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

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

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

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

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

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