What Sustains Me

Is it knowledge and understanding that keeps me strong
Or perhaps the intellectual freedom
To pursue my thoughts and expand my mind
Some say knowledge is truth and nothing more
But for me it is faith that sustains me

For most of us perspective is truth
Those things we heard from our mother’s knee
The sermons preached from the Holy Book
Or perhaps the trauma and turmoil of life
Eats and gnaws its truth into our soul
But for me faith is what sustains me

Many believe they have a handle on truth
And all others are wrong who disagree
How small heaven must be
How few there must be who find the way
But for me my faith sustains me

To believe in God’s unfailing Love
Beyond knowledge and understanding
To see that Word made flesh in human form
Sharing His love all around me
It may be truth or it may be perspective
But for me it is this faith that sustains me.

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Anchors

On Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina, there is a mile high metal bridge. It leads to the base of the rocks that make up the head of the old man of the mountain. Engineers designed the bridge to flex with the hurricane wind extremes that occur during the winter months.  Steel anchors are embedded in the rocks and hold the bridge in place. Some are fixed and some have springs that allow the bridge to move in place.  Strong cables act as guywires for the bridge.

Buildings, bridges, and trees all need solid anchors to survive. We also need anchors in our life to survive. No matter how strong we think we are, without an anchor we are in for a fall.  Those steel anchors are useless, unless they are embedded in solid rock. What or who is the solid rock that anchors your life when the storms come.

Strong anchors bring strength

Stability for life’s storms

Winter winds blow hard

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Sweet Solitude

What is it about the ocean’s ebb and flow that brings healing to the soul? Is it the sound of the surf rolling in; or the breakers crashing one the sand? The rhythm of the ocean  draws many to seek solitude at waters edge.

As you sit feeling the water tickle your ankles and soft sand squishing between your toes, the cares of the world seem to flow away with the receding tide. The ocean’s mantra soothes the soul and brings rejuvenation and renewed strength.

Ocean works magic

Soul’s sandcastles wash away.

Summer solitude

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today Kim, at dverse, asked us to write a Haibun about solitude.  I chose to write about the healing qualities of solitude that many find at the ocean.

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

 

Reminder of Spring (a Sonnet-3)

Winter is the time of the year when many people find it difficult to cope. Depression is common during these dark days. Today I saw my daffodils pushing through the mulch in my flower bed. Although it is the middle of winter, it is a reminder for all of us that winter is always follow by spring. I wrote the following Sonnet to say that this can be true on a personal level as well.

There in the sunshine pushing through cold ground;
Shoots of green daffodils, reaching for light;
Hidden strength revealed // energetic might;
The middle of winter // they can’t stay down!

Cold weather will come; chilling snow will fall.
Flowers still grow in the darkest of days;
As the light returns to shine through the haze;
Green shoots arising standing proud and tall.

It’s important to recall // in darkest night;
When life turns cruel and depression rises;
Deep inside us // we reach up for the light.

Springtime always follow winter’s dark night.
We will rise // and push through with all our might;
Renewing our strength we bask in the light!

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

I have gone back and revised this Sonnet to add to Jilly’s d’verse challenge to use enjambment in our poems. The use of punctuation increased readability and allows the reader to be able to know what the writer intended.

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

Life Patterns

Life

A mosaic dome

Filled with uniquely complicated pieces

Structured parameters all focusing on center

Cemented together forming a creation of beauty

Letting light pass through illuminating each one

Bringing out our unique qualities

Holding each other together

With gratitude and love

Strong and fragile

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

 

 

 

 

Safe Harbor

The thought of harboring our children in safe places came to mind, when Lillian at d’verse asked us to write a Quadrille of 44 words using the word harbor. It brought to mind two of my favorite songs: Teach Your Children Well  and Cat’s in the Cradle. With all the violence and mayhem going on around us, children no longer can feel safe, even while at school. Home should be that safe haven where our children need not fear and were loving relationships are the primary goal.

Harbor children well

In safe places // from the gale

Shower them with love’s rain

Watch them grow // unfurl their sail

Ships built strong // with loving care

Ready to face swells

Life’s hurricanes // and wind’s wails

Anchored by our care…

Harbor children’s souls with Love

 

iPhone Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Join us at d’verse:  https://dversepoets.com

Finding Success

Does becoming Miss Home Coming Queen mean you are a success? It is wonderful to be recognized in this way, but there is more to success than a short lived recognition. Success is who you are, not what you have accumulated.

Finding Success
Success comes from within
Not from what we have
The car we drive
The house we live in
The trophies we have won
Success is getting up when you fall
Believing you can continue on
Knowing who you are
And what you can do
Success is loving and being loved
Knowing the value of family
The importance of friends
And that children are an extension of you
Success is giving $12 worth of work
On a job that pays only $6
Success is treating others with respect
Even when you are mistreated
Success is standing up for justice
For those who are being oppressed
Success comes from within
From the core of your being
Success is who you believe you are
And being all you can be

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

This photo was taken in 1978 when I was teaching elementary school at Inborden School in Halifax County, North Carolina.

Superpower

Lillian gave us the challenge to use Superhero or Superpower in a poem for the d’Verse Poetry Pub.  There is a power greater than ourselves that I chose to write about.  I believe true Superheroes are real people of faith who believe in themselves and tap into the power of God in their lives. They help make the world a better place.

Clark Kent steps into the Phone Booth

In a second he comes out

Wearing a Cape…

Tights and a gymnast suit

The Batcave // the Batmobile

The Spider Suit and Webs

Shields and Armbands…

All of this paraphernalia of a Superhero

Doesn’t make the hero // anyone can dress up

The real superpowers come from within

Confidence and Strength don’t need suits

Knowing who you are comes from your roots

With confidence you can fly

Your strength can move mountains

Confidence stands against evil

Strength walks hand in hand with the oppressed

Where does the strength within come from?

it comes from…

A super power greater than ourselves

My strength comes from the Lord

Who made heaven and earth

God is my source

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Come join us at d’Verse :  https://dversepoets.com/

 

Daffodils

Daffodils are blooming in North Carolina. I heard the peepers singing their spring song today and it lifted my spirit to know Spring is just around the corner. The flowers this year are more beautiful than ever.

Daffodils

Daffodils bring spring

The daffodils don’t worry about gray clouds.

Their strength of the flower is in the bulb

They simply push from within

Up through the cold landscape of winter

Through rain and snow and ice

Rising, thriving, blooming

Pushing away the dark clouds of winter

Bringing smiling spring sunshine to all

Rain or shine

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

You Can’t See My Roots

You Can’t See My Roots

You cut me making me bleed

Liquid of life flows down my trunk

You strike and bruise me tearing my skin

Yet I stand tall // strong and mighty

For you can’t see my roots

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You cut off my branches take off all my leaves

Thinking surely he will die

You burn me stripping me bare

Leaving me exposed to the elements

Yet I stand tall // strong and mighty

For you can’t see my roots

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You cut me down to a stump and haul away my trunk

Not much of me left to show

Surely we have killed him this time

He has nothing left // his strength is gone

They do not know // they cannot tell I will rise again

I will come back with exponential strength

For my strength is in my roots