Penniless

It has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword. As 2007 draws to a close, with its milestones and mayhem comprehensively detailed on internet and television, I am beginning to think that the pen is only as mighty as the money. Let's face it, news that has been deemed unpopular, inconvenient or boring by the celebrity-starved masses, quietly disappears, unread and unviewed. Global warming, once an inconvenient truth, is now an essential mentionable for any fashionable politician. But what about Somalia, Zimbabwe, Myanmar or the Chechens?

It's been a tough year for gracie, but the blessings I have enjoyed, through no virtue of my own, are undeniable and I am grateful. Is there anything I can do, pen or penniless, to help others? Perhaps I can start by wielding my click power and boycotting celebrity gossip... God help me.


O mighty pen
The time has come
To wield your might
Against the sword
Of comfort and
Complacency
To strike a blow
For the underreported
Unseating the blind rich
Hungry for titbits
Of salacious celebrity
And stand in their faces
Emaciated, helpless
Eloquent in your imagery
Unimaginable
Unprofitable
Unwelcome
But true

In the midst
of life's calamities
let me refrain from silence.
Help me shout
grace
whilst ungracious
forgiveness
whilst unforgiving
acceptance
whilst a bigot
faith
whilst faithless
hope
whilst hopeless
let love be shouted from the core of my being
even though I am loveless
love endures me.
love surrounds me.
love transforms me
in ways I know not
love takes my broken humanity
and joins me to divinity
in ways that are greater
than I could ever understand.
love triumphs over all.

Redundant

You know I’d rather
Do this face to face
But anyway
I’m sorry to say
You don’t have a job
Here anymore
You know
Restructuring
Budget cuts
You’re now
Superfluous
It’s not personal
We’ll pay you
Out just don’t
Come back
Except
To empty
Your locker
Of course
I’ll give you
Glowing references
You were so
Professional
I wish I didn’t
Have to do this
Goodbye


Have you ever had a phone call like this just before Christmas????
Well, I can now say that I have!!!

Difficult Days

difficult days
are minutes arranged
in excruciating succession -
each one interminable
but ultimately livable
(despite the pain)
retreating
never to visit
again


When the darkness is irrepressible,
knowing that the painful minute,
just ticked by, is over forever
brings comfort.
Perhaps I will make it through
the next one too.

Stock photo

Cafe

This is a Holy place
This chaotic crucible
Your Presence undeniable
Even if only considered
In retrospect
Your footprints firm
In the absence of my own
The struggle numbs
My shrieking skin
To the pressure of safe
Sure
Arms


Written 2 weeks ago, while seated in the cafe at the hospital during a welcome hour's break, the day after yet another ambulance ride with my semi-conscious son post hypoglycemic seizure. It's been a rough year, but we're ok. The poems come less often, but are always a gift of grace.

(pic is my first ever oil painting)

Dear Friends,

We have not forgotten you,
how could we.
We are just going through a period of
challenges and changes.
It is quite strange that this
has happened to us both,
separately.
However that is the way
things are.
We hope to start posting
sometime in the new year.
Let me take the time
to wish you, on behalf of Gracie and myself,
a very Merry Christmas
and a happy New Year.