Saturday, May 21, 2005

The Home Loaner's Nightmare

One year I went traveling to my daughter’s house to stay
Friends asked if they could use my house while I was yet away
I thought a moment and said of course! – what is the worst could be
A few less morsels in the ice chest and a few more crumbs to see.

Then just the night before return I ‘wakened with a start
For what I’d seen in my mind’s eye ‘twas enough to stop my heart
I lay there for a moment’s time gatherin’ my breath to think
And as my dream materialized, I felt my hopes begin to sink

I dreamt I returned to my abode my step quickening to the double
But when I turned onto the driveway I sensed the first big trouble
There at the front of my dear home stood a mountain of trash so high
That I became quite certain then that I could not get by.

I took a detour to the back to find another way in
And then I found the reason why I’d never claimed them kin.
There on the stoop I found, the crystal dish from Grandma
They’d used it for their doggy’s food – that ugly mutt named Brahma.

I sighed and reached on over to pull open the kitchen door
And then I felt the full brunt of this open house of horror
For there inside the kitchen was the true extent of problems
I knew then that they’d had with them ALL their little hoodlums

The ice chest stood wide open and the few things there now stank
The dishes piled within the sink gave off an odor rank
I took a step in further, and my foot stuck to the floor
And I realized then that there was even trouble more.


The beds had all been slept in with dirty feet and heads
And all of them still unmade – the linens piled upon the beds
The tub had a blackish ring ‘round inside and then around again
I could tell which tourist traps they’d seen and everywhere they’d been

I ran screaming from the house tripping over the mountain of trash
And then I realized how terrible my decision – and oh how awfully rash
But that was when I had awakened – torn from tormented slumber
And promised myself then and there, I’d never commit such blunder

So this I write as warning to all who might one day be travelin’
Whose friends or family call and say, “We thought we’d all be havin’
A great vacation time in your home while you are all away”
You might then think of some emergency why you yourself must STAY!

December 2003 - Sophia

The Marriage Plant

In the garden one day a seed fell
Dropped by the gardener it landed in fertile soil.
But it was a shady area, and this seed needed sun
So it quietly waited for years, saving its energy
In hope that it would one day be ready

Many years later, quite by chance
The shrub under which this seed lay was taken away
As the shrub’s roots pulled loose, soil fell and covered the seed.
Hope filled the seed as rain began to fall,
Giving the seed life-giving water

No longer blocked from the rain or sun
The little seed felt its skin began to expand and stretch
In joy it reached out its arms through the light soil
And felt for the first time the sun directly upon it
And the seed became a plant

The plant grew for a year, stretching its arms
Enjoying the sun and rain and rich fertile soil.
There were hard times it struggled with no rain and no sun
But the plant stored its energy and was there to
Celebrate when clouds cleared.

One day the plant realized it was unfulfilled
Although it had grown from a mere seed to a plant,
It had not yet given life to flowers for the world to enjoy
And the plant knew that part of its purpose
Was to offer these flowers.

Reaching deep inside, the plant felt the movement
The flower bud was working its way towards the sun
Stretching and straining the plant in ways it had not known
The flower pushed its way into the world
And burst into bloom.

The plant was so proud of its flower
And enjoyed showing it off to the world
But soon it realized that, in all its efforts to flower
It had neglected to take in the nourishment
It needed for survival.

The first sign of stress showed
As the plants leaves drooped from the heat
It had spent its reserves without taking in the necessary energy
From the life-giving sun and rain
And it began to die

There were rain storms and sunny days
The plant was able to enjoy
But it never seemed to spend enough time enjoying its life
In order to regain its earlier vitality
And it continued to die

Leaves began to drop from the plant
And the plant became too weary
To grow new leaves to replace those that dropped
There came a day that the plant
Simply gave up

The plant knew that all it needed
Was sunshine and water to bring it to life
But it spent all of its energy on keeping the flower going
While the leaves that made the flower
Particularly beautiful wilted away

Soon all that was left was the flower
And while it was a beautiful flower
One that would bloom and drop its own seeds
For the future of plants
It was very sad

For the plant that had given it life
With all of the love it had to offer
Had left the flower wondering whether being a plant
Was so special if it turned out
To be this painful.

One day the gardener came through the garden
And saw the plant setting dry in the soil
The gardener saw that the flower was trusting the plant
To give it nourishment and life
Though the plant appeared dead.

The gardener carefully loosened the soil around
The plant’s roots, giving it air to lend it strength
He watered the plant and made sure that the sun shone directly
On the plant as He touched it,
Willing it back to life

The plant took a deep breath
And looked up into the sun shining above
Within its withered stem it felt something shift
And begin to stretch up again
And felt hope reborn…


August 2000 - Sophia

Friday, May 20, 2005

Your Rocking Chair

­The day I found out was the happiest in my life.
Now it's nine months I've spent dreaming of this life that's growing.
Yesterday I found this perfect rocker, so tonight I sit and rock.
I am expecting.

The night they took me kicking and crying from her womb,
I thought I'd left all comfort behind - now held closely in Mommy's arms,
With that familiar rocking motion, I know the greatest comfort in life.
I am baby.

