Advent of Innocence

Advent of Innocence
Today is the first Sunday of Advent in the Christian Faith. Emmanuel, God with us, was the prophesy of the promised Messiah. A time when God himself would take on the human embodiment to show us what it would be like to live and love in a life contradictory to the norms and darkness of the day. It is interesting to me that the Messiah came to us in the innocence of a tiny baby. The future life and sacrifice of Jesus brought forgiveness, grace, and peace to all who choose to believe.

The Word made flesh
Advent of innocence brings
Light piercing darkness

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Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Shared with the Frank Tassone Haikai Challenge. Join us at: https://frankjtassone.com/2018/12/02/haikai-challenge-63-12-2-18-advent-and-or-hanukkah-haiku-senryu-haibun-tanka-haiga-renga/

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Let Them Go

Some phases of our life
die by our choosing…
hoping not to be resurrected!
Letting go of the past is not easy
Hurts and pain fit so nicely
In our backpack of memories
They seem to ride along with us
Like old trusted friends
Always there to make us feel
Superior to all those in our life
Who have wronged us
But those times and people
From our past need to be let go
Those memories are not our friends
They only weigh us down
Some phases of our life
need to die
By our own choosing

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Raindrop Rubies

Have you ever seen a raindrop ruby shining in the afternoon light? Today was a little warmer, so I decided to catch up on my Fall yard work. When I finished, I sat down in my Adirondack Chair under the trees to cool off. I checked my cell phone for a while. At one point a few sprinkles fell. Two very tiny droplets landed on middle of my phone glass. As I looked at them I they looked like minute rubies and emeralds, depending on which way I turned the phone in the light.
I wondered how many people would have wiped the phone and missed the rubies. Very similar to life. If we take time to look around us, we might just find some sparkling rubies and emeralds in people we would usually pass over.

Raindrops on the glass
Refracted rubies sparkle
Fall rainbow compressed
Into tiny water drops
Look closely before they’re gone

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Marriage Investments

Being married is like investing in the stock market

What’s happening is always fluctuating

There are ups and downs // highs and lows

The only way to gain is to stay in for the long haul

Some choose to invest in penny stocks with low return

Others invest in high end stocks that bring rewards

There are those day traders who choose not to commit

Jumping on the next sure thing, hoping for a rise

Marriage like stocks will inevitably tank at times

Those who bail out leave a lot behind

Staying in and riding out the dip brings upswings

Returns rebound as things can get back on track

After a lifetime of ups and downs one hopes

To have a nest egg to help them live comfortably

Reviewing the highs and lows together

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Shared with d’Verse Poets Pub. Join us at:  https://dversepoets.com

 

Another Milestone

When I started blogging a couple of years ago, I never dreamed I would have this many followers. I have reached another milestone in blogging with 3000 follows!!

Many thanks to all of you for taking the time to read and follow my post each day. You words of encouragement and concern are worth it all. I love hearing from you, reading, and commenting on your work as well.

Riding the main line

Enjoying the blogging train

Whistling at each stop

 

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Heart Flambeau

Your flaming words wrap

themselves around my flatlined

heart // bringing new life…

Playing music on heartstrings

Melodies of love on fire

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Victoria, at d’Verse Poets Pub, asked us to write a poem today with the word fire as our prompt.

Join us at:   https://dversepoets.com

Peaceful Resignation

The week after Thanksgiving in 2012 we received news that my wife’s mother was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. She was 86 years old and after consulting with the family, made the decision not to pursue extended treatments. The doctors said she would probably not live more than a month or two. She lived until August of 2013.
Waiting in real time for what we all know is going to happen is not always easy. She made the most of her time left, celebrating Christmas with us at the care facility she moved into. Her attitude was one of peaceful resignation all the way through. Her nurses loved her and took very good care of her. She said that she had lived a full life and was ready to go.

Her time had now come
Peaceful resignation her choice
Snow falls// silent night

 

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Imelda, our guest host at d’Verse, asked us to write a Haibun that talks about waiting.  I am sharing a very personal time of waiting that happened to us a few years ago.

Come join us at:  https://dversepoets.com

 

The Unknown

You might think ignorance and self-confidence are a strange combination, but when it comes to life, they are sometimes the secret to success. When we are young and invincible, we are ready to try anything. As we get older we are less and less inclined. We are fortunate not to know what the future holds.

Ignorance and self-confidence
Take us places where
Rational thinking might slam the door.
Telling us it is too hard
…too much
…too complicated
…beyond our abilities.
Getting married // having a baby
Being a parent // growing old
All come without instructions.
Still // we step into the unknown
Thankfully ignorant of what the future holds
Knowing that somehow // we will make it
To the end //mistakes and all

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Photo: Jim Bowman

Condo for Rent

Birdhouse hangs empty

Bluebirds gone South // winter’s here

Snow rides on the roof

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

River of Love

My first time visiting my future in-laws was the summer of 1969. We were engaged and looking forward to a Christmas wedding. Ruth’s brother Ken had just finished building a canoe. We enjoyed paddling up to Calling Lake and back again. This was the summer of 1969 and the moon landing, but we were seeing stars in our eyes!

Calling River // blue as the Alberta Sky

A summer of love as days rolled by

Homemade canoe carries us to the lake

Idyllic moments // the memories we make

Paddling upstream // with stars in our eyes

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Canoe Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Grace at d’verse asked us to write a stanza or more of either English or Spanish Quintain. It is a five-line poem that can have varied foot patterns.

Join us at:  https://dversepoets.com

Painting #1