no need for moonlight-

feeling your chest rise and fall

in the dark

leaves fall from
rustling branches-she feels
his hand let go

their faces

greet me at the classroom door

like sun through the clouds-

hoping they can't see

the rain in me

hours later
your scent lingers
on my shirt-
exhaling

to forget

dog, child, scattered thoughts-

hearing them all, forgetting

the sound of silence...

a country hayride

under blankets of wool

and night sky-

seeing a million stars,

some for the very first time

Writer's Block :)

I know that I should write tonight,
for it’s been a couple days.
I know I really should- alright?
But my brain, my hand obeys.

There are a million thoughts to think,
but I can’t find a one.
There are a zillion dreams to dream,
but sleep just will not come.

You’d think I could find a topic
with all I’ve seen and heard.
You’d think I could unlock it-
the box of captive words.

Oh sure, I’ve got my trusty pals-
the clouds, the stars, the moon.
Oh sure, there’s love and joy and pain-
but they’re exhausted, too!

Well, it seems new thoughts won’t visit me,
though I beg and plead and curse.
It seems old words just will not lend
themselves to any verse.

So I put my pencil down, my friends,
for writer’s block has won.
Yes, I put my pencil…oh, BUