sojourners are humbled and awed

© Janet Martin

Sometimes, finding the right words to describe our Creator’s handiwork simply falls flat, almost like an insult, yet we must try. Over and over we are awed by Him!

Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Ps. 96:9

Winter from Inside my Window

 Two friends of mine have their stories in this book! Congrats Caroline and Glynis.

Wan twilight claims the gray-blue day

Where wind, with bared wrath chills our bones

Lurking at doors and windowpanes

He snarls in surly threats and moans

The popularity of books

And fireside and comfy chairs

Become small havens in our nooks

Of home, sweet home and kinder cares

Summer; oh, foreign, remote land

Of sanguine sweetness long ago

Your echo snuffed by churlish hand

In Nor’-Easter and blowing snow

How friendly is the flick’ring flame

How cheery this chamomile tea

The wind flashes his saber-grin

But I decline his company

© Janet Martin

It is F-R-E-E-ZING today/tonight!

Merry Christmas! Yes, it is!

 Merry Christmas!

…not because our lives are perfect

But He is!

…not because our gifts bring deliverance

But He does!

…not because stocking-stuffers fulfill

But He will

…not because of earthly peace

But because of heavenly peace

Because

He was born

To die

So we may live

Forever!

Merry Christmas!

© Janet Martin

A Morning in December Postcard

The lane-way and the highway and the trail to wood and dale

The evergreen and cottage scene and silver-scripted vale

Portray the winsome long ago; of younger fields and fells

And almost we can hear the one-horse-sleigh and jingle bells

The blue of dusk descends at dawn tinting hill-scape and yard

Where ambiance of Christmas-past nurture’s nature’s post card

Of white-capped hush and fleece-wrapped bush; of frost-frothed fallow-sea

How tender-soft the Artist brushes gilded reverie

Grand isles of May and merger of green-gold slumber beneath

A sweeping surge of diamond-splurge, holly and Christmas wreath

Out where the summer-garden courted laughing, lounging hours

Its single boast is sported in boreal, snow-flake flowers

The modern girth of tortured earth is tucked in solitude

As winter spills its merry mirth in childhood vim renewed

And glad lad hails the sweet regale where heaven’s chattering

Covers the floor of mead and moor with down of angel wing

The bronze of autumn-languor spills its final crinkled fronds

Save for the long-stemmed teasel or the cattail curtailed ponds

And where the coveted romance of youth and spring entice

A keener beauty spins its gossamer of snow and ice

We probe the dying ember; set the polished pot to boil

A morning in December soothes the tedium of toil

With ginger tea in hand we gaze across earth’s frozen swells

Where almost we can hear the one-horse-sleigh and jingle-bells

© Janet Martin

I wrote this with a little 'smirk';) because I know not everyone is seeing a postcard as they dig out and defrost to go to work! ah, 'tis the season. My hubby just left Manitoba where it has been up to 35 and 40 below in the past few weeks; and it is not even officially winter yet!Sending you all warm wishes and cozy Christmas cheer!

Thursday Thoughts (on Time!;)

Futile my arguing, grumbling debate

Foolish my tantrum when God says, ‘wait’

***

I feel ashamed as well I should

…and even a little sickly

The sweetness of having ‘the last word’

Turns rancid mighty quickly

***

All the care that we must bear

Is lighter when folded in prayer

***

Darling, the hour is tiptoeing

And claiming quietly

Another day of hastening

Toward eternity

Darling, let’s not be guilty

Of frivolous neglect

Because a day, when it has passed

We cannot resurrect

***

Should we in person never meet

My stranger-friends on cyber-street

I’d like to tell you I am glad

For this ink-friendship that we had

***

Christmas is that time of year

We realize amidst its cheer

The truth whispered, yet never told

My, my, how fast we’re getting old

***

Ah, think me not presumptuous, love

But now and then I’d like to be

Your uttermost desire because

That’s how I know that you love me

***

Sugar and spice

Are very nice

But I prefer

Your kisses…

Twice

***

That second mile; that second mile

It tugs us from our comfort zone

But only in that second mile

Is our depth of love made known

***

See how that slow, sweet wave of dusk

Washes blue, blue over earth’s shore

Sweeping within its surge the day

Into past’s vast for-nevermore

We stand upon Time’s breath-borne brink

Between what was and what will be

Phantom fulcrum of silver ink

Pouring toward eternity…

***

The echo of yesterday brushes our skin

But we need to focus on the day we are in

***

God, be with you

May the road

That draws you from my little door

In the evening

Be the highway

Back to home sweet home once more

***

My child, being true to yourself

May inspire a noble thought

But it is ever more important

To be true to God

***

‘Happy Holidays’ is nothing

But a wish for something nice

Merry Christmas is the blessing

Celebrating Jesus Christ

Merry Christmas, one and all!

© Janet Martin

Them Was the Good Ole Ways

 Each December our fuel company drops off a new Norman Rockwell Calendar...I esp. like this picture!

Back when us young ‘uns

Was punished fer wrongins’

That went against The Good Book

When things like fishin’

Was what we was wishin’

Wasn’t the thing that they took

Back when God’s Word

Was read and revered

And taught in both home and school

Them was the good ole ways

the 'See-you-in-church-on-Sunday' days

Unless of course, you was a fool

© Janet Martin

My 'Forever Summer'

One thought

Melts softly

Into another

Intimate whispers

And

Summer-sweet scenes

Darling,

Though we are

So far

From each other

Thought fills the winter

Of our touch

In-betweens

I like the way

Thought can

Transport

Your murmur

There is an apex

Beyond skin-on-skin

Darling,

You are my

‘Forever summer’

For thought draws you

To me

From somewhere

Within

© Janet Martin

Heaven-made

 

 Image source

Dear son, I can make you dinner

Make your bed,

And make you cozy and warm

I can make sure that you wake up

When you don’t set your alarm

I can make your 'messy' tidy

Make soiled laundry clean and such

I can make you smile and maybe

At the mention of ‘her’ blush

I can make a quilt of memories

Where the threads of living weave

But

I cannot make you love me

Nor can I make you

Believe

© Janet Martin

Two things in life we can never force…Love and Belief

‘I’m just not feeling it yet’, said Matt the other night …the ‘it’ being Christmas.

‘When that happens to me, I told him, I stand and look long at the manger and think about how That Gift changes everything! And when I stop ‘feeling it’ I do it again.’

We cannot MAKE life’s two fundamentals…love or belief. Actually there is only one fundamental; Love. It makes everything else.

Glorious Day..

In Bethlehem

Oh, let it play,

Hope’s sacred hymn

And may its music

Never dim

Of joy and peace

Love’s diadem

Sent to mankind

In Bethlehem

Forgiveness for

Each hurting wrong

Oh, let this be

Our ageless song

As One Fair Morn

Brought hope to men

A Savior born

In Bethlehem

Oh, let it ring

And never cease

This Jesus-King

This Prince of Peace

Fills man with hope

As He did then

So long ago

In Bethlehem

Then let Love’s anthem

Reach God’s throne

And let its message

Be made known

Of Christ the Lord

He sent to men

His Living Word

In Bethlehem

Oh, fill the rift

From sky to sky

Salvation’s gift

Will never die

In manger laid

Jesus became

Hope wrapped as Babe

In Bethlehem

© Janet Martin

As I was listening to the above song these words poured through my heart...thus the same tempo:)

A Pre-Christmas Prayer...The Reason

Wend the wonder of this season

Through the rush of to-do list

Impress through our haste The Reason

Lest the heart of it be missed

Over living’s daily scurry

Precious Jesus, stir within

Deeper meaning to our hurry

Lest we bypass Bethlehem

In the presents and the glitter

Keep The Reason ever-near

Let Hope’s tender-sweetest whisper

Be our blessed Christmas cheer

Thread our thought with true thanksgiving

Draw us to the manger-bed

Calm our mind with Heaven's offering

Lest The Reason we forget

Wrap Your beauty through each duty

Fill our hearts with gratitude

Jesus, give us hearts like Mary

As Love’s Reason is renewed

© Janet Martin

My heart started to race this morning…to-do lists appear no matter how much we vow to simplify; there are expectations, right? And we love to do them but oh, Jesus, keep large within us The Reason for each gift and celebration and may we never simply purchase to adhere to expectation!

Dawn Devotional

Once more the circle of the sky

Above the plot that we call home

Has brushed its darkness back to light

In whispers wafting earthward; ‘come’

And where the cover of the night

In blankets blue with snowflake swirls

Tucked yesterday’s today from sight

Another day of grace unfurls

Ah, Father of celestial slope

Gather like darkness our despair

Ignite the candle of our hope

And rest Your hand beneath our care

© Janet Martin