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Thursday, May 3, 2012

A Springtime Promise

Lines composed after the onset of an intermittent arrhythmia
May 2012; modified April 4, 2014

There are springtime Saturday mornings 
bursting with birdsong and breeze 
so sweet no set of sun salutations, 
no Psalm of praise could say 
such love, when life breathes light 
and you run for hours on joy alone.
Do not forget these days 

For there will be fortnights 
        filled 
            with fail 
when worlds assault your 
spirit with chainsaws 
        at eight 
            sharp 
on days that follow 
frantic weeks of sleep 
        denied 
            when 
fears converge on fitful 
nights, when cynicism drains 
        your life 
            your heart 
grows dim beneath bright 
skies which mock your 
        lonely 
            soul 
with lies that love 
persists and life abides 
      for flesh 
          is grass 
that withers, dries 
when summer brings 
        its scorching 
            breath 
and blows untethered 
hope to shreds. Do not 
        forget 
            the spring

For there will be seasons 
when you find yourself dark
        pilgrim 
            plunging 
through too many 
tomorrows so lost 
        salvation 
            is just 
a set of syllables in 
some forgotten tongue 
        when paths 
            wind inward, 
spiral aimless, down 
through tangles, torn 
        convictions, 
            worn out 
dreams, forsaken, trapped 
in mental mazes, soul 
        cries out 
            against 
the ages, curses life, 
denies it twice, that 
        empty 
            vessel 
born to die. Do not forget 
the darkest times

For there will be springtime Saturdays 
when you find your heart 
strangely calm 
when the sacred surrounds you with signs
for it's written on the lattice of a late season frost 
and whispered in the midnight storm 
that peace, perhaps, will find you yet 
perhaps, for you, a pulse and breath 
for you, the tilt and turn of earth 
for you, a patch of morning sun.

2 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful poem. Spring reminds us to have hope in the promises of God so that we can persevere through the darkness that we find ourselves in. Thank you for the wonderful reminder and the word pictures you created for me.
    "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Rom 15:13
    "...we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil..." Heb 6:18-19
    "For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.: Rom 8:24-25

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  2. I do believe Bob that this was written for me.
    Moving passages that remind us of the seasons of life, with its ups and downs and how in the end we celebrate the small things like a patch of sun on our anemic and pale spirits.
    Thank you for sharing,
    I missed seeing you at Reunion. Perhaps you can make it to the next luncheon.
    Sincerely,
    Susan

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