June 18, 2018

Your Tired, Your Poor


Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free... 

Thinking about the folks at our borders today.
Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor...
In high school (about 65 years ago) I once played the part of the Statue of Liberty.  The memory brings to mind two things:  

1. Reciting those beautiful words inscribed on Liberty’s base:

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

Emma Lazarus

2. I remember how extremely tired my arm became, holding up that torch. Today Liberty’s spirit must be weary and weeping. She seems to have lost the ability to hold out her beacon of hope any longer. I fear she has dropped her lamp.  This land, our land, weeps with her.  

June 17, 2018

Black Eyed Susan


Photo by Scott Runcorn
Glass Art by Theodore Ellison Designs

~Transformation Of Black Eyed Susan~

The black eyed susans are long gone
the master planter gone as well
both gone to seed

What can you do for me? the master asked
Return each year, a live reminder -
and I’ll inspire, Susan sang

I can inspire the heart of one who loved you
to frame an echo of the black eyed
beauties you once grew
<><><><><>
Touched by his muse the artist grew 
black eyed susans (so lately in John’s garden)
 embedded now in glass tile on a daughter’s fireplace

An icon of the beauty of one beloved
in memory of a life well lived
A Gift Of Grace

JoMae
6/11/18
Something beautiful happened to me on John’s birthday.  An elegant icon was created in memory of him.  Enjoy!

June 11, 2018

Unwrapping


Boxes by Judy

~Unwrapping~

Loss forces one to
find gifts for the future
hidden deep within the past

to find the present yet unwrapped

New Joy

JoMae
6/4/18

Unwrapping - inspired by The Uses of Sorrow, a poem by Mary Oliver which was mentioned by Steven Petrow in a NYT’s article on gratitude last month.  I love how words travel mouth to mouth, heart to heart - nurturing the world!  -js

June 08, 2018

Abundant Grace


~Abundant Grace~

In the middle of this deep dark loss,
a Light. Gently unfolding, its soft
beam of hope seeps in

its beacon tugging at confusion
shedding a glow on the path
drawing the heart close

revealing answers even as
more questions form
'til fully unfurled

it lights the way brightly
lifts away darkness
and brings new

Joy

JoMae
6/4/18