This rocker is now my haven - gently rocking the work day away.
She quietly gazes up at me as her eyelids droop with sleep.
The awesomeness of her trust in me overwhelms my heart with love.
I am mother.

Too big to be cradled anymore, I come and sit here by myself.
Mommy's cooking in the kitchen so she won't see me pretending.
I curl up on the cushion on its seat and remember when I was little.
I am child.

They've since grown up and moved away and I don't sit here like I used to.
Days are busier, work is harder - but the nights I sit for an hour
And read my book as I rock, brighten the coldest winter hours.
I am woman.

What's this! A new little one they say - it takes me back in time.
I remember the old songs as if it were yesterday and softly sing to her -
This amazing little bundle in my old wrinkled hands.
I am Grandma.

Today I found that another of my friends has moved on.
One by one they've left this earth for that better place we've been seeking.
I know my time is coming soon, and as I wait, I rock.
I am tired.

Expectant mother's excitement is born
Baby's tears are wiped away
Mother's tired body is cradled
Child's oldest memories are formed
Woman's cares are lifted
Grandma's joy in life renewed
And the tired are carried forward -
I am your rocking chair.

1996 - Sophia

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

In Your Arms

In your arms
My troubles lift away
The weight is gone and
I am free.

In your arms
I feel secure from
The dangers of life.
I am safe.

In your arms
I can conquer the world,
And make it through the bad times.
I am success.

In your arms
Everything becomes brighter
Beauty seems to surround me.
I am spiritual

In your arms,
I become sensual –
My feelings take over
I am woman.

Your arms hold so much;
Freedom, security, success,
Spirituality and the essence of woman.
Hold me and I am loved.

1994 - Sophia

The Dying Barn

An empty, scarred, red barn
With broken windows
Stares across the farmyard
To where the house once stood.

Like a tear, a chip of paint
Falls slowly from its side.
The sound of children playing
And the lowing of the cows is gone now.

The wind whistles through
Cracks where boards have fallen.
Pigeons coo softly in the rafters
The same rafters that reflected men’s voices as they worked.

An old lantern still swings
From its hook by the door.
And day after day, year after year,
As the barn slowly rots,

It waits, hoping someday
That life will come back to its farmyard

1994 - Sophia

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Fly Free

I saw you gazing into the sky,
Following an eagle in its flight.
I heard the roar of a jet,
As you rushed to watch its trail.
I became frightened that one day
You'd spread your wings and fly.
I wanted to hold you, to cage you
Like a wild bird, and never let you go.
And, like a captured bird,
I saw you struggling to break free

One day I let that bird go,

And was amazed that it stayed,
Next to my side, but free
and I knew then that even if
That bird spread its wing and flew
It would never leave me completely,
For its spirit is in my heart.
And I knew that even in flight
I would be closer to that bird
Then a cage could ever bring me.

So spread your wings -

For one day you too
Shall fly with the eagles.

1993 - Sophia

Monday, May 16, 2005

A Bump in the Dark

A Bump in the dark.
Movement stops.
The heart quickens.
The body becomes warm.

A Bump in the dark.
Eyes grow large.
Hands start to sweat.
Heads tilt to listen.

A Bump in the dark.
Memories flit through.
Stories fly by.
FEAR is born.

1992 - Sophia

Fooled You

He looked into her eyes
Pleading for the nourishment
He knew only she could give.

His gaze locked with hers.
He touched her skin,
Softly asking “Please?”

From deep within,
Her answer came.
His hope died inside him.

His gaze shifted to the side.
Then, with a meow of disgust,
He jumped down from the counter.


1992 - Sophia

Sunlight - In Color

Sunlight – rising in the morning,
Joins the solitary cloud
In its azure playground.

Sunlight – filtered through the trees,
Hits the forest floor
In waves of velvet green.

Sunlight – reflected off the snow
Dances at its brightest
In its white wonderland.

Sunlight – flickering across bubbling streams
Shows off its true color
In drops of clearness.

Sunlight – skipping across the mountains,
Bounces off of rocks
In deep earth red.

Sunlight – sinking in the evening
Lays its head to rest
In the soft pink cotton


1992 - Sophia

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Tank of Life

Water splashing
bubbling
running
Plants sway gently
As she swims back and forth,
Looking for a way out,
But unable to find it.

Not sure anymore whether she actually
Wants out, or whether this cage
Has become a safe haven from
Whatever else might be out there.

There are others there too,
Swimming, just as aimlessly as herself,
Searching first one way and then another.

Is this all there is to life?
A constant search, a never ending swim,
Until one day we die,
And the great net comes and takes
Us to the giant water grave.

Or is it possible that this search
Has a purpose - one we can not see
As we swim back once again,
One that is only realized much later -At a time we do not know exists.


1991 - Sophia

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Rolling,
It travels down its path
The terrain is rocky – but
It rolls on unconcerned.
For itself it has only one goal –
To follow this path and, perhaps,
Join with others along the way.

The path is hard.
Many are swept away
Still others die and dry up where they fall.
Sometimes one alone serves the purpose
Other times require many.
Often their travel goes unnoticed.

Some are lonely.
Some are sad.
They can represent joy or grief.
But each one is identical.
We all experience
These things called
Tears.


1990 - Sophia

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