Call to Prayer

Why do we wait till crisis comes
When fear sets in and the body grows numb
To raise our hearts and voice in prayer
Calling to God // now made aware

And why do we think our begging and pleading
Will now be heard by Almighty God’s heeding
As folks are dying and we are reeling
Our invincible life precariously careening

Prayer is not the magic wand // making all serene
Nor the serpent on the pole to look upon for healing
God is not simply at your beck and call
Now that you have need and life’s about to fall

Crisis makes all aware that God has always been there
From everlasting to everlasting // though we never gave a care
Prayer does not bring OUR answers in time of despair
But rather strength and endurance to face all that’s there

So weep not for the grateful dead now no longer in pain
Rather weep for the soul who’s life has not yet waned
And for healthcare workers in the midst of crashing towers
Who find strength to help others in their final hours

Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Posting this for d’Verse open link night…

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

“Who’s that tripping…”

This is a picture of the Little Golden Book that was read to me in the early 1950s! The story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff has stayed with me all these years. The old grouchy Troll who lived under the bridge was outsmarted by the three billy goats.

Today at d’Verse, Frank asked us to write a Quadrille of 44 words using the word Troll. I immediately thought of this story from my childhood. It is one I remember enjoying over and over again, when I was four or five years old.

“Who’s tripping over my bridge,” said the Troll.

Childhood memories conjured up with great fondness

Courage and confidence displayed by small and large

Do the trolls in your life intimidate you…

Or, do you, with others, stand your ground?

Put Trolls in their place!

Book Cover Photo: downunderstories.com

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

If you would like to hear the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff, click on the link below:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+three+billy+goats+gruff+story&view=detail&mid=B9B02772F2A1D5B80A5FB9B02772F2A1D5B80A5F&FORM=VIRE

Cowardly Lies

The Wizard of Oz was a lesson in phycology for those who watched Dorothy and her three friends struggle with their deficiencies. As they made their way down the Yellow Brick Road, they discovered the confidence they lacked was really within them.  Today at d’Verse, Mish asked us to choose one of the three characters and write a poem from their perspective. I chose to write a poem addressing the Cowardly Lion’s lack of courage. At the end read the Lions response…Perhaps we could all learn something about ourselves from the Cowardly Lion!

Cowardly Lies (Dorothy)
Who stole the virginity of your mind
Telling you courage was not for you
Embedding self-depreciating thoughts
Of weak and unfounded fear

Who filled your mind with kryptonite lies
Making you weak and helpless when challenges arose
Hiding in the shadows afraid to show your face
Feeling like a mouse in a lion’s costume

You are more than a sniveling wimp
You are a Lion // proud and strong
Born with a king’s legacy in your DNA
Surrounded by a pride of ancestors gone before

To find your voice you must believe
Look deep into your heart
See the courageous King you were meant to be
Stand tall and strong // believe in yourself

Rise // and fulfill your destiny

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Photo: from d’Verse Poetry Pub

https://dversepoets.com

The Lions Response:

A Change of Heart
Who stole the virginity of my mind
Telling me courage was not for me
Embedding self-depreciating thoughts
Of weak and unfounded fear

Who filled my mind with kryptonite lies
Making me weak and helpless when challenges arose
Hiding in the shadows afraid to show my face
Feeling like a mouse in a lion’s costume

I AM more than a sniveling wimp
I AM a Lion // proud and strong
Born with a King’s legacy in my DNA
Surrounded by a pride of ancestors gone before

To find my voice I must believe
Look deep into my heart
See the courageous King I was meant to be
Standing tall // and strong
I believe in myself

I Rise // and fulfill my destiny

 

Courage

What would you do if you were driving down the road and saw an accident happen? This week a team of high school football players and their coach, on their way home from a game, saw the car in front of them lose control and flip over right in front of them. In the car an elderly couple were trapped and could not get out.  The boys and their coach stopped to help. They all pushed on the car, lifting it high enough to get the man out, and then they freed the woman as well.

The week before a teacher in the classroom threw a basketball at a school shooter to distract him. As a result the teacher was shot and wounded and the shooter taken into custody.

What does it take to do a selfless act. It takes courage. Courage is not something you plan for, but rather something that you do when circumstances call for it.

Courage

Courage often unplanned // shows itself upon demand

When bursts of adrenaline flow in waves

Demanding response // and action to save

Seeing others in vulnerable life-threatening positions

Knowing life and death stands between me and split seconds

Would I have the courage to take a stand…

Jump in harm’s way to lend a hand

 

No one knows how they would react

Overriding fear // having their back

Risking life and limb for ones fellow man

Becoming the hero when adrenaline demands

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Photo: dailymail.co.com

Thanks to Ali Grimshaw’s blog post that I read today, for the inspiration for this poem. Please check out her post as well:

Courage rides the train

Battle Scars

Our battle scars need not define us. As I looked out the window and saw this beautiful swallowtail on my flowers, I was surprised to see a chunk taken out of its wing. It may have eluded its predator by giving up a piece of itself to be able to live another day. In spite of its damaged wing it seemed to be feeding and functioning normally. It will lay eggs and pass on its life to the next generation. It’s scarred and injured wing did not define it’s destiny. It is going on to fulfill its role in the world that it was created to do.

Battle Scars

If you live long enough

Life will give you battle scars

Some physical others psychological

Those who succeed in life

Learn to live beyond their battle scars

Some suffer all their life

From trauma of war or words or events

Battle scars are worn like a badge of courage

Reminding others there is life after death

The death of one’s confidence

The death of ones friend

Courage arises after the trauma of battle

An accident or calamity can occur in a moment

Separation and divorce leaves ragged edges

But you are still beautiful you are still loved

Family and friends help bind up your wounds

The good within still exists in spite of the scars

God still loves you just as you are

Don’t let your battle scars define you

You are more than your imperfections

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

 

 

Roots

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle had a hit song that said, “I am a rock, I am an island. For a rock feels no pain and an island never cries…”  The isolated aloneness of this song makes me say, “No that’s not me!”    I cannot imagine living without my family roots.  They give me a sense of history and a set of values, morals and faith that I have drawn on all my life.   I believe roots are necessary whether they are birth family, an adopted family, or community of faith. Life must be very lonely  without connection to our roots.

Roots                                

Without roots

We are pulled weeds

Tossed in the pathway of life

Rooted out

Sometimes by our own choosing

Or pulled from family gardens

Thrown onto the pathway of life

By cynicism and judgement

To be trampled underfoot

But our roots can still grow

Alone in the hard cracks of humanity

Rising again and again

To bloom one last time

Courageous strength

Refusing to dry up

In the pathway of life

No matter what comes our way

Without embedded roots

We are only  tumbleweeds

Dust in the wind

In a desert of humanity