Healing Came

My friend Michelle Billings, whom I mentioned a few weeks ago, is recovering. The medication she's taking leaves her feeling very wiped out, but she is on the mend. Her wedding is scheduled for early-ish May. Hopefully that will come and proceed as planned. :)

Malachi 3:13-16

"Your words have been hard against me," says the LORD. "But you say, 'How have we spoken against you?' You have said, 'It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts? And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.'"

Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.

...
The King will return. All will be made right.

Photo Post

All these I took at my school. Some variety of cherry tree--unfortunately, I don't know their proper names. These photos haven't been tweaked in any way, except for some cropping out unnecessary details.

Rainpuddle-splash After Dark

Rain beat on my umbrella
But I barred it out
Flip-flops
hydroplane
and I thunk
into the wee lake
as the rain chortles
victory
as my umbrella, battering-
rammed down,
fills up
a swimming pool for crickets.

[unlabeled curiosity]

How awkward it is, waltzing with two left feet
In a stained glass masquerade--
How frightening it is, wearing a broken mask
To a stained glass masquerade.

[untitled]

Rabble-rousing wind
Makes a Marilyn Monroe
of every Girl
Throws sneeze powder
up Everyone's nose

A Seedling

As, To, So

New box of sharply bright crayons to a child

Meaty bone to a dog

Blood to the heart

Your smile to my eyes.

Knitter, 2:2: Response to Colossians 2:2-3

Knitter, 2:2

Response to Colossians 2:2-3

Knit two,  purl two, stitches out of mangled strands,

Red, yellow, brown, white—no two shades alike—

This yarn made to warm, the strands

Untangle, softened by  Your hands.

Red, yellow, brown, white, no two shades alike,

Strands are knitted, patience guiding as they are

Untangled, softened by Your hands

That guide the strong rods, good under Your command.

Strands are knitted, patience guiding as they are

Themselves, yet made better together.

That guide the strong rods, good under Your command

To discipline the unruly, all together fit.

Themselves, yet made better—together,

This yarn made to warm, the strands—

Under discipline and rule—altogether fit.

Knit two, purl two stitched out of untangled strands.

Hugo

Hugo

a protest is in order.

So much that people write on cats—

All the mystery expounded ad infinitum,

Saying, “Ah, that poem is a cat, and is so much more,”

then oblige a maudlin Lassie scribble,

saying, “There’s a good boy,”

have done with it,

And jump right back to writing psalms to their spastic god.

You sit, your tail fwapping in glee and speculation,

basking in the world that is your bone-yard.

Haiku

Haiku #Summertime

Summer wind in trees

Green-winged butterflies trapped in

A black, crooked cage.

Haiku #Wintertime

Crystal claws grasp roofs,

Your wicked spells everywhere,

You beauty, you witch.

Haiku #Miscellaneous 1

Snatched sunlight, gathered

With essence of spring flowers

All in a tea-bag.

Haiku #Miscellaneous 2

Glue binds book leaves to

Leather limbs, forming the door

To another world.

Water Music

Flute player I saw last week
Turned her mouth, drew in air

Swimmer over there
Turns her head, draws in air

Me right here
Turn to you, draw you in

Flute player last week
Cupped her fingers over air holes

Swimmer over there
Cups her hands over the lake

My mouth open,
Cup the words

Flute player last week
Rippled the air, propelled her song in sound waves

Swimmer over there
Rippling shoulder muscle propel her through unsound waves

Me right here
Flicked graphite on this space of soundless white, tried to ripple you.

 A Dancer by the Sea by Chu Yu Xie

Clear

Grace flow like water
To lowest of low. Flee drought.
Come whoever thirsts.