Slow Me Down, Lord

Slow me down, Lord.

Let me inhale the air you’ve supplied.

Put stress and troubles aside.

Slow me down, Lord.

I want to close my eyes,

And let worries say their good-byes.

Slow me down, Lord.

Let the moments stay longer,

To make my life stronger

For days ahead.

Virtual Life

I notice more and more people sitting in front of computer screens, and they don't connect with people. This is a poem that I wrote about on the subject.

Virtual Life

People glare at a speechless screen,

Ignoring those around,

Tap, tapping away.

Waiting for response from faceless words,

They gaze thoughtlessly

As the world around them revolves.

They do not realize the speed of life.

Interaction with flesh is sparse.

People claim they live,

But they just sit, mindlessly clicking,

Only a virtual life exists, suspended.

Changes

I think as we get older, we remember things that happened in the past differently.  This is something that I wrote after thinking about that.

Pictures in my mind

Change things in the past.

Moments that happened

Are a fragmented haze.

My body remembers

What never occurred.

Nothing is etched forever.

 

 

 

Hero in All of Us

I feel that everyone needs to hear that they are special.  Each person has a talent and uniqueness that needs to be appreciated.

Hero in All of Us 

Each one of us,

Whether we realize it or not,

Have that being inside us

That contains

The bravery

The inspiration

The strength

To do anything

To conquer anything.

But for some,

It is buried so deep

By other’s opinions and voices

That causes fear and doubt.

Sometimes

One moment of encouragement

Is all that it takes

To reveal the hero

That was always there.

Forgiveness

I recently realized the freedom that comes with giving forgiveness.  This poem was inspired by that realization.

Forgiveness 

Forgiveness

Is a gift

So difficult to give.

But without it,

We allow anger

To eat away at us,

And leave bitterness.

Forgiveness

Sets us free.

Hurricane

We were lucky enough to be spared any damage from Hurricane Isaac.  Living in south Louisiana, I have been through too many hurricanes.  During the storm, I remembered the worst storm that I experienced, Hurricane Andrew, which hit 20 years ago.  My family and I decided to ride out the storm in a shelter in town. This is a poem inspired by that experience.

Hurricane 

The winds blow,

Silently, at first.

Then branches sway

Harder and farther.

The sound of the wind

Whistles and grows louder

With time.

Rain falls sideways

From the wind.

Wind chimes

Are no longer soothing

As the wind becomes stronger.

Refugees in darkness

Listen to the violent wind

As it throws debris

Across the landscape.

Forces so strong,

Walls tremble.

Then a quiet calm

Gives the illusion of the end,

But it is only an interruption

As the storm surges again.

Rise From the Earth

As many in the southeast, I am waiting for Isaac.  I pray that everyone will stay out of harm's way through this storm.  On the other hand, it leaves me with time to think and finish poems that I have started. Thi is one of those poems.

Rise from the Earth 

I rise from the earth

Like the redwood

And feel the breeze on my face.

After so much downfall,

I’m finally feeling the triumph

Of a thousand kings.

The rays of the sun

Shine on my face

And grant me all of the hope

That I’ve waited for a lifetime.