pictured words

a simple pairing of pictures and poetry

Category: Uncategorized

January 7, 2017

SONNET FOR MY DAD

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My father earned a living teaching youth.
He shared with them the music of his core.
He showed them how to honor life and truth,
And gave his time to all who graced his door.

My father is a man to emulate –
A man who holds to ethical ideals.
And even now, though years have slowed his gait,
They haven’t marred the crux of what he feels.

My father’s love is deep; allegiance strong.
His charity continues to abound.
He taught me well to judge what’s right and wrong,
To gather stars, while keeping feet aground.

And so it is I pen this gift through tears –
I thank my God for granting us these years.

© Marie Elena Good, 2012

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December 24, 2016

HOW SILENT?

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Photo: Marie Elena Good

As cattle low and donkeys bray,
A worried man begins to pray.
“She’s weary, Lord, and birth pains loom,
We need an Inn, but none have room.”
A stable with a bed of hay
Affords them with a place to stay.
 
She lies amongst the bleating sheep –
Where there she finds no peace for sleep.
The hour of our Savior’s birth
Sweet angel voices sing His worth,
While Satan howls – himself, enraged
In knowing that a war’s been waged
A war the Babe Himself will win –
To free us from our senseless sin.
 
Beneath the sacred star-lit night,
How silent was that holy night?
 
 
(C) Marie Elena Good, 2010
 
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December 23, 2016

Attention Deficit Christmas (to the tune of Jingle Bells)

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Photo by Deanna Marie Metts

Dashing through the thoughts

Of an A.D.D.-fraught head.

Presents to be bought;

Writing this instead.

Pretty snow outside

Calling me to play

“Ought to/want to” soon collide

Now, which will win today?

Hey!

Cards to write! Sweets to bake!

Stockings to be hung!

Presents to be bought and wrapped, and carols to be sung!

Hey!

Cards to write! Sweets to bake!

Stockings to be hung!

Presents to be bought and wrapped, and carols to be sung!

Dashing through the mall

In a state of frenzied fear.

Busy! Aren’t we all?

It’s that time of year!

Who did I forget?

Did I check my list out twice?

Then I break into a sweat

For paying retail price!

Oh!

Cards to write! Sweets to bake!

Stockings to be hung!

Presents to be bought and wrapped, and carols to be sung!

Hey!

Cards to write! Sweets to bake!

Stockings to be hung!

Presents to be bought and wrapped, and carols to be sung!

As I sit and write

And I work to make this rhyme,

Joy creeps in despite

I’m running out of time

To do the things I must

Like write my Christmas cards.

Instead I sit and look nonplussed –

Give judgment my regards.

Oh!

Things to do! Things to do!

Running out of time!

Cannot pull myself away from working on this rhyme.

Hey!

Things to do! Things to do!

But I’m not uptight.

Oh what fun it was to write a Christmas poem tonight!

Hey!

(c) Marie Elena Good, 2010
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December 19, 2016

WHAT GOD IS THIS?

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Nativity by Gertrude Kasebier c 1901

Following the angel’s appearance months ago,
A young woman – mystified, yet willing –
Subjected herself to ridicule
While readying for the baby whose presence
Began making itself evident. 

Then came the night
On the heels of a long and arduous journey
In humbleness of setting and witness. 

How prepared was the young woman’s weary body
And emotion-laden heart
For the miracle of birth,
Let alone this Miracle of Birth – this holy night
That culminates in pulling her newborn son to her breast,
Offering life-giving milk
To the very One who created life,
And came to offer it eternal. 

What God is this who would choose this humble,
Implausible means
Out of love for a sinner? 

My God.

My God…

 

©  2013, Marie Elena Good

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December 15, 2016

BUT, WAIT!

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Photo credit:  Everett Collection

 

I wanted

I needed

I begged

I pleaded

I coveted

I must

I craved

I lust

I hungered

I yearned

I hankered

I burned

I pined

I panted

I thirst

I ranted

I longed

I itched

For what I pitched.

© Marie Elena Good, 2009

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December 15, 2016

LONGING

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I long for a world
Not riddled with sin
Where the earth is kind,
And the people therein.

(c) Marie Elena Good, 2009

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December 14, 2016

POSSIBILITIES

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Creation is fluent
in the art of possibilities.

 

© Marie Elena Good, 2009

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December 14, 2016

LOCKED LIPS

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Image credit:  Dreamstime.com royalty-free images

In case you ever wondered:

She lives, breathes,
And has had her share of heartache,
But
Enjoys life to the fullest.

She is married (happily)
Christian (joyously)
Nonna (blissfully)
Aging (gracefully?)
Content (mercifully)

And yes,

you were her first
kiss.

P.S.  She no longer wears braces.

 

© Marie Elena Good 2009

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December 14, 2016

TODDLERS’ ECONOMY

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What’s mine is mine. What’s yours is mine.
Remember this, and we’ll be fine.

E-con-oh-me? Not for the wee!
E-con- NO! MY! economy.

© Marie Elena Good 2009

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November 21, 2016

ONE

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Photo credit:  Deanna Marie Metts

One heart was freed
One soul was saved
One life unchained
One sentence waived
One died for me
One took my place
One sacrifice
One act of grace
One Holy God
One Trinity
One Perfect Lamb
One thankful me

© copyright 2009, Marie Elena Good

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