Uncategorized | pictured words

Beauty

Beauty

It isn’t my thing,
the glaring sun against sand
‘neath cloudless blue sky.

Sand beneath my feet
and waves washing shells ashore
hold little appeal.

Give me falling snow;
leaves crunching beneath bike tires;
charitable eyes.

There is no beauty
in the pearly white smile that
gleams self-interest.

Now this is beauty:
Jesus, gentle and lowly,
showing us His way.

Let me see Jesus
in your face; hear Him in the
song your kindness sings.

May He teach me how
to sing tender notes, and may
you hear Him in me.

© Marie Elena Good 2025

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February 18, 2025

UNTIED STATE OF AMERICA

Untied State of America

Too many are in a state in which to appease this would-be king is a thing. Too many in power cower to the flurry of EOs. And I worry: are we in the throes of war? The doors of our neighbors slam and lock as they balk at what we have become … in one month’s time. A crime. America, loosed from friends who have deduced we are behind this unraveling, is disjointed. We’ve appointed a king, know it or not. Formerly brothers, we are now others in the sight of those who once had our back. They see what we don’t. Or won’t. Their eyes are open to the dulling of the shining city on the hill, while our king is culling our allies at his will.

Your falling isn’t
from the attacks of others,
my country, ‘tis of thee.

© Marie Elena Good, 2025

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February 10, 2025

NO PARTY FOR ME

No Party for Me

I cannot vote for
killing babies in the womb
or outside the womb

killing grown babies
we send off to fight a war
to never come home

or come home missing —
pieces of themselves murdered —
never to come back.

I cannot vote for
babies who grew up to think
it is okay to

endanger those of
different cultures – cultures
they were taught don’t love

and that they are not
welcome to safety, if their
safety is near you

if their safety costs
dollars from a rich nation,
or even if not.

If their safety might
make you even just a bit
uncomfortable

then it isn’t worth
your time or your energy,
even if you find

it costs none of that.

I cannot vote for
babies who never grew up
never grew out of

thinking more highly
of themselves than others, and
showing it daily.

I cannot vote for
those unwilling to see that
some people need help

not because they are
unwilling to work, and not
because they’re lazy.

I cannot vote for
those who want to take away
American rights —

even those rights that
perhaps I disagree with,
or don’t understand.

I have no party.
I have no candidate, but
I love my country

and I will fight to
hold fast the America
that’s slipping away.

© Marie Elena Good, 2025

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December 20, 2024

Of Humble Means (Sonnet to the Newborn King)

Of Humble Means (Sonnet to The Newborn King)

Expectant couple travels far and fierce.
She, full with child, atop a gentle ass.
He, worried as her sighs begin to pierce,
And finding there’s no room in inns they pass.

He, with no proper room to birth her child,
Secures a proffered stable to take rest.
The Babe comes quickly, there amidst the wild.
He frees her Son, and lays Him at her breast.

The Newborn listens to the bleating sheep.
The feeding trough He lies in smells of hay.
His weary mother tries to get some sleep,
Through rolling sounds of cry and bleat and bray.

Great throngs of angels revel in this day –
In lowly trough, there lies The Truth. The Way.

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December 15, 2024

Perusing Currier and Ives

Perusing Currier and Ives

I scroll images, pausing at those singing nostalgia to me. Pausing at the ones representing a simple splendor that’s long passed. Pausing to get lost in the films they spark in my mind’s eye. Pausing to play in the snow. Pausing to gaze into scenes of serenity and similarity. Pausing simply to

pause.

And, perhaps,
this is precisely the point.

© Marie Elena Good, 2024

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December 8, 2024

My December Song, with Apologies to Sammy Cahn

Our Christmas Tree, 2024

My December Song, with Apologies to Sammy Cahn

Though the weather outside is frightful,
from my window, it’s delightful.
While sipping my steaming tea,
turn the thermostat up one degree.

While my husband clears off our driveway
on this high of only 5 day,
my kitchen’s warm sugar scent
made me weak – I confess! I repent!

When he finally comes inside,
gets a whiff of the goodies I made,
sees the guilt that I just can’t hide –
think he’d believe they’re mislaid?

Oh the weather outside’s now icing,
and our flannels’ so enticing.
Keith joins me for one last tea;
turns the thermostat down one degree.

While we gaze at our Christmas tree,
we hear winds howling outside our door.
Nestling close while we sip Chablis,
I feel the draft on our floor.

Though the temperature’s turning bitter,
here inside, the tree’s a-glitter,
and the fireplace is aglow.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Turns the thermostat up …

© Marie Elena Good 2024

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November 17, 2024

Us

Us

We were all so close, growing up. And not that we didn’t remain so, but, you know, life. But now, we’ve made one another a priority. We have monthly lunches, and in-between coffees that last three hours and feed our souls. We laugh. Reminisce. Talk current events. Encourage one another. Speak truth in love as needed. Share one another’s lives. Fill gaps.

binding, fastening,
gathering, interfacing,
adhering, pinking

© Marie Elena Good, 2024

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November 6, 2024

NOW WHAT?

NOW WHAT?

Now is the time to
not grow weary of planting
good, so good is reaped.

Now I ask my Lord
to show me the next right thing
and help me do it.

Now I sit down to
plan my English lesson for
sweet, eager women.

Now I spend time with
my granddaughters, letting them
talk. Lifting them up.

Now I look out my
window at the colors, and
see the hand of God.

Now I think on how
a king’s heart is in God’s hand,
and He can guide it.

Now I make calls, and
receive calls, and get in touch
with those God gives me.

Now I eat good food,
and share good food with those who
are in need of it.

Now I look to the
church, to do what the church should
to welcome strangers.

Now I look forward
to seeing how God will grow
little kindnesses.

Now I don’t complain
(help me, Lord!) about things, but
choose a grateful heart.

Now I walk with God,
asking Him for eyes to see
and ears to hear Him.

Now I learn to seek
forgiveness, and to forgive
those who have wronged me.

Now I ask not what
my country can do for me,
but I for others.

Now I choose to look
for the good in those who see
with different eyes.

Now I will seek to
learn how to better display
the love of Jesus.

Now I endeavor
to stand up, speak truth in love,
or sit still and hushed.

Now I will listen
raptly for the still, small voice
of my holy God.

Now I vow to care
for those God has placed in my
small, humble corner.

Now I understand
each of us has our corner.
Corners shape the whole.

Now I am thankful
our God cannot be reduced
by the whims of man.

© Marie Elena Good, 2024

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October 13, 2024

At Risk of Inconvenience

AT RISK OF INCONVENIENCE

When is the time to
ask, “From what are you fleeing?”
to decipher which
response sits well with
your belief system of what
is acceptable?

A conventional
distance between bombs fallen,
and their child’s bedroom?

Number of women
kidnapped for sexual gain?
Number of children?

The amount of food
unavailable to feed
themselves? Their children?

Are there adequate
words to set your mind at ease
that this person’s plight’s
perilous enough
to justify leaving home,
setting themselves at
risk in different ways
than what they feel forced to leave –
forced to escape – now?

To make certain their
endangerment matches your
own definition?

And when, in your thoughts,
is it acceptable to
bomb a hospital?

Perhaps when evil
lurks beneath? Then, innocents
are expendable?

What gives you enough
luxury of ease of mind
to give your thumbs up?

© Marie Elena Good 2024