Tag: poetry

  • Mom (for Bethany)

    Mom (for Bethany)

    She was the best mom.

    In hard times, she’d put a Bible under my pillow

    so words of comfort mingled with my dreams.

    (Fear not, for I bring you tidings of great joy.)

     

    She never let a stranger-child go hungry,

    even with that big farm, big family –

    drove my father nuts!

    It’s a KID, she’d say. 

    That was that.

     

    FEWalls

  • Migration

    Migration

    IMG_2451Five billion years —

    we must find a new home.

    Five billion years  —

    the earth falls into the sun’s embrace

    and will not let her go.

    Our species needs five billion years

    to burn the dross from our souls,

    shame, the wick of the burning candle.

    Holy Father-Mother-Creator-God of the galaxies

    beyond our own, owner of the infinite

    colors of infinitude, let us learn our lessons now

    so when this moment comes,

    we have already learned to fly.

     

  • Haiku, Japanese Garden

    Haiku, Japanese Garden

    img_6803

    The shrine within me.

    Dew on the blades of grass

    shines on my dream lake.

     

    A feather drifts by,

    aimless wanderer stop here.

    Oh, it is a moth!

     

    The koi opens his mouth,

    all the colors of his vest

    feed the tourists well.

     

    Bench next to the hedge,

    how I long to sleep on it.

    Please, stay on the path!

     

    The jets overhead,

    the river of cars flows by,

    the silence within.

     

    While in the garden,

    I think of wine to buy guests

    who may never come.

     

    The ground is too full.

    The roots of the cedar now

    must pierce the surface.

     

    Endless wandering,

    door of anticipation,

    beauty cleanses all.

     

    The breeze on the face.

    The freeway by the garden:

    don’t listen to me.

     

    F.E.Walls

  • Famine

    Famine

    img_2666Even desperate for water in the desert

    the dead must be washed, every part,

    to stand before God clean.

     

    Hands bound, feet bound,

    the child lies on the ground,

    the skull too big for stick-bones.

     

    Quiet the child, so quiet

    as if she were already

    listening to God comfort her.

     

    FEWalls

  • Psalm One

    Psalm One

    (“I found within me an invincible summer.” Albert Camus )

     

    13-of-179img_0963francineYou have wasted your time,

    messed up,

    squandered your money.

     

    You have

    destroyed your health,

    & you bristle with blame and resentment.

     

    Listen.  You have the courage.

    to keep living

    no matter what.

     

    Remember, a tree

    planted by the rivers of water

    shall not wither.

     

    FEWalls