Month: May 2024

Day 20: Turning Tides

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The tide rose to my nose before it fell,
Its inflow deepening the depths of fear
As I just tried to breathe. I was unwell,

Convinced I could not swim, that ev’ry tear
Was trouble self-inflicted due to sin.
The God of grace appeared to be austere,

Unwilling to relent. I had grown thin
Through waiting in the waves, and still I stayed
Till I had grown accustomed to my chin

Residing at the waterline. But aid
Was not far off. A voice called out, “Hold tight!”
‘Fore teaching me to see and swim. I prayed

And noticed water shallowing as light
Broke over all the breaking water’s pall
And in a moment brought an end to night.

Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash

Day 18: Harmattan

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In life, we’re met with gentle breezes, signs
That life is full of movement. Summer heat
Is broken by a cool front, and the pines
Carpet the earth with needles, catching sweet-
Est melodies as wind sings through their limbs.
But not all winds blow gently. Some appear
With power unapproachable, like hymns
Writ out of holy fear: we turn the ear
And close the mouth. We know our smallness well
Before the hurricane and Harmattan,
And like the sailors frightened by the swell,
We run for help to power’s paragon,
The man who has become our hope and peace,
The God in flesh who makes the storm-winds cease.

Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash

Form Friday: Terza Rima

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We follow in the paths of those of old,
Take note their battles lost and battles won,
Reflecting on the stories that they told.

For there is nothing new under the sun.
What was before still is and yet will be.
Though much has changed, tis no new race we run.

And so we learn their forms, for thus we see
Our common world through glasses made of gold
And in the wisdom gained there, grow more free.

Photo by Dave Hoefler on Unsplash