New Meaning

Forced Solitary
Old walls come down
We must talk
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Light breaks the darkness
Building bridges heart to heart
Words hold new meaning
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“Barn’s burnt down, now I can see the moon.”
~Mizuta Masahide

Mish, at d’verse, asked what we can learn from all unsettling things that are happening around us. The quote by Mizuta Masahide shows that good can come from what most would consider tragedy. She asked us to write with this quote in mind.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Who’s In Charge?

Through it all the animals roam freely
while humans withdraw in their dread and fear
not venturing out // where birds sing sweetly

Our furry and feathered friends worry not
going about their gatherings with cheer;
living lives daily with nary a thought.

Resigned to their fate, they’ve no ears to hear.
While superior beings listen in fear…
Newscasts shout, “Cornovirus is near!”

What makes us believe we should rule the world?
We read it on pages // good books are clear
we’re invincible // destined // brash and bold…

Perhaps, it’s now time to accept our state;
realizing we are not superior here;
and, like the animals accept our fate.

Live life with purpose making each day count.
Knowing in God we trust through every tear…
we face each tomorrow as tensions mount.

 

I see people racing to the store to buy up toilet paper, I notice all around me in nature is still the same. The birds sing the squirrels raid my feeder without a thought. We have a lot to learn about our place in this world and nature has many ways to help keep us in perspective.

 

 

Where Have You Been?

My father-in-law. who had Alzheimer’s, was confined several years ago after his wife was diagnosed with a brain tumor. This all took place within a month and a half. Initially we took him to visit her in her care facility across the city; but. he forgot he saw her by the time he got back to his residence.
It was very difficult for him that first year and after she passed away. When we went to visit we found notes written on his dinner napkins asking where she was and why she did not come back. It was heartbreaking to read his pleas for answers. Although we explained everything to him it was not long till he again asked the same questions. The note writing stopped after about a year. He seemed to be resigned that he was there by himself and only asked about her on occasion. He was there for five years and died in 2018.

In the winter of life the fog sets in
obscuring the obvious and familiar
Leaving one to memories past;
today’s events already forgotten.
A perspective very different
from yours and mine;
Time stands still …
like looking in a mirror to the past;
Closing the windows of the present.
Anxieties not understood
plague the mind and thoughts.
Looking for a spouse long gone;
Expecting to see her any moment;
Wondering where she is
and when she will return.
Distraught to the point of resignation
the fog becomes more intense.
Time slows down as the hour glass trickles
until finally // the top glass is empty.

This beautifully haunting song by Kathy Mattea helps bring the sadness of this disease into perspective.

The Potter’s Love

Hands smoothing and shaping
Admiring sweet creation
Perfect in every form
No need to recreate
Feeling soft clay
Thin smooth as silk
Watching clay spin on the wheel
Hands reshaping and restoring
Feeling the rounded curves
Knowing how beautiful the finished product
As the light from the window glances off
Recreating every line in his mind
Feeling the rhythm of the spinning wheel
Slowing down speeding up
As the slip slides through his fingers
The wheel finally reaches its peak
A final smoothing of the hand
From top to bottom
The original potter really did
Know what he was doing
You are a unique creation

Bing Photo: justinrossow.com

 

Special Valentine

Fragile yet so strong

Floating on the breeze of life

Special Valentine

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Reincarnation of Spirit

Passing on Kindness and Love should be the goal of every parent. In a world where issues seem to divide us, let us pass on the light of God’s love.

As one body dies one is born
Rekindling the spirit within.
The cycle never ceases to go on
Passing on the light of God to our children.
Some choose to pass on evil and hate
The infection spreads like the flu.
But even this infection you can abate
When the love of God is within you.
As we live our lives from day to day
Let God’s light dwell in your soul.
Knowing this world will be a better place
If you shed all that hate and turmoil.
Think about what you pass on to your children
Is it love or divisive hate?
What spirit will be reincarnated from you//
Think carefully before it’s too late.

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Routine

He sits alone, with his best friend, at the bottom of the steps;

resting from the long descent to the beach.

His dog is as old as he is when divided by seven;

Together they share this walk each day…

Stopping to sit under the giant fir tree.

its crooked trunk leans away from the ocean’s wind;

Providing shade and comfort for many a climber.

His dear old friend patiently waits for his master;

Realizing it will only be a few short years left

For both of them to share this  beautiful spot.

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

 

Taking Down Memories

Today I took the ornaments off of my Christmas tree, and packed them back in the box, to store until next year. I enjoyed looking again at each ornament, remembering that many of them came from my former elementary school students. Some I remembered; others had names on them. You may think an ornament is an insignificant gift, but mine have hung on my tree every year since 1970.

Gifts bring back mem’ries

Each one was a warm spot in my heart

Winter of my life

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Our 50th

Yesterday was our fiftieth wedding anniversary. Our whole family came home to celebrate with us. It was a wonderful day together. I received this tile from my wife for our twenty-fifth anniversary. This year I wrapped it up and gave it back to her. A reminder of the fifty years we have spent together.  Like our relationship, it has been cracked, but not broken. Now it is cemented together and stronger than ever

Happy Anniversary, my love…
Fifty years have flown by;
Through the years one thing remains; our vow of commitment to stay together for better and for worse.
We enjoyed many great years together with our family and our church. Our faith brought us through the Valley of the Shadow of death and out the other side.
We love our wonderful children and grandchildren. We pray that each one will use the values and principals we have taught them to find their own way.
I love you as much today as I did when we said our vows fifty years ago. Our love has grown and changed over the years, but I believe the love that brought us together was God ordained and he has seen us through.
Happy Anniversary my dear…
I love you with all my heart. I look forward to our next 50 years together.
December 27, 1969 – 2019

Photo: Dwight Roth

 

A Birdhouse for my Grandson

This year we got our nine year old grandson his first tool box with real tools for Christmas. To help get him started, I cut out a birdhouse out of some scrap cedar lumber that I had in my garage.  I predrilled the holes and put in the screws. When I was finished I took it all apart and put the pieces and the screws in a zip-lock bag for him to put together. It will be a good project for him to complete.

Bag full of pieces

Grandson’s first Christmas project

Winter house for birds

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth