It is painful when I trip
Over my blind spots
They show up this way
In the dark
It is only through
The pain
That they get
My attention
Now I know
It is time to grow
Again
© 2013 Julie Clark
Poetry
My Auntie and Me
My Auntie was an artist
A painter and a teacher
My favorites were her fabrics
Sewed into billowing curtains and
Textured table clothes and pillows
Scattered throughout the house
In vibrant colors
As the sea breezes breathed in and out
For she always lived by the sea
With her thoughtful face
And twinkling eyes
She loved the child I was
I wished I had asked her
To tell me stories of her beatnik life
And how she adored her policeman father
I was a passive child
Observing life around me
Absorbing some of it
Rather than taking it
In my two hands
And bringing it in close
To examine in the light
I missed so much by not
Asking my questions
Some one kissed that girl
And woke her up
She is learning how to ask
Her questions now
Who and what formed
These beautiful creatures
My Auntie and me
© 2013 Julie Clark
A Long Walk
I am in the middle
Of a long walk
With God
A journey
A pilgrimage
From those ahead
I receive these assurances
“Yes, it gets
Sweeter and sweeter
His face
Becomes clearer
His love
Thickens the air”
I have already
Tasted
That thickened air
And I give those same
Assurances
Back down the path
Behind me
A few warnings as well
Watch that curve
Slow down and rest
I have crashed right there
And stay clear of that
Mud hole
I was stuck there for a while
Don’t give up
It’s worth the climb
Green pastures
And still waters up here
The view is spectacular
The air is sweet
© 2013 Julie Clark
Morning Psalm
Arise O God
Come into your resting place –
Me
Holy Spirit come fill –
Me
Some mornings –this morning
Flat
A bicycle tire leaking through the night
Flat
Blank
A sheet of paper
With a few undecipherable pencil scribbles fading away
Blank
Life of God
Love of God
Fill my spaces
Contemplation, meditation
Remembering
You don’t sleep
You never leave
Your presence not dependent
On my feelings
But on your faithfulness
I’m waiting
Your waiting
Heaven touch earth again
As I pray
“Your kingdom come
Your will be done
One earth as it is in heaven”
© 2013 Julie Clark
Paint Me in the Picture
Paint me in the picture
And leave me hanging
Near the corner of my mind
All year around
Paint me with
The photosynthesis
Bursting in every leaf
With the heavens
Erupting like it never
Had a worry in its life
With all the blooms and blossoms
Grinning from ear to ear
And the water
All a-dazzle
Dancing in sequined shimmers
And don’t forget old Baldy
Keeping an eye on us all
From his lofty perch
Making sure my
Ten pound pup
Doesn’t stray too far from me
I’ll need some audio nearby
Of the gulls and lap lap lapping
Of tinkling birch
And surging stream
Can you paint in the perfect
70 degree’s as well?
Decide
Close all other doors
But one
Step through that one
And watch
The infinite amount
Of possibilities
Arise and emerge
Unfolding as
You move
Forward
Now
God is present
So I come to His presence
In this present
And pray
Which is my response
To His presence
In this present
My Front Door
There is a world out there waiting
An adventure ready to unfold
When I step out my front door
It’s uncomfortable at times
I don’t know my neighbor
I don’t’ know how to ride a bus
Or start a conversation
But once I take that first step
Say that hello
Make eye contact
Smile
The journey has begun
The question moves from
Who is my neighbor? To
Am I a good neighbor?
What if we each do our small part?
What if we stepped around fear?
What would we find?
Perhaps a new friend
Or some way I can make a difference
A new purpose to keep me going
Put a new spring in my step
Northwest Sunshine
When the eagles soar
High over the high ways
I have to be careful
Not to bump the car ahead
There were four the other day
Two the day before
Did they notice the sun was out?
A rare occurrence in the northwest spring
Were they just being like the rest of us?
Drunk with sunshine
Low tolerance for it
Only a little makes us giddy
And run out the door
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