how can I keep from singing?

how can I keep from singing?

Enya

You

"Keep your face towards the sunshine 

& shadows will fall behind you"

-Walt Whitman

{for my 'Pakistani' friend}

 For no apparent reason,

her face became a smile

which blossomed and overflowed

into laughter after a while.

She was walking in no direction

that was precise or even known,

yet she knew where she was going

and made that path her own.

There was a whimsical sense about her –

something that couldn’t be caught,

like laughter or the sun’s rays

and all the things that can’t be taught.

The strength that seemed to guard her

had grown from scars of time,

of lessons learnt, and times she’d fell

and from all of life combined.

She faced the shining sunlight

and let the shadows fall behind her

and the joy that was her very life

is what she let define her.

And the beauty of the chaos

that was her – each everyday –

shone brightly in her eyes

and begged a friend to stay.

Yes, she knew that what ever happened

 - what ever lay ahead

would be guided by her Creator

and so she let herself be led

towards peace and true forgiveness,

and a meaning for that road,

towards grace and love and kindness

and all the joy that overflowed.

awakened

“You have many choices.

You can choose forgiveness over revenge, joy over despair.

You can choose action over apathy.”

-Stephanie Marston

“Oh,” she gasped.

She drew a breath

of that crisp and salty air.

In front of her lay

The plunge she had planned

 yet her mind was fixed in a stare.

Her eyes stopped to marvel at the waves that crashed down

dispersing

all sense of calm.

Her heart caught a glimpse

of the suns reaching rays

and she slowly stretched out her arm.

Her mind had been made

but now all resolve,

 like the cliffs below that had crumbled

Fell down in a heap

leaving edges steep.

She was left shaken, in awe and humbled.

She lifted her eyes

to the heavens - greyed

from the storm that seemed to be waiting

and prayed to God

(who she hoped still cared),

her mind and her heart deeply aching.

She took a step back

and again. And again

and something seemed to be lifted –

a burden of guilt,

of hardship and hurt

was gradually being shifted.

The clouds gave way

to a torrent so sweet, that

though vicious, wrapped her in embrace.

Soaked to the soul

by the awe of it all

she begged and appealed to grace.

Finding the path

that had taken her here

she retraced the steps she had taken

And as the clouds dispersed

and the curtains drew back,

she found she had awakened.

the flowers

“Earth laughs in flowers.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

A few disjointed stems combined

            tied together with twine.

Shades of green – such charm unseen

yet beauty: soft and slight and fine.

Each petal, soft. Collected thus.

A collation of stains and hues

that spoke silently of laughter,

in the pinks and reds and blues.

Upon the setting of the sun

each closed upon itself

refusing to see the darkness

from their spot upon the shelf.

As if fighting war against the grim,

the dispirited and dejected,

each day another member fell

-       a fate that seemed accepted.

But still the slight existence

of the flowers – while they were - 

reminded me of joy in life

and that such would always occur.

and love

{welcoming my brother Micah to the world}

it was love at first sight

and probably even before it.

the eyes that open

cautiously,

aware of little else

than the hands that hold him.

the hands that curl

at the slightest touch

around the finger offered.

the perfection

of eyelashes

of fingernails

of the furrowed brow

and pursed lips.

simply

evidence of Grace

by just existing.

simply

a promise of Providence

by just being.

simply

a reason to praise

by just living.

to treasure

to cherish

to love and to love and love.

Life's lessons

I have quite a series of short one verse snippets about things that life has taught me so far, that I hope to gradually share with my readers here. The series has been dedicated and gifted to my sweet friend Samantha.

God is amazing

and His grace enough

And His Word and prayer - 

don't give up on that stuff.

Romance is pretty

so keep the dream live

but when it fails don't give up-

love needs work to survive.

Silence, at times

Is the best of replies;

And listening, more helpful

Than the best of advice.

Though love can be felt

In so many ways,

True love is a verb

And, through doing, it stays.