Category Archives: Free Verse

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seeking light

the dark night of the soul is upon me

torn between the now and the longing

Evening Star on Parkview Circle. Photo Credit: J H Johann, 2014 Summer

Evening Star on Parkview Circle. Photo Credit: J H Johann, 2014 Summer

God you breathe though all of me

Though all those I am with

Through all those on this Mother Earth

Help us to be open to YOU

and BE with us

              humanity is suffering

              our children everywhere are dying

dying because their skin is a different color

dying because one thinks their religion is superior to the other

dying because of our greed

dying because we are so empty inside of ourselves

dying because we have forgotten how to share

dying because of our self-centeredness

dying because we lack love of self, and so cannot love others

God we ask YOU to breathe Your Love into us

Help us to love each other

Help us to be open and receive

We need Your Light in this world

Help us to be Light-carriers to one another

empty us of our false images

empty us of our hate

empty us so we can be filled with Your LOVE

*

each child in this world is my child

Mary Wanjiru and her sister Lucy, the baby on her back, and a friend. Photo credit: c. Jane H. Johann, Kiriko, Kenya, East Africa, 1976

Mary Wanjiru and her sister Lucy, the baby on her back, and a friend. Photo credit: c. Jane H. Johann, Kiriko, Kenya, East Africa, 1976

Ayden and Nadia planting a tree. Photo Credit: c.Jane H. Johann, Summer, 2013.

Ayden and Nadia planting a tree. Photo Credit: c.Jane H. Johann, Summer, 2013.

each woman in this world is my friend

each man in this world is my friend

we all share the same color of blood

we all share the air we breathe

and that breath is YOUR LOVE

there is enough food for all

there is enough water for all

there is enough land for all

help us to tear down our boundaries

and open our hands to receive  Your Love

help us to open our hands so that others can freely take from us

without stipulations, reservations, demands

You, God, are the Gentle Love that breathes into us

Mother Earth has provided life for us

Let us share that life with each other

Forgive us and help us to be FOR giving…

to BE…for this God created all  (Wisdom I:14)

Sites of interest:_____________________________________________

Photo Credit: c. Jane H. Johann, Indian Ocean, 1975.

Photo Credit: c. Jane H. Johann, Indian Ocean, 1975.

http://idealisticrebel.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/prejudice-takes-many-forms/#comment-23002

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/02/immigration-obama-deportation-children-border/11915723/

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We Do Need Each Other

 

look to Brother Wind

and how he  delicately breathes life and dances with the grass

look to Sister Ocean

and the life tiptoeing across the crests of  her waves

look to Brother Sun

and how his light reflects the deeper image

look to Sister Moon

and how her light enhances the dark

look to Cousin Stars

and their majestic glow that gladdens our hearts

look to Distant Clouds

and how they fill our imagination with wonder

look to  Busy Bee

and how it carries the pollen to flower our world

look to Each Other

and how your simple gesture…

a nod…

your smile…

a graceful touch…

your listening ear…

gives HOPE to another

 

Depression is an illness that affects so many, many people.  YES–YOU do matter! YES–each of us can do something.  We are interconnected.  Each of us weaves a thread of our lives into the other’s tapestry, with a simple gesture, a word, a nod…a thought! No matter where we live on Mother Earth, we influence one another. Blessings to all of us, that we may live more mindfully and be present in the NOW to one another.

 

 

Spring Lake, Alberta, Canada Photo Credit: Jane H. Johann, Fall, 2013

Spring Lake, Alberta, Canada
Photo Credit:
Jane H. Johann, Fall, 2013

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Where are you?

 

there is nothing so devastating

as when a son or daughter leave you

without a word…

…no call

…no note…

just

GONE…

the emptiness remains forever

the mind cannot quiet itself

questions continually rise

left on the precipice of doubt

no consolation exists

the pain cuts razor deep into the heart…

we are a parent

we are meant to love and protect our child

we are meant to  help them face life

each child is a part of us

not one of them is less

the one we tried to share the best of ourselves with

the one we gave our last ounce of energy to

the one we would wait for to come home at night

the one who would call us to come and help

and we would go and  bring the child home

the one we would sit through countless hours of  recitals with..

now this child has tiptoed into stages unfamiliar…

this one…where is this child?

our hope for beauty for this child

has been sidestepped…

this child disappears into the night

part of us is lost

we worry…we cannot sleep

our child is flung to the high seas

tossed from one wave to another

and we cannot reach them…

we cannot bring them to safety

we sit adrift our memories and thoughts

we blame ourselves

what happened? where did I go wrong?

streams of should have, would have, could have

flood our brain

they are the love crystals of our being

we want them to be safe

we want to help them

and

hold them close

and

we can’t…

our heart is near breaking

our thoughts hasten to the one who is                                                                                                               

"Grasping"...Photo Credit: Jane H. Johann, Edmonton, ALberta, Canada, 2014.

“Grasping”…Photo Credit: Jane H. Johann, Edmonton, ALberta, Canada, 2014.

lost…

and the tears fall

like raindrops in a monsoon

soaked into the Earth

and the Earth is drenched with sorrow

and…still…

the child hears us not

we were told we had to let them go…

they were gifts not possessions

let them go…

but our hearts are with them

and

our prayers never cease

 

 

 

 

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there is ALWAYS one more chance

We must accept finite disappointment,

but never lose infinite hope.

                                            -Martin Luther King

 

 

there is a fresh tomorrow

there is unqiue birth each day

there is new love ever present

there is a brilliant sun in the sky

there is a gentle moon at night

there is the soft wind to carry you

there is the deep longing inside

there is someone standing beside you

Spring Lake, Alberta, Canada, August 2013; Photo Credit: Jane H Johann

Spring Lake, Alberta, Canada, August 2013; Photo Credit: Jane H Johann

there is ALWAYS one more chance

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Part I: Forgiveness …YOU are not so Easy to Live!

 

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It was easy

to write about You,

Forgiveness,

when I could speak of you far away

and not smack in the middle of my lap!

“As you forgive, so shall you be forgiven”

My Catholic conscience rings out the verse

Forgiveness…

I didn’t know it would be so hard to do…

It was easy to tell others,

“Oh, just forgive and it will be okay,

You have to go on for another day.”

I have heard many charitable and religious quotes

from well-intentioned friends and folks,

“You needed to learn from this experience”…

“God loves you and so do I”…

“Let it go…forgive”

“Not forgiving allows that person to take up free rent in your brain!”

“You shall be forgiven as you forgive”

Hurt and anger are wrapped around you so tight!

It is difficult to believe everything will be alright.

Then the words of the Gospel came to me again:

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

Once more you are trying to enter into my heart, Friend,

You, Forgiveness,

WHO are you?

You, Forgiveness,

WHY do you plague me so?

You, Forgiveness,

You are asking a great deal of me!

You, Forgiveness,

You were easy to speak about

when it was not so personal!

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“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

–Mark Twain

Forgiveness, how do I reach YOU?

 

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We are ONE

we can practice any religion

and still…

we all live in the heart of  God

we each find our own path

our own way of blending into the universe

I may —

kneel

bow

burn incense

display flowers

wear a cross

carry the Koran

carry the Bible

consult my magic crystals

believe in reincarnation

We are ALL seeking the same ONENESS

we are all striving to find the Center

we are all seeking LOVE

let us allow the individual ways of reaching LOVE be a source of unity among us

we are all working for GOOD on our soul journey

may we celebrate our diversity

celebrate that we are on a journey together

celebrate our ONENESS

In ONENESS we will find each other

we are all interconnected

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Touch

linseed oil lust

canvas lingering light breeze

emotions trust seas

 Painting dedicated to Cheri

"Aura of Lake Michigan"

“Aura of Lake Michigan”

 

 

 

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Treasures

Teachers as wise as Lao Tzu have extolled the virtues of patience – “I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” – See more at: http://www.mindfueldaily.com/livewell/7-inspiring-thoughts-about-patience#sthash.doObppHw.dpuf

 

Simplicity~

petal openness

joy without reservation

just being itself

 

Perennial

Perennial

 

Patience~

tiny seeds of life

nurtured daily with loving

persevering will

 

IMAG3572

Compassion~

growing

being, becoming, loving, forgiving

interconnection

Irises

Irises

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Resilience

Young Sapling

blew in the breeze

as the wind carried its branches

into freedom wind.

The gusts invisible breath was so strong

that Young  Sapling gymnast

touched Mother Earth with a fleeting kiss

springing back into position in a flash!

Not quite sure how it happened or why!

A short distance away

was Grandmother Birch

fifty years its senior

steady and strong as the wind blew.

Outwardly appearing invincible

to the taunt and fury of the wind.

2012. Palmyra, WI., USA Photo credit: J. H. Johann

2012. Palmyra, WI., USA
Photo credit: J. H. Johann

 

However, inside and  in between were the years:

the happenings…

the choices…

the laughter…

the slam dunks,..

the “how did it happen?” phenomena…

the joys…

the rug pulled out from underneath…

the hurts…

the tears…

the love given…

the affirmations…

the love lost…

the triumphs…

the failures…

the successes…

the love memories

the “get back up” and live some more

MOMENTS–

that weathered the storm

and broke forth in LIGHT and HOPE

and CHOSE to live!

As the girth of the tree widened

new sprouts came forth!

 

 

 

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Raindrop Washings

With gratitude to n. h. bourne for

her inspiration for the title of this poem!

 

Banff by Night

Banff by Night

the cloud hovers above us

raindrop washings

cleansing our leaves

of loss and inadequacy

renewing us

with freshness and determination

to begin again

in purity and strength