Poetry

Advent: Musings of a Mother

Posted on December 8, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

He’s a puzzle, a mystery, a riddle

This person I know so well yet not at all

I only see a part not the whole

I can’t get inside his head, his heart

his skin for that matter

I don’t know why he does this or that

Says it that way instead of this way

I admit I am perplexed and mystified

I wonder at times if his mind is overloaded

Some what imbalanced

Yet, he is the one the angel

called me to bear

The one we have been waiting for

I know

I said yes, and I did what I was asked

I was not ashamed

I knew where he came from

But what kind of deliverer will he be?

How is he going to save us from our enemies?

He is so gentle and kind

This babe I once wrapped in rags

Where were the angels when I writhed in pain?

I heard later they were off singing to some shepherds

who came in awe to see him

I will continue my daily watch

Pack up and move with him

He is so weary and spent

He may need me again

Before this day is through

© 2013 Julie Clark

Categories: Advent, Faith, God, Parenting, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advent: The Seed

Posted on December 1, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

Take a seed, any seed

If you didn’t know what it was

you would write it off as a speck of dust

blowing in the wind.

Yet,

the wind

the rain

the earth and sky

all together working

with the DNA

encased in the hard shell

and the far-reaching possibilities

of that seed are immense

as the stars in sky

and the sand

on the shore.

 

Each of us

a seed

blowing on the wind

falling then planted

growing.

The potential for good

is great

for making a difference

on the earth

among all people

to be peacemakers

lovers of God and man.

It’s all there from the beginning

locked away and waiting

to be released

in the right time.

 

Seed of David, Seed of God

Son of Man, Son of God

bringing peace on earth

We hear

heaven is coming

and we will see the King.

Even so

come.

© 2013 Julie Clark

Categories: Advent, Faith, God, Life, Love, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Evergreens

Posted on November 23, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

This time of year

I am grateful for the evergreens

When their fickle deciduous neighbors are

Shedding their colors right and left

Clogging up the drains

All bare bones and branches now

The evergreens at least

Are holding out

Not making any

Hasty decisions

Except the ever always decision

To hang onto what they have

As long as they can

And keep reaching

Towards the sky

© 2013 Julie Clark

Categories: Autumn Poems, Life, Poetry, Seasons, Trees | Tags: , , , , , | 4 Comments

Wind and Rain

Posted on November 4, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

Wind and rain

are good for waking a soul

from slumber

No sleep walking

when there is

a shaking, blowing

bracing wind

to contend with

and rain dampening

the leaves

scattered and swished

into patterns

as if a giant mixer

had them in it’s bowl and turned them out

across lawn and street

red plum, orange japanese maple,

yellow birch

Let my soul be awakened and shaken

My life lived

full of patterns and abundant in colors

alert to the possibilities

of each new day

that half closed eyes

may miss.

© 2013 Julie Clark

Categories: Autumn Poems, Life, Poetry, Trees | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fog

Posted on October 26, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

Fog is besetting us

like a great horde covering the steppes

it has settled in for days

the more sensitive among us

are succumbing to a dark mood

today there is a dripping mist

hardly detected

but all is wet

lawn, house, tree and fence

a sign perhaps

this fell fog will eventually

dissipate and leave us free

from it’s clinging clutches

 

Fog and Fear

 

You wonder why fog brings a chill to my spine

there was a time I went for a walk by myself in the fog

I was young and needed some exercise

walking is good exercise

but maybe not the best for a young girl in the fog

from behind came one with evil intent

at his touch I wheeled and rebuked him

in the Mighty Name

he fled back into the mist

but still the dread and chill linger with this fog

 

The Cure

 

Begins with a walk with a strong son

no matter the fog with this cheery companion

the next day

escape to the Island

catch a ferry to carry you away

to the great rain shadow

where cloud and fog dissipate

in the afternoon sun

warming your face

the distant shore

clouded and shrouded

but you have blue skies

and gulls screeching

to gladden your heart

the fog itself is not fell

just the lingering memory

that heals when viewed

and shaken out

like a dusty rug

in the  sunlight

 

© 2013 Julie Clark

Categories: Faith, Life, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Like Clay

Posted on October 8, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

In my mind I saw

the potter’s wheel spinning

the wet clay without the potter’s hand

flew off the wheel in every direction

I was thinking about marriage

then I saw strong hands

center the clay

shape it into

a useful piece of pottery

 

what if in marriage like clay

we are molded and kneaded together between

the strong potter’s hands

gently put on the wheel

we let his hands center us

as the wheel spun on

we allowed him to form us

the way our clay would go

shape us into a vessel

extravagantly glazed with his beauty

through the fire we hold together

able to carry

living water

to a thirsty world

 

© 2013 Julie Clark

 

Categories: beauty, Faith, God, Life, Love, Marriage and Family, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Space Between

Posted on October 1, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

In the space between

My need –

My prayer

And His provision

There is an opportunity

For communion

With the Man of Sorrows

The Son of Man

Who had nowhere to call home

On this earth

 

I can enter the Sacred Garden

And stay awake for a while

With Him

While He bears my pain

And works unseen

His answer to my need

I will be changed

Deeply marked

With the fellowship of

His suffering

 

© 2013 Julie Clark

 

 

Categories: Faith, God, Life, Poetry, Prayer | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Autumn

Posted on September 25, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

The ancients figured it out for us.

They made sundials and drew up calendars.

The weather complies when it wants to.

This year in the Northwest

It aligned, and on the day it was supposed to

Autumn arrived.

We wistfully said good-bye to our long dry summer.

It was time.

The grass and trees were very thirsty.

If we want the amazing spring and summer colors

And plenty of snow in the mountains

Providing our rivers with water

Than, we must submit to the change of seasons.

When we are listening we can hear the message

That each season speaks to us.

The season has just begun and my trees are slowly turning

I want to be listening as I rake and pile leaves

As I smell wood burning in neighborhood chimneys

What message will I hear this year?

© 2013 Julie Clark

Categories: Autumn Poems, beauty, Life, mountains, Poetry, Trees | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bread

Posted on September 17, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

Bread for life

I ask for daily

Given more than I need

A neighbor comes

He doesn’t have enough

For his weary travelers

Just arrived

After mid-night

Ok, Ok

Stop your knocking

You are waking us all up

Especially the dogs

Here’s your bread

I don’t share well

But since you are such

A pest

And I want to go back to bed

I will give it to you

 

What if he didn’t have to ask?

What if I had given it to him

Earlier?

How was I to anticipate

His need of my extra bread?

Maybe if I paid attention

And asked

What am I to do with this extra?

I would have known

He was running on empty.

 

© 2013 Julie Clark

 

 

Categories: Faith, Hospitality, Life, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lost or Found?

Posted on September 13, 2013 by backfromtheborderlands

I must always

Find myself

Lost

In order

For you

To find me

And bring me

Home

On your shoulders

Rejoicing

 

In other words

It’s when I think

I’m found

Have all the answers

To everyone’s problems

My trouble begins

I lose my way

 

I still need you

Every day

To find me

And turn my heart

Towards home

 

© 2013 Julie Clark

Categories: Faith, God, Life, Poetry, Prayer | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

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