“The pain of a friend is itself a mountain waiting to be climbed…” ~ Jim Gustafson As I contemplate the words of my friend and poet, Jim Gustafson, I am drawn to the language of poetry to help me uncover how I survived the past week of challenges. One Problem ~ by Dr. Joel Ying, …Read More
Category: Poem
Dreams ~ Paul Laurence Dunbar
“I am the Dunbar Jupiter Library. I am neither walls nor shelves that stand in rows. I am the Wisdom of the Universe, Captured, and arranged for you. I am an open door. ‘ENTER.’” — Mary L. Rice (1933 – 2022), first librarian of the Dunbar-Jupiter Hammon Public Library Today, I had the opportunity to …Read More
The Doctor Heals ~ Dr. Joel Ying
Sometimes you need to have a little fun with the poetry and the spoken word. Here are some musings that worked their way into a poem. With the spoken word, it leaps off the page and leaves me thinking… what was I thinking? …. Enjoy the poem. Listen to the audio clip if you prefer …Read More
What is prayer? ~ Mary Oliver
As Mary Oliver says in her poem, “I do not know exactly what prayer is.” What I do know is that when we pray, we invoke something greater than our current selves; we drop into a deep sense of gratitude for all that we already have; and we ask for the support that we need …Read More
Let Every Day Be Christmas
Let Every Day Be Christmas ~ by Norman Wesley Brooks Christmas is forever, not for just one day,for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put awaylike bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.The good you do for others is good you do yourself. Peace on Earth, good will to men,kind thoughts …Read More
Ode to My Socks ~ Pablo Neruda
Ode to My Socks by Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) Maru Mori brought mea pairof sockswhich she knitted herselfwith her sheepherder’s hands,two socks as softas rabbits.I slipped my feetinto themas though intotwocasesknittedwith threads oftwilightand goatskin.Violent socks,my feet weretwo fish madeof wool,two long sharkssea-blue, shotthroughby one golden thread,two immense blackbirds,two cannons:my feetwere honoredin this waybytheseheavenlysocks.They wereso handsomefor the first …Read More
Thanksgiving ~ Edgar Guest
Thanksgiving~ by Edgar Guest (1881-1959) Gettin’ together to smile an’ rejoice,An’ eatin’ an’ laughin’ with folks of your choice;An’ kissin’ the girls an’ declarin’ that theyAre growin’ more beautiful day after day;Chattin’ an’ braggin’ a bit with the men,Buildin’ the old family circle again;Livin’ the wholesome an’ old-fashioned cheer,Just for awhile at the end of …Read More
Thinking ~ Walter Wintel
Thinking~ by Walter D. Wintle If you think you are beaten, you areIf you think you dare not, you don’t,If you like to win, but you think you can’tIt is almost certain you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’re lostFor out of the world we find,Success begins with a fellow’s willIt’s all in the …Read More
The Unknown Soldier ~ Billy Rose
The Unknown Soldier There’s a graveyard near the White HouseWhere the Unknown Soldier lies,And the flowers there are sprinkledWith the tears from mother’s eyes. I stood there not so long agoWith roses for the brave,And suddenly I heard a voiceSpeak from out the grave: “I am the Unknown Soldier,”The spirit voice began“And I think I …Read More
The Raven ~ Edgar Allen Poe
For the month of October, what is hiding behind the shadows? The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe … welcome to the darkness … full of sadness and grief … The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— …Read More