Spirit Questions (a Rubáiyát)

I wrote this a few years ago for the d’Verse Poets Pub. I thought it would be good to reflect on as we exit 2020 and enter 2021. We have lost a multitude of people this year to Covid-19. Death has a way of bringing things into focus. It brings us face to face with our own mortality. The thoughts in this poem reflect on spirit within each of us.

Where dwells the spirit before life begins         

Waiting to entwine with genes at man’s whims

Does it float in space riding red stardust

Or in ocean waves where the raindrops swim

*

Where dwells the spirit when I took my first

Breath of life // of heart and lungs merged thirst    

Spirit seems at home in this flesh and bone

Fragile body // heart pumping till it bursts

*

Where does my spirit dwell when life is done   

As eyes close in death and the race is run

Breath leaves the body and the spirit rises

Rejoining spirit with Spirit // lives on

******

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

A Smile For You

Creativity and imagination always make me smile. When I pulled into my parking space at the mall, I saw this sweet little beauty smiling back at me. I tried to imagine the person who puts eyelashes on their car headlights. What a unique idea! Do you give names to your car?

Batting eyelashes

Smiling across the parking lot

A sweet set of wheels!

*

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Vacations

Remember the days

when vacations were fun

Time off work

and we were on the run

Traveling as far as

our imaginations could reach

To the mountains

ride the train

and fun times at the beach

Coming home exhausted

and ready for a rest

Back to work on Monday

Vacations were the best!

I took this photo in 1976, when one of my students, Sharon Ulrich, won the My America contest for the state of Virginia. It included a week long trip across the state of Pennsylvania, stopping to visit all the historic sites. It included her parents and her teacher (me) and winner representatives for each state. By the time we got to Lancaster County, to ride the Strasburg Railroad, many of the folks were worn out and needed a rest… as you can see in the photo!

Pause

Cardinal stops to drink

Copper sky reflection shines

Creek water runs clear

Photos Dwight L. Roth

Fifty-One Years Today

Our Love (A Quadrille)*

Our love’s a poem

Written in the tide…

Spelling out our dreams

On the shore of life

Poem of lasting quality

Ebb and flow from day to day

Smooth, serine, mirroring the sky…

Crashing // bold from deep within

Our Love…

Written for the ages

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

*A Quadrille is a a poem of exactly 44 words, created by d’Verse Poets Pub.

Christmas All Year ’round

Children look forward to Christmas each year

To toys and presents and Santa’s good cheer

But why do we leave Christmas in December

The joy of Christmas we should always remember

*

The gift of God’s grace coming down to Earth

To live in our hearts and give us worth

So spread God’s love both near and far

Share Christmas joy where ever you are

Give of yourself and lend a hand

To both friend and stranger across our land

*

The joy of Christmas is not in the getting

The true spirit of Christmas is in the giving

Show love and compassion to all you meet

The real joy of Christmas is really a treat

*

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

The Tree of Life

Today I am sharing a poem from a dear friend, Ike Glick, who lives in Edmonton, Alberta. He sent this poem with his Christmas Letter, and I thought it was very creative and well written. The word Sophia is a feminine name which means wisdom. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The Tree of Life

Sophia *

‘God’s wisdom’

The essence of Being

Even before creation, “I Am”

“On the heights” for life perspective

“Along the way” in unexpected places

Confronting, “On the path I take my stand”

I may be found outside the gates of power

I am ubiquitous

I am available

I am optional

Most free are they who choose my ways

“Those who find me find Life.”

As they follow the star . . . *

Echoes of Prov.8, Mt.2, Luke.2 Isaac Glick 12/2020

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Christmas is Love

Some may say Christmas is just a myth

Like the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause

A fantasy created to make us feel good

But to me Christmas is Love

*

You may want to debate the details

Or argue whether the Wise Men were three

Or just three in a caravan of twenty-three

Bringing gifts to the Christ child so long ago

But to me Christmas is Love

*

Some may wonder at the story of the Shepherds

Of Angels singing from on high in the night sky

Perhaps the baby was in their stable asleep in the hay

A tiny baby with a story to tell that changed the world

To me Christmas is Love

*

God coming in the flesh is a concept some might doubt

The Word,,, The Spirit of the living God embodied in a baby

A child said to be both human and divine is quite a wonder

Leaving skeptics to doubt and critics to pick it apart

But to me Christmas is Love

*

You see, God is Love, his love shown through the man Jesus

If you get lost in the details you miss the story, for the story is Love

What ever you believe about the Christmas story most will agree

That Love is the foundation of Christmas… God’s love shown to mankind

To me Christmas is God’s Love and Grace to those who need it most

*

Painting “Piercing the Darkness” – Dwight L. Roth

No Room at the Inn

Travelers came knocking on the door of the inn

After traveling all day tired, hungry, and thirsty

The donkey needed fed // they needed a bed

A full inn afforded them nowhere to lay their heads

Pregnant Mary needed a place to deliver.

Water broke // waves were coming on strong;

No time to look elsewhere for a private room.

The inn was no place for a delivery room;

Travelers standing around gawking at the sight

Of a new born baby coming ready or not.

The kind Inn Keeper suggested, “Perhaps the stable…

A private place to deliver away from prying eyes?”

The animals provided warmth from their exhales.

He did what he could to make them comfortable;

Brought water and a blanket as Mary screamed in pain;

He was not the villain in this story as portrayed;

Rather a compassionate keeper avoiding gossip’s scandal.

Why do we think they should have been entitled?

Unknown travelers from afar // they had no reservations.

Thankful for a private spot, it all came about

A child was born in private, and would soon,

In the course of time, change the world;

A Savior who is Christ the Lord!

*

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Christmas Love

Unpacking Christmas a box of loving gifts

Full of sweet memories that bring me a lift

Remembering my students’ love shared with me

Ornaments of beauty to hang on my tree

A shiny brass apple with name and date

A stained glass window made on a plate

Homemade Rudolph made with clothes pins

Cotton ball snowman and angels with wings

So many memories from yesteryear

Much love remembered sweet and clear

*

Grandchildren come to help each year

Oohing and awing is what I hear

And I smile remembering back on those days

When love was shown in so many ways

My tree’s not filled with bought decorations

But a tree filled with love from a past generation

And when it’s all over we’ll pack them away

Storing the love for another Christmas day

I treasure the gratitude each one brings today

Feeling the love that will never goes away

******

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

I discovered that I already posted this poem back in November… Did any of you notice this??