Story

poems are short

when written by me

a word here

a phrase there

pulling together to tell

a moment

to bring awareness 

a tiny story 

at this point in time

but Lord

how do I break through pain?

--it touches our lives

in so many ways

how does Your love

reach into this hurt

with healing?

Toby

grace in action 

flowing through the lines of cat

inquisitive yet confident 

exploring this world 

by leaps and purrs that demand 

cuddles in real time

Bill Bonk

the oldest son

to a family new to Canada

who learned English at school 

this second child of four

grew up close to the land

working hard on the farm

a young man in love

built a house of brick for them

and four little growing ones

a mature man traveling 

by wheels and books

reading wider and farther than even his travels

a retired man 

and caregiver until after a 50th anniversary 

finding time to walk an hour at a time

Dad

drowsy

until all is sleep

yet test after test takes him away

in search of 'why?'

Encouragement

words of old open

a gateway to time with You

cutting through today's fluff

Silence

a drop of quiet

opens a moment in time

to peace and relief

Home

wooden frames plus walls

form a place for us to meet

shelter for family

Dad

why the shut down?

are good-byes coming soon?

Steps

my Lord be always

within me and without me

guiding my steps now

Celtic

a return to earth

and a return to John's

centering of love

President's Choice

drawn to a brand

that exemplifies quality

on a budget

Dad

relief was brief

as he slowly slides backwards

towards death

Study

english in use by

being reporters who ask

questions to find out

Dad

words and recognition 

return in a space of hours

as pressure drip drips

Glasses

lenses in a frame

'four eyes'--the insult won't stick

because I can see

Breakfast

food for body and soul

set before us each morning

to begin this new day

Mysteries

simple Father Brown

lived within the touch of God

with faith in motion

Dad

a fall created

growing pressure on his brain

surgery brought relief

Stubs

new stubs give evidence

beavers busy by river

adapting landscape

Willow

tall trees weeping down

leave an autumn silhouette 

too big for beavers

Construction

major construction 

after one solution washed out

new path built for rain

Walk

autumn browns approach

as imagination draws the heart

into the country

Community

planning the details

for life in a community 

run kibbutz style

Follow

Jesus' sheep follow

Because they can hear His voice

For the Shepherd is good

They went to the grave

These women who followed Him

Only to be sent to tell

Apollos' story grew

When Priscilla and Aquila 

Followed their Shepherd's voice

Paul spoke of Jesus

And salvation brought these sisters

To ignite church in Philippi 

Anticipation

waiting without regret 

a new beginning approaches 

outside my line of sight 

Hug

a hug early today

reconnects a tenderness 

to my waking heart

Routine

waking to find

my thoughts not cooperating 

focus is elusive 

World

a simple blue ball

scattered with life and destruction 

as we seek peace now

Story

a story to tell

wrapped up in a song

of freedom and peace

Heart

the central guidance

deep within my thoughts and dreams

that draws me to You

Ink

memories of now

a simple bottle of ink

gives my thoughts to you

Promises

simple words in a frame 

"God keeps His promises"

resonate with my heart

Seagull

grey upon grey soars

scavengers pursuing boats

always look for more

Today

muddled with deep sleep

music plays to wake me up

I thrash through my dream

light behind evokes

earlyhours in a grey world

as alertness dawns

blood circulates through

feeding muscles and mind

clarity emerges 

I hope

Hoodie

freshness of morning

with a crisp chill in the air

into nature for prayer

Tea

hot green tea steeping 

my moments for contemplation

after early writing

Orange

brilliant orange

as the sun shines through this leaf

captured among tree trunks

Leaves

paths blanketed brown

crisp if the ground wasn't soft

to mute my passage

Woods

a place among the trees

rooted in time that flows slow

settled and quiet

Dandelion

blow into the wind
and a wish released to float
free upon the sun

Carved

carved to glow delight 

this expression of wildlife

set for remembrance

Change

direction change hint

signs in life point to movement

be open for new

Burning

burning into red

temperature plummets 

as sun blazes light

Leaves

scattered by the door

leaves fallen before winter's chill

announce change has come

Acknowledgements

my thoughts on the page

not work done in isolation

so I remember

Remembrance

men marched to their death

yet freedom bought for loved ones

a poppy grows now

Church

time locked in stone

a place of remembrance

a place of worship

Construction

mud and big toys

fill my quiet country road

to make improvements 

Autumn

overnight the cold

seeps into the atmosphere 

leaves mottle in turn

Stories

thoughts and simple words

contentment or challenge

fanned into being

Books

words on bound paper

illuminate my mind as

understanding grows

Sunset

stillness

as the sun drops

the glow reaches out with

a farewell in the sky pauses 

watchers

Writer

in the beginning 

words had power to create

now they're on paper

Eve

created for God

in the dewy mornings and

sunburnt hours of the day

created for man

partner shoulder to shoulder 

in this walk called life

created beloved

with honour and dignity

flowing through freedom 

Walking

out to wander in

the sun and rain as joy comes

emerging with hope

On a Tiger

riding a tiger

until stone crumbles beneath him

what are the answers

Sunset

pale through thin clouds

sunset calls the city out

to remember this world

Life

new life even now

as earth brings death prior

to winter's long pause

Scarlet

brilliant leaves shine

in the autumn sun today

a scarlet moment