Friday, October 2, 2015

Roots/Delicate Flower





Poem © 2015 by Joyce Mason

Revisiting my past
the places I grew up
the people who made me who I am today:
waters my roots
a human flower
survivor of many growing seasons.

How deep this structure
that supports me
through every kind of weather
excess sun/exposure,
bitter rains,
hail, frost and storms
of all kinds
assaults that bend
and even level delicate buds
but never touch the strong
rebirth medium
thick dirt sanctuary
for limitless resurrections.

Some people and places
fertilize blooming
some give ideal growing conditions
others—hope
when the plant looks dead
or destroyed beyond all
recognition.

These people and places
are the ribbons
that hold together
a spray of freshly picked blooms.
They make possible
a lifetime of beauty.
To them I give my bouquet.


~~~

Photo Credit: kichigin19 – Fotolia.com


Sunday, September 27, 2015

A Friendship Prayer

Protect me, O Lord;
My boat is so small
And your Sea is so big.

~ Traditional Christian Fisherman’s Prayer


Poem © 2013 by Joyce Mason

May those who have been in the same boat
Be life preservers to each other.
May synchronized caring
Provide the oars.

May we know whatever the weather,
Rough seas pass.

Challenge, like wind and rain
Is known for its changeability.

May we feel the vast sunshine of Divine Love
Ever present
But sometimes subtle
Like the Face of God and Goddess
Reflected in our friends
And in every and person and problem
We meet.

Amen.


~~~

Photo Credit: © Christian Stoll - Fotolia.com

Saturday, May 23, 2015

E.T.


Poem © 2015 by Joyce Mason
All Rights Reserved


You
vulnerable
both baby-faced and wise
underneath your biPAP mask
Outerspaceling trying to breathe
the thick Earth air

Precious embryo
lying without an ounce of protection
tied to your bed of disability
working hard to see the bars
as mobility props
not prison

You are my E.T.
my love
my life
my companion
my hope
not the least bit diminished
in my eyes
that see the universe in yours.

I’m so grateful;
you’re already home.

~~~

Photo Credit: © stuart - Fotolia.com


Thursday, March 20, 2014

Spring Haiku

Poem © 2014 by Joyce Mason
All Rights Reserved



Mother Nature’s kiss

On the brow of sleeping seeds

Awakens all life.


~~~

Photo Credit: © Michael Schütze - Fotolia.com

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Self-Doubt



 Poem © 2013 by Joyce Mason
All Rights Reserved




 Thank you for spinning me into self-doubt
your perfectionism a magnifying mirror
of my own.

My creations rendered ugly by your measure
words only a mother could love
the baby spanked with your measuring stick
before it draws its first independent breath.

I’m grateful for the preview
of the moments that will terrify me
when my uniqueness confronts others
more concerned with form than substance.

I’m better prepared.
I stood up to you.
Self-doubt will not be
the boss of me.

My child will go out into the world
find its own way
make its unique contribution
and if it wears purple spiked hair
with a gray flannel suit
self-expression and reverence for custom
will meet in an explosive synergy
a blast that leaves in its rubble
the best of all worlds
an explosion that might just change forever
the one where we used to (almost) live.

~~~

Photo Credit: © Aleksandar Todorovic - Fotolia.com



Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Loss and Found




Poem © 2013 by Joyce Mason
All Rights Reserved





When all the grief is gone

echoing the emptiness

There is only love.

There is only love.



And this is the reason for loss:

that we might know

the height and breadth and depth

of our capacity
to feel

to expand our hearts

to keep on loving more

until we burst

into starry fireworks

and return

to the love and light

sparks of the Creative Oneness

made in Her image:

Divine Mother.




~~~

Photo Credit: © goccedicolore - Fotolia.com