Coffee

bittersweet

memories roll in my mind

like the dark liquid

caressing my tongue

contemplative

of darkest sincerity

of deepest disparity

determining verity

hereditary

in the remembrance

of loved ones long past

in moments here and gone

captivating

sensing the rhythms

pulsing between

enamored with mystery

reassuring

in warmth consoling

in strength sustaining

in familiarity confiding

establishing

this elixir of life

this conduit of love

this reminder of laughter

Landslide

here

it is

hidden inside

it gathers

momentum

sliding and slipping

slowly at first

pebbles scattering quickly

shaken loose by passing tremors

bouncing aimlessly in the wake of it

collecting companions, they continue onward

ever increasing in speed and solidarity rushing

becoming a force far mightier together, joining in chaos

destruction imminent as the drifting dirt and rock and dross

charge over anything and everything lying in wait, destroying the peace

taking over it all, creating the destruction of all that was known

and leaving just

waste

Captured

(cowritten by Nean and Susan)

The sunlight through the trees

with fractured light

spilled in dusty droplets

and the smoke rising

from the barbecue

like a wraith

casting her spell

of haunting visions

of fireflies dancing

in and through

is creating a strange

beautiful effect

in mysterious memories

of summer celebrants

wish I could capture it

in a jar

to keep it

forever

Contentment

sweet gentle kisses

of warm sun on my back

with tickling teases

of cool breeze on my arms

the scent of smoked wood chips

the taste of ripe berries

hearing the whispers

of promise in the air

seeing perfection,

that all is right in the world

savoring this moment

down deep in my heart

The Land of the Free

to live in a world free of fear

where confidence remains un-shattered

knowing this solace will always be here

and relinquishing what doesn't matter

where truth and honesty far surpass

faux security and courage long fractured

manipulative politics can't outlast

this dream that we've far from captured

this american dream we reinvent

from a cliche into something unique

a celebration of living our lives well spent

replacing insignificant illusions we seek

The Mouse

We had to move the furniture

To discover what was there

Afraid of what we might uncover

Back behind the chair

The stench had taken over

We couldn't even bear it

Grown into something greater

In our desire not to share it

When we finally found the culprit

The mess that we discovered

Trying to figure out just how long

It'd been decaying undercover

Selah

   (a meditation of Love in scripture)

There is no greater love than this

   without it I am nothing

Patient kindness

Truthful hope

Hearts carefully guarded

Souls kept forever

Sacrificed selflessly

   one for another

Knowing fully

   and fully known

Never failing in any way

Nor rudely boasting

   in jealous anger

Nothing calculating

   nor manipulating

Love is never wrong

   without it we have no God

Poorly reflected

   in imperfection

We are but children

   whose God is love

Selah

~~~~~~~

   I Corinthians 13

   I John 4:8

   John 15:13