We are of One Blood

When self-preservation

at all cost

overrides our understanding

of humanity,

Ideologies arise

blinding us to the truth

that we are all of

One Blood

that pumps

through our veins

interchangeable

with you or me

regardless of color

race or ethnicity,

Life-saving blood

revealing

that we are all one

in the midst of

our diversity,

but not exclusive

in value

or superior in

entitlement.

We are humanity

created in the image

of our creator

Spiritual channels

of light

in the darkness

We are hope and comfort…

not death and destruction.

*

My sad condolences to the people of Buffalo whose family members were attacked and killed yesterday by a raving lunatic who thought his humanity was greater in value than the lives of others who were different from him.

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

The Heartbeat of Peace

Hope is a songbird

where fairies and young children

find refuge from war…

Clutching onto her feathers

to feel the heartbeat of peace

***

Today at d’Verse, Mish introduced us to Vike Muse, an artist from the Ukraine who shares her artwork on Instagram @get.muse . She creates beautiful fantasy art with positive themes to share her hope for a better day when this diabolical war has ended. Mish gave us several of her pieces to choose from. We were to pick one that inspires us and write a poem of any style about it. I wrote a Tanka.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Shadows of Sadness

Spring sun shines brightly

Skies blue and cottony over head

Yet, shadows of sadness surround me

*

Life’s journey brought me here

Overcoming through ups and downs

Yet, shadows of sadness surround me

*

So quickly our good life gets disrupted

Many hide as tanks roll and bombs explode

As shadows of sadness surround them

*

As men take a stand and mothers flee

Innocent people die daily from blind destruction

And, shadows of sadness surround me

*

Power corrupts and divides us

Greed and Evil are Siamese twins

Yet, hope rises in the sadness that surrounds us

*

People with hope believe in their cause

Willing to die rather than loose their freedom

And, hope for their children empowers them…

*

In spite of the sad shadows that surround us all

*

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

I am sharing this tonight on the d’Verse poets open link night.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Waiting to Come Out

As I have shared earlier, I am trying to keep my hibiscus plants over the winter. They are not fans of cold weather, especially the freezing kind. I dug them up and put them in a plastic pot and set them in my garage. On warmer days I set them outside for some sunlight.

It put out its last beautiful bloom over New Years. Soon after, two buds appeared. Though I have watered it and set it in the sunlight, the buds would not open. The last couple of days were up to 60 F and this evening, when I put it back in to garage, I saw the buds were starting to open a little. 

It reminded me of how we have reacted to Covid-19. Some came out right away, while others have come out very cautiously. A little reprieve does not mean it won’t return again. Hopefully we all will open up and bloom again as circumstances get better!

Coming out scares us

Becoming obsessed with masks

Hiding our sweet smiles

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Out of Compost …Life

Up from the compost comes new life

Some look forward to a long cold winter

I look forward to the flowers blooming in Spring

Daffodils can’t wait for winter’s cold to shine

In the midst of the rot and rubble they take root

Pushing upward with every warm day of Winter

Reminding me that it is not the losses of Summer

Nor the shedding of leaves in Autumn

But rather, hope lies in the eternal promise of Spring

As up from the compost comes new life

Pushing winter on its way

Yesterday I noticed that the daffodils were already pushing their way up through the dead leaves. Our temperatures have been above normal, so they have started to reach for the sun. It will be another month or two till we see blossoms, but to see them there reminds me that Spring is not that far away, and there is life and promise for 2022!  Hopefully we too can gather strength and new life from the compost of 2021!

Photo taken this morning: Dwight L. Roth

The Returning of the Light

In the midst of Faith’s dark winter

Searching

Waiting

Anticipating an end

of overshadowing darkness

brought on by Roman occupation…

A child is born

Faith’s Winter Solstice of sorts

Light of God’s Love

Piercing the Darkness

Hope is reborn

Light returns

in life’s darkest time

A message of God’s Love and Grace

that forever changed the world

^“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”   ~John 1 NKJV

Painting, Piercing the Darkness: Dwight L. Roth

A Bud of Hope

At the base of each drying leaf

Is a bud full of life and potential

Waiting patiently for summer’s heat

Or winter’s cold to pass

Knowing Spring will bring renewal

*****

Remember…

Behind all that crushes you

Makes you feel devastated

Hopeless and distraught

Lies a bud of strength and potential

The creator’s promised hope

Waiting for you to recognize

That your spring has arrived

Once more

Photo: Dwighr L. Roth

The Silent Voice

In the recesses of the mind

Where reason and conscience lie

Right along side the knowledge of good and evil

There comes a sound // not in words

But a silent voice speaking to me

Not with scream nor shout

But with a still small (silent) voice

Heard above the noise of loud voices

Clamoring for my attention

Heard above the noise of city streets

Roaring trucks and honking taxis

Above social media smart phones

Spewing out trivial pursuits

The silent voice always there…

The other option

Some call it mystical

Others hear nothing

But I hear the silent voice of God

Speaking into my soul…

The voice that says, “I love you my child.”

“No matter what you might do,

I love you!”

“Be all you can be!”

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Reposting this one from 2019

Burning Holes in the Darkness

A lone candle burns

hope in my mind, as red flame’s

smoke fills bright darkness.

Waiting anxiously for word

of breath’s return clear and free.

*****

Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Waiting for the Light

Today is Advent Sunday in the Christian faith. It represents the time leading up to the birth of Christ, Emanuel, God with us. The prophet Isaiah spoke of coming out of darkness and into the light. It speaks so much to the feelings of our life this past year.

“The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.”

Isaiah 9:2 NIV (biblegateway.com)

My Nephew’s wife shared the following post this morning on her Face Book page. I thought is was so well written that I wanted to share it with you.

**********************

Advent feels different this year… it’s not just about me preparing my heart for the coming Christ-child.

Most of us have spent a significant amount of time this year sitting in the darkness of our own personal waiting rooms…waiting for healing, waiting for a job, waiting for pregnancy, waiting for reconciliation, waiting for a visit from family, waiting for lab results, waiting for “normal”, etc.

So instead of trying to ignore the darkness, I will wait a little longer, hoping that “the God who showed up in the hardest parts of our humanity is still showing up today…

…We often forget that the encounter with the incarnate Christ happens in unexpected places — our unexpected change of plans, our unaccomplished dreams, and humble new beginnings.” (Scott Erickson)

I’m looking forward to the day “the weary world rejoices” again.

~Lora Myers Roth~

Photo: Dwight L. Roth