Poetry

Traveler

I am the traveler

On a journey

You are the gate

To the path, the way

That leads to life

You are the light

That shines in the dark

Illuminating my way

You are my strength

When the road is steep

And my hope grows dim

You are my shade

When the sun bears down

You are the song

The birds are singing

To cheer my heart

When it becomes heavy

My companion

When I need to talk

My GPS

When I lose my way

You are the strong love

That keeps fear away

When wild things

Rage and roar

The sword that flashes

When danger nears

You are the fresh water

In the stream

When I grow thirsty

You are my home

At last

That I am forever

Longing for.

© 2012 Julie Clark

Categories: borderlands, Faith, God, Life, Love, Paths, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Boulder River


Boulder River went unwilling

Into this present age of bondage

Where death and decay reign.

What would it have been like

Before knowledge was chosen over love?

 

It is so beautiful now

With the dense foliage on either side,

The waterfalls cascading

Down the sheer cliffs.

 

Would the water have been

The purest of pure

Able to quench the thirst

Of man and beast?

Perhaps the intensity of color

Would have blinded the eyes of mortals.

The wild things

Instead of hiding

Would come out to greet us.

The bird song so sweet

We would have wept and laughed together.

 

I know the sign at the trailhead

Would not be there

Warning the hikers

Of the dangers of the wilderness.

 

© 2012 Julie Clark

Categories: beauty, mountains, Paths, Poetry, Trees | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Through the Cracks

There are just times

When beauty is not in full display

But only to be seen when hunted for

Showing through the cracks

 

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

A Mattress on the Floor

A mattress on the floor

Will do for a while

It opens up the world

For life and adventure

I would miss

If I insisted on sleeping

Only in my own room

With my elevated

Queen size mattress

Off the floor

 

I would have missed

So much bustle and activity

Being available

To hold a new-born baby

Colors bursting forth

In fabrics, faces and flowers

Handing out fresh bread and water

To the hungry and the thirsty

 

Yet, I am starting to miss

That elevation

And the tranquility

Of familiarity

Discerning the times and seasons

Is important now

Before I wear too thin

And have little to give

I believe it is time to move

Back off the floor

 

© 2012 Julie Clark

 

 

Categories: borderlands, Life, Poetry, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Conflict

Time to grow again

Head for the woods for a walk

Look for the log

That fills my eye

Coming from my heart

It distorts my vision

Of the other

Puts them in the worst light

And me in the best

Help me, Father

Take this log

So that I may turn and love my brother

© 2012 Julie Clark

Categories: Faith, Life, Love, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

Good Friday

Bread of heaven

Coming down from the Father

Giving life to the world

I take this bread

I believe in the One sent

To feed the world

The life it so desperately needs

 

Being gluten intolerant

It’s wise to switch from this earthly bread

Which makes me sick

I can’t digest it

No life in it for me

Maybe we are all gluten intolerant

When it comes to

Substituting

Bread of Life

For whatever we fill our hunger with

It will kill us in the end

Instead of nourishing us

And bringing

Life forevermore

 

© 2012 Julie Clark

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

Songs for Sohel

Come into the present

Come into this holy place

This is where I meet with you

This is where heaven meets earth

 

Today is the day

Step into life

Let’s get it started

Take your first breath

 

Step into life today

Step into freedom

Open your eyes and say

Think I’ll step into life today

This is a gift for you

The day the Lord has made

Soon you’ll be dancing

Cooing and singing

No turning back

Stepping into life today

 

This afternoon in the 102 degree F heat we were all sprawled out all over the apartment, worn out.  It is amazing how one tiny 8 pounder can wear out so many adults.  Didn’t Hilary Clinton write a book about how it takes a whole village to raise a child? We are getting that idea.

 

This bright evening star, Sohel, has captured our hearts with his sweetness. We spend hours anticipating his cute little expressions and moves. Those pursed lips and startled hand movements.  There is nothing in the world like a newborn baby.  He started out very sleepy, basically, “Can you just leave me alone it was hard work being born?”  Now that his Mama’s milk is in he is realizing there are some good things about being awake.

 

We are grateful that the doctor caught right away his distress in the womb and was able to safely deliver him via C-section.  Now his Mama is recovering well and we are happily here for a little while longer to help in these early days of his life.

Categories: borderlands, Life, Love, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Olympics

It happened again today

As I turned the corner

That pulling up from the deep

Kind of feeling

As the view opened

And there were the Olympics

In their cold, lofty solitude

 

Calling me to breathe deeper

To listen to the silence

To acknowledge the ancient wisdom

Flowing within and without

The present

Where heaven meets earth

Is all I have

I need to recognize it

And make my home there

 

© 2012 Julie Clark

 

Categories: beauty, borderlands, Life, mountains, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Ordinary Life

An ordinary life

An ordinary day

Every day

Steps to take

One foot in front of the other

Towards the goal

Of being a better person

Of loving my neighbor

Of finding my place

It takes listening

To that True Voice

Who tells me who I am

Who tells me what I am worth

Who puts the extra

Into my ordinary

© 2010 Julie Clark

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

Putting on love today

Putting on love today

Wear it like a coat

Thick and fuzzy

Keeping out the cold

Heartedness

That I don’t want anyways.

Love changes the world

Love changes lives

Mine, and the one I love.

Love sees things differently

Not black and white

But, multicolored and faceted

Rich, precious jewels in each person

That only through

Loves eyes can I begin to see.

© 2012 Julie Clark

Categories: Love, Poetry | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

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