River
Mighty waters
Life paddles on
Trusting in God’s Spirit
Faith
Choices
Sowing seeds
Pleasing to God
Following footsteps of Christ
Blessed
Lost
In darkness
Grace comes calling
Accepting through faith, Jesus
Salvation
This poem was originally written for another Friday, the 13th, back in December, 2019. Today seems like an appropriate time to publish it again. Of course, I am usually not too superstitious. Hmm, where are my lucky socks?
Does Friday, the 13th, bring on bad luck?
Breaking a mirror, let’s not make a scene
Crossing paths with a black cat, now fear struck
This Friday’s trying hard, to make us scream
Let’s focus on a different number
Twelve delivers a comforting meaning
Twelve Days of Christmas, never to shudder
Twelve Tribes of Israel, never demeaning
For some people, “thirteen” seems unlucky
Not really sure why others whine and fuss
Heading out the door with my dog Lucky
Snow flurries in June, now that’s treasonous!
So, what’s the big deal about the 13th?
Just change the calendar to the 14th
From Proverbs 15:15: “All the days of the poor are hard, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.”
Life draining, more exhausted each day
Skies and mind, filling with darkest gray
Feet feeling locked, stuck in deepest mud
Fear turns on its spigot, now a flood
Advice shouts from all comers, all sides
Inner soul overwhelmed, faith divides
Daily walk, no longer stunning bright
Chaos reigns, becoming lasting night
Seasoned man, parked at Main Street’s corner
Life hits pause, who is this foreigner?
His thoughts and words, simple in their task
Holy Spirit reaches, to unmask
Keep it simple, fill your life with love
God’s peace, bringing comfort from above
In an instant, the wise sage departs
Night transforms to day, love fills this heart
From 1 John 5:3-4: “ For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.”
From Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”
Darkness shields life’s guiding light
Causing worries to take flight
Life’s trials, too much to bear
Ask, who really seems to care?
World seems to be crashing down
Running dry, emptiness drowns
Words and actions, meek and weak
Ask, who shall one run to seek?
Vacant wilderness, so dark
Crying out, life’s question mark
Heart and soul, feeling hollow
Ask, what voice shall one follow?
Voice answers, restoring hopes
Searching from distant slopes
Good Shepherd, looking for one
Saving His flock, one by one
From John 10:14-16: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
Hearing little feet
Lasting gifts of family—
Blessed grandchildren
Impatient in youth
Tempered by life’s long journey—
With age comes patience
Quiet morning hour
Quality productive time—
Confidence and peace
From Mark 11:23: “Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.”
Life facing complex, hurting world
Rugged mountain peaks, blocking us
Never be in doubt, but believe
Accepting God’s grace, ride His bus
Immovable mountains stand tall
Remaining steadfast in prayer
Requiring faith in our Father
He watches over our welfare
Lacking faith, walking in darkness
Our Father sends His lasting grace
Prepared and willing to assist
His energy, ready to embrace
God seeks men and women of faith
Follow His Word, forever speaks
For our Lord’s glory and kingdom
Trusting Him, tackling mountain peaks
Believe totally in the Lord
Walking in faithfulness each day
Our faith moves our Father to act
Thanks be to God, He shows the way!
From the words of American pastor and author, E. M. Bounds: “Only God can move mountains, but faith and prayer can move God.”
Free and quiet morning
Saturday adorning
Reading God’s Holy Word
Clear thoughts, no longer blurred
Sun rises and brightens
Calmness breathes, enlightens
Workweek taking its break
Making buckwheat pancakes
Listening to new song
Beat of life moves along
One more coffee cup sings
Caffeine never hamstrings
Good vibes fueling this life
Waiting for lovely wife
Looking forward as one
Day brings plenty of fun
Watching Buckeyes’ football
Scarlet and Gray now call
Excuse our loud cheering
Assisting team’s steering
Night closing and ending
Sleep soon, not pretending
Each week’s sweetest, fun day
Always, be Saturday
Another airport
Airplane’s absent arrival—
Audible anguish
Beauty beckoning
Bouncy, boundless bonanza—
Bubbling brook below
Creative chaos
Curious colossus climbs—
Construction conceives
A tautogram is text in which all words start with the same letter. Historically, most tautograms are written in poetic form. The above tautograms are written in the Japanese-inspired style of Haiku.
The inspiration for this poem comes from an essay written by William E. Farr, “Troubled Bundles, Troubled Blackfeet: The Travail of Cultural and Religious Renewal.” This essay is part of a larger collection of writings that link Montana’s past with its future in the book, MONTANA LEGACY.
Facing an uncertain world
Life asking questions of “when”
Intertribal wars threaten
Hostile danger setting in
Preserving Blackfeet culture
Each passing generation
Saving sacred heritage
Hold for next generation
Ritual artifacts cache
Spiritual lives won’t rest
Supernatural visions
Medicine dreams will attest
Honoring warrior life
Holy treasures speaking out
Collected and safeguarded
Sacred bundles carry clout
Filling with key elements
Common and natural sought
Feathers, hides, shells, horns added
Teeth, wood, bones . . . each with a thought
Passing on these rituals
Mother Earth, Creative Sun
Guarding life’s sacred relics
Legacy, father to son
Gentle breeze blowing
Autumn leaves fluttering down—
Fading memories
Pollen count drops low
Refreshing air we now breathe—
Morning rains arrive
Morning’s early dawn
Fog blankets each creek and pond—
What mysteries wait?
Big Sky Buckeye 