#lifeistooshortfor
Life is too short for
grudges, shame, ill-fitting shoes,
yesterday’s coffee.
#fivesevenfive
#lifeistooshort
© Marie Elena Good, 2021
pictured words
a simple pairing of pictures and poetry
Tag: Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
May 17, 2021
April 3, 2021
Untitled communication poem, II
uncompromised love
articulated by a
silent, empty tomb
© Marie Elena Good, 2021
In response to Robert Lee Brewer’s 2021 April Poem-a-Day Challenge at Poetic Asides (Day 3: Write a Communication poem).
April 2, 2021
AND I (ode to John the Beloved)
The last twenty four hours –
bearer of agonizing anguish
and hideous horror.
Had I known what was to come,
I would have stayed away –
far away
from you.
And I
would have safeguarded myself
from this enslaving loss.
I would have listened
to your compelling lessons –
your world-altering truths.
But I would have kept my distance
… and I,
I would have sat not at your feet,
but the foot of the hill.
I’d have sought your perfect rest,
but not at your breast.
And I can’t think of Judas
and how you knew. You knew.
And how Peter did just as you said –
denied you.
Three times denied you,
and I …
I wouldn’t have believed it.
The others you called,
scattered.
Frightened.
Confused.
Afraid for their lives, perhaps.
And I, myself, afraid.
But the women … oh,
the women …
how they were there for you today
along Golgotha’s way!
They wiped your wounded face
listened to your howls of pain
watched your mother’s horror
wailed
until your life left
and your silence spilled.
But the women remained
(chained to image and sound
that will never be loosed)
– produced a ceaseless cry.
The women,
and I.
© Marie Elena Good, 2021
In response to Robert Lee Brewer’s 2021 April Poem-a-Day Challenge at Poetic Asides (Day 2: Write a What does the future hold poem).
April 1, 2021
NO STRANGER, THIS
He asked for water.
We’d never seen each other,
and we were alone:
He (a Jewish man)
and Samaritan-woman-
me, knowing my place.
Finding it a bit
amusing, I asked Him why
He asked this of me.
He spoke in riddle,
“If you knew who was asking,
you’d have asked of Him,
and He’d have given
the gift of living water.”
Then He spoke again
and everything
there is to know about me,
He already knew.
I wasn’t disturbed.
There was nothing unsettling
in His countenance.
There was not a doubt
the gift He offered me was
His for the giving.
I drew His water.
But He? He quenched a thirst I
never knew I had.
© Marie Elena Good, 2021
In response to Robert Lee Brewer’s 2021 April Poem-a-Day Challenge at Poetic Asides (Day 1: Write an introduction poem).
March 28, 2021
PALM SUNDAY
She carried her King –
Prince of Peace, and Lord of all,
while suckling her foal.
© Marie Elena Good, 2021
“Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” ~ Matthew 21:1-5
August 2, 2020
RHODODENDRON
She was planted with care,
right there
where her dark leaves and white flowers
would give hours of joy each day.
But it hasn’t worked that way.
Years have passed
since she last bloomed.
She seemed entombed –
immured, as she simply
endured
until Keith dug her up,
changed the makeup below,
which allowed the free flow
of water to root, and
we can’t dispute the wonder.
Once freed from earth’s clay,
we saw growth the first day.
Now she won’t just survive.
She’ll thrive.
© Marie Elena Good, 2020
June 7, 2020
2020 VISION
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
In my imagination,
I see the eyes of a nation
opening
focusing
noticing
seeing each human being,
and agreeing their wellbeing
gives meaning to our own
as we bemoan our past
and hold steadfast
to our bloodstream’s dreams
of fairness for all
that made landfall
in 2020 –
not for the goal of the many,
but the whole of humanity.
© Marie Elena Good, 2020
March 30, 2020
HOPE, FULFILLED
Image by jplenio, courtesy of Pixabay
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” From the hymn The Heavenly Vision, by Helen Howarth Lemmel
HOPE, FULFILLED (may be sung)
Dear writer, your hymn born of life’s woes
through blindness and heartache, composed,
gives name to our risen Messiah,
His purpose on earth to disclose.
Turn our eyes to You, Jesus –
Redeemer, Messiah, and Friend.
Give us ears to hear; give us sight to see
that through You, we’re no longer condemned.
Redemption is ours in Christ Jesus,
His death restored life to our soul.
This Sinless One bore our transgressions,
And these “not in part, but the whole.”
Turn our eyes to You, Jesus –
Redeemer, Messiah, and Friend.
Give us ears to hear; give us sight to see
that through You, we’re no longer condemned.
No need to be summoning hope now.
No need to have courage instilled.
No need for our guilt to oppress us,
for Christ is our promise, fulfilled.
Turn our eyes to You, Jesus –
Redeemer, Messiah, and Friend.
Give us ears to hear; give us sight to see
that through You, we’re no longer condemned.
© Marie Elena Good, 2020
October 20, 2019
YOUNG MOM
Photo credit: STUX at Pixabay
Some days seem the longest long longer than a run-on sentence that fills her space with no breaks to grab a breath or bite or blink of rest and yes she’s blessed but stressed and pressed where tiny pupils move left to right left to right no end in sight no time to quench her appetite for slumber in what’s left of night just left to right left to right left to write what’s left to write …
© Marie Elena Good, 2019
(I do believe too many young moms in our midst feel just like this. 😦 )
August 23, 2019
FOUND POEM
The yellow stickies
with black ink I love yous, are
poetry enough.
(c) Marie Elena Good, 2019
pictured words 