pictured words

a simple pairing of pictures and poetry

Tag: God Help Us

September 18, 2022

PLEASE, NO MORE AFTERS

Photo by Mathias Reding on Pexels.com

A Ukrainian student,
who speaks nearly no English,
brings a map and photos
to class. 

The map shows her home,
and its proximity to Russia.
Her quivering finger moves across it
showing us her escape route.
Border-to-border, across Ukraine.
Romania.
Germany.
The U.S.A.

She moves from photo to photo.
“Our central park.”
Before,
and after.

“Capitol building.”
Before,
and after. 

Her house,
out of photo’s view by centimeters,
“here,” her finger rests. 
The building in view,
demolished. 


Her house? 
Likely an “after.” 

© Marie Elena Good, 2022

#apictureisworthathousandwords
#prayforUkraine


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January 3, 2021

A PLEA TO MY GOD

Photo by fotografierende on Pexels.com

It’s time to unveil
a new year. Inhale fresh air,
and care for what’s there.

Let my voice take wing
to sing in the key of peace.
May mercy increase

where now there are chains.
Where cold-heartedness remains,
may warmth fill my veins.

Let love with no caps
gush compassion, not rationed
in morsels or scraps.

Make me teachable
and easily reachable
when You wish to speak.

Please help me seek You.
In new ways through this new year,
help me feel You near.


© Marie Elena Good, 2021

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December 27, 2020

ON 2020

Photo credit: Keith R. Good

This year destroyed us.
I’ll never be convinced that
We can survive this.

There’s no going back.
I know it. So don’t tell me
Better times will come.

God no longer cares.
Hear me. Do not believe that
God is in control.

© Marie Elena Good, 2020

This poem is 3 stanzas.  Each stanza has 17-syllables (5/7/5).  This is my first ever attempt at a Reverse format poem. (Read the poem from the top line, down … and then read it from the bottom line, up.)

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May 31, 2020

voice

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Image courtesy of Pixabay

in need to be heard,
he sings. flies.  calls. cries.  songbird –
winged and otherwise.

© Marie Elena Good, 2020

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March 25, 2020

CORONA (a limerick)

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CDC image

She doesn’t observe social distance,
And so we must give her assistance.
So dear human race,
Let’s shelter in place,
And knock her right out of existence.

© Marie Elena Good, 2020

I’ve chosen to write daily limericks for Robert Lee Brewer’s prompts, because they are short, fun, and comical. This one doesn’t exactly fit the humor bill as much as I’d like, but it came to me in full. Poems seldom come to me in full, without having to spend time contemplating and playing with the words. So I will share it, here. But my resolve is to keep things light, and hopefully bring at least smiles to our faces, if not downright chuckles.

I also know we will never knock “her” out of existence. But I can dream, can’t I? 😉

And one more thing, if I may: God is not wringing His hands over this. I’m thankful He does not leave us nor forsake us. I’m especially thankful during the most difficult times in my life. Praying we all feel Him holding us through this.

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May 16, 2017

BREAKING

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Tired of news that
breaks
leaks
tweets
reeks
harms
arms them
imperils us
ends thus.

 

#seventeensyllablesfortwentyseventeen

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April 5, 2017

SYRIA (Sonnet for the Severed Souls)

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The images.  The videos. The news.
The view from here is simply that – a view.
For I can just ignore it if I choose –
Not take in what I’ll wish I never knew.

But you?  You watch your babies breathe their last
while hospitals are bombed before your eyes,
and lifeless neighbors’ bodies are amassed.
You plead for help to long-obscure allies.

I want to send for you, and beg you come –
To sing soft lullabies to sooth your sleep.
But see, you are a fearsome threat to some.
That takes me to my knees to heave and weep.

While dead and dying lie within your reach,
Your wails are hushed by those whom you beseech.

 

© Marie Elena Good, 2017

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June 12, 2016

AND IT’S NEVER OKAY

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Bomb or gun
Mass or one

Gay or straight
Hate is hate

Foreign-run
Or homespun

Vain debate
Hate is hate

Deeply flawed
“Under God”

Won’t negate
Hate is hate

 

(c) Marie Elena Good, 2016

Photo from http://www.gmpcc.org.uk/news/stand-together-against-hate-crime/ .

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