Photo by Keith R. Good
New York Times, Jan. 2, 2017
Political post by Sheri Fink and Helene Cooper“Give me a pack of cigarettes and a couple of beers, and I do better with that than I do with torture.” ~ James N. Mattis, Retired General, and President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense
A young boy’s torture,
Received
Then imparted,
Swells the hell inside –
Wills famine of worth
Gives birth to young man
Young soldier
Acquainted with torture
And callous of heart.
A young boy’s nurture,
Received
Then imparted,
Renders a tender
Defender of life
Where strife matters not.
Young soldier, familiar
With self-control
And depth of soul.
Young country at war
Divides her own shore.
© Marie Elena Good, 2017
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
Photo: Marie Elena Good
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!
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
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
I long for a world
Not riddled with sin
Where the earth is kind,
And the people therein.
(c) Marie Elena Good, 2009
© Marie Elena Good, 2009
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
pictured words 