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
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
Photo by Ahmed akacha: https://www.pexels.com/photo/men-holding-his-daughter-on-a-campsite-19263993/
When I come home,
I lock my door.
When you arrive,
I’m committed to open my door
and unlock my heart.
© Marie Elena Good 2024
Bring Something to Share (Sing along!)
Disclaimer: Just for fun. Not my family.😉 )
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
All our hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Two party lines
Most with hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Three basted birds
Two party lines
Many hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
Many hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
Some with hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
Some with hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
And still hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Eight tipsy members
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
Fewer hearts filled with thanks to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Nine knock-down-drag-outs
Eight tipsy members
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
And some hearts wondering, why are we here?
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Ten football rivals
Nine knock-down-drag-outs
Eight tipsy members
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
And more hearts wondering, why are we here?
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Eleven players playing
Ten football rivals
Nine knock-down-drag-outs
Eight tipsy members
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
And the kids’ hearts all glad to be here.
On this day of Thanksgiving, our fam’ly brought with us:
Twelve-midnight snacking
Eleven players playing
Ten football rivals
Nine knock-down-drag-outs
Eight tipsy members
Seven women cleaning
Six guys on sofas
Five
Biased
Spats
Four kinds of carbs
Three basted birds
Two party lines
By next year, we’ll be glad to be here.
© Marie Elena Good, 2024
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
She entered my class
in purple, with her purple
phone, and purple coat.
Obviously, this
is her favorite color,
and it becomes her.
She is tall, and has
an elegance about her,
along with a wit.
But the shimmering
gold of her heart was revealed
when she used her phone’s
translator app to
say, “Teacher, if I could, I’d
give you my own eyes.”
I’m not sure what the
color of humbleness is,
nor of gratitude,
but I imagine
the shades of them reflected
in my complexion.
© Marie Elena Good 2024
This is true. Last Thursday, this lovely refugee soul entered my class, an absolute vision in purple. Due to recent surgery from a retina tear and detachment, as well as detached macula, I cannot see from my right eye. She hugged me, and then used her translator app to speak this most sincere, generous sentiment. I couldn’t hold back tears. Amazing heart.
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
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
The start of a war
isn’t the start of a war
nor the end, the end.
© Marie Elena Good 2024
Photo by Marie Elena
Take me.
Take everything you think you know,
Everything you think you see,
And paste it together in a lovely collage:
Generosity, kindness, strength, compassion.
Now hold it to a flame, and sear it.
Authenticity requires it.
For the me I know is kind and generous –
Not plunged in superb selflessness, nor
Wading in benevolence, but
Flirting on the edge of
Inconvenience. No further.
The me I know is strong –
Until taken by the heart
And stirred,
Not even shaken.
The me I know has compassion –
Enough to feel the “aww” tug,
Say a prayer; write a verse,
From the comfort of my home.
The me I know is not the me you think you know.
And the me I know just got real –
But not even for thirty days.
(c) Marie Elena Good 2014
pictured words 