This is for JusJoJan day 26. The word is “shutter,” and the poem’s catalyst was my women’s group this morning. As much as I miss meeting in person, I’m grateful for Zoom because we can still meet (especially because almost everyone in my women’s group is grandmother-age). Anyway, today we had a storyteller come to speak with us. She has “attended” our group several times now, and her stories are unique and often like fairy-tales, but their themes connect with the spiritual life. This is the poem that I wrote.
Christian Poetry
Dove of Peace: A Petrarchan Sonnet
This is another installment of my series (see also here and here) inspired by the picture below. I’m not 100% happy with this, as it’s my first attempt at a Petrarchan sonnet in probably multiple years, but I hope you enjoy it.
Meditate on Nature
This poem was mostly inspired by the Writing Wednesday prompt, “meditation.” It is a Puente poem, so called because the line in the middle acts as a “bridge” between the 2 parts of the poem. I am also sharing with the Writers’ Pantry and with JusJoJan day 24, even though the word “trigger” did not trigger any ideas, at least not yet.
Change of Hearts
This was inspired by this prompt about judgment, as well as the current Weekly Scribblings. Click the link to read more. 🙂
Sonnet: Dove of Peace
In this post from last week, I shared a picture and 2 poems inspired by it, wondering if I would start a series by reusing some of the lines to write different forms of poetry. Well, here is the next installment of the series: a Shakespearean sonnet (hoping to try a Petrarchian sonnet soon)! Shared with the Writers’ Pantry at Poets and Storytellers United.
The dove of peace brings healing in its wings,
The shining sun comes not so far behind –
A confluence of pinkish hues it beings,
The easier some happiness to find.
The dove of peace reveals itself to men
Although it often seems to’ve been delayed:
It can be shy, and finds its welcome when
True prayers of trust, like little stars arrayed,
Light up the people’s dark thoughts’ sky. Those stars
Provide much comfort when they’re born and rise,
Against despair and woeful words which mar –
With peace past understanding as the prize.
Thenceforth can many faith-filled flowers grow,
No matter which direction the winds blow.
And Who Is My Neighbor?
Today’s poem is a cherita, inspired by JusJoJan and FOWC: Instead. In a way, this is also a response to Rumi’s well-known poem “The Guest House.” The poem is a good reminder, even though I don’t always want to hear it. Sometimes I feel like screaming, “But I don’t want any guests!!!” Without any further ado…. Continue reading
The Dove of Peace
Originally, I was planning on only sharing this picture with Linda G. Hill’s coloring club for January, but the picture ended up inspiring two poems. I might even write more in this series, using the same first line as a starting point, in several different poetry forms.
Angels
There are plenty of unprompted poems in my head today, but I am not avoiding prompts! 🙂 This is especially for JusJoJan day 3: Servant. I wrote a Pleiades poem, a poem of 7 lines with 7 syllables per line, all starting with the same letter. The title is supposed to be one word. Pictured is my family’s Christmas tree, topped with an angel.
Aid to God’s faithful people,
Attendants and guardians
Above humans, yet servants.
Army of heavenly hosts
Attempts to help everyone
Avoid plenty of dangers,
Announcing momentous words.
Christmas Morning
For day 25 of the Christmas challenge — also, merry Christmas to all! The first line, which I put in quotes, is a sentence that someone said in a video reflection on this event, and that one line screamed to be put into a poem.
“Christ is born once more for us,”
Poor and helpless child:
In a manger He is laid,
By the world reviled
Other than by shepherds, and
Wise men who were trav’ling
From the East, to worship Him;
A new hope announcing.
Come to Jesus, Him embrace,
See His whole innocent face.
Surprises
This is for MLMM’s Tale Weaver: Gift, FOWC: Great, and day 24 of the Christmas challenge. I think the poetry form is called a mirror cinquain. I talked more about gratitude in yesterday’s post, but I am grateful for Christmas itself. Even this crazy year, I think that Christmas will be a special and happy time. We won’t spend time with as much family, but in some ways that’s okay because, in the past, I have felt extra lonely on Christmas, because of all the people. I’m the only person in my family who celebrates Christmas as a religious holiday (not just the secular version), and although I have nothing against the secular expressions of Christmas, it is very lonely when the holiday has a vastly different significance for you than for your family.
Look now!
The time has come,
Quiet birth of God’s Son,
Celebrate for endless ages
This gift.
This gift:
Wondrous surprise as mighty God
As a baby is born,
Weak and helpless,
Like us.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.Luke 1:30-33 (KJV)
