Bluebirds

Today's haiku:

Rain slips off feathers                                                       

and leaves no mark, let cursing      
words slip off my heart.       


I've been watching the bluebirds this winter. They posed for some pictures.
 

No more room at the table.          

            Sit and wait your turn.

 Who said I need a bath?

I'm divin' in!

You're not clean yet!

What are you lookin' at?

Shower stall.

Doesn't everyone sing in the shower?

Blow dried.

The Lion Tamer

(This started in haiku form but it didn't want to stay there)

Sated, she washes

and waits, till lusting for flesh
she ambushes me.

I creep, like a fly
with plucked wings, to the shelter
of the Lion Tamer.

Another resolution chomped to bits!
I've used every formula I know

to keep that lion from getting me.

My knees are buckling
my arms are shaking
I'm gasping like a fish on dry land,
Mr. Lion Tamer, I quit!

How can He smile, even chuckle?
And that tree limb is talking!
"Do you see me turning

four shades of purple

trying to make a cherry

or a mulberry?

Or twisting till I'm nearly broken
trying to stay attached to the tree?
I just soak up the sun
and hang out with the tree
and fruit happens."

                                                   
Mr. Lion Tamer,
that sounds too easy.

Yep, My yoke is easy
and My burden is light.

Earth's Heartbeat

Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry; each poem has three lines, first line with five syllables, second line with seven syllables, third line with five syllables. Traditionally it is about the four seasons and/or nature. For a poetry class recently I wrote a set of four haiku.

A downy snow quilt

comforts a slumbering earth

as it's strength returns.            

Spring bursts from hiding

Flings rainbow colors with glee
Lures birds into song.

Long days of sunlight
Insects hum and fireflys dance
Earth is draped with green.

Earth yields her bounty
to hungry souls and retires
in lavish array.

Unfettered
She sat alone in a cell
with just 3 walls.

                                            

"Why do you stay there
unchained and free?
Come and fly with me!"

"Have you lost your mind?
Can't you see I'm a prisoner
shackled and barred?

"Well, are you blind?
There are no chains!
There are no bars!
You're free to go!"

She shook her head
and turned away
and then I saw
'twas fear that held her
shackled and barred
in a cell called "comfort zone".

But then came love
and the heart of love
enclosed her in it's circle;
unconditional,
unearned,
unending love.
Ahhhh....................at last!

"Do you still want me
to fly with you?
I may not be an eagle
but check out my new wings!
Whoohoooo!"

There is no need to fear
encircled by love
in the sunshine of grace
you are free to soar,
free to live,
free to love,
No strings attached!!!

Tattered Butterflies

We search for perfection.

In the grocery store
we look for
the perfect peach,
the spotless apple,
the freshest milk.

                                     

In a photograph
we look for
the colorful flower,
the delightful bird,
the captivating landscape,
the polished smile,
and especially
the flawless face.

Who looks for
the imperfect,
the blemished,
or unretouched
face?  

This photographer sought
that perfect butterfly:
bright fresh color,
clean lines, perfect form.
But I found old,
battle scarred,
tattered butterflies.

There's something to be said for those
who have been in battle and survived.

There's something to be said for those
who have grown old and wrinkled
and still they fly.

There's something to be said for those
who have been wounded
and still they love, they trust.

There's something to be said for the ordinary souls
who salt the earth with dynamic grace.

There's something to be said
for weakness,
for imperfection,
for simplicity.

Because~~
It's in our weakness His strength is completed
It's in our imperfection His perfection shines
It's in our childlikeness His kingdom comes.

"Come unto Me.......and I will give you rest."

Limb walking

Ever been
"out on
a limb"?

Take a look at him!

Inching along a mimosa hair

comes to the end~what's next?

Reach out for a neighboring hair

Hope it's not too far away,

Hope the wind stays calm,

Oh no, it's just beyond my reach!

But here comes one who says

"Just wait, I'll help the little guy"

Gives the hair a little tweak

And presto, now they meet!

A happy little inchworm

Goes cheerfully on his way

All's right with his world

And here I stand amazed once more

At God's little wonders.

So if you're out on a limb

Searching for a way to go

Or shouting "Help me, I'm doomed!"

Know this: the Greater One

Is always by your side,

He'll always provide a way

and rescue those

who trust in Him.

The inchworm slightly out of focus expresses to me the uncertainty I feel when I'm "out on a limb". When I rest in Him, things come back into focus.

A Closer Look

One rainy day when I went out to play with my camera, the little ant caught my eye and I took a closer look.

I see ants and raindrops differently now.

She with the quaint, blue glasses
did not quite fit in that strange modern world,
so it put her in a box
 labeled
awkward, dowdy,
unlearned, poor
hillbilly.
But today she smiles
every time she remembers
the one who refused to let
eyeglasses, clothing,
naivete, or accent
define her.
He took a closer look.

I wonder........
Do I take a closer look
at those my world has put in boxes?
labeled
leftwing, rightwing,
Fascist, Communist,
redneck, blueblood,
ad infinitum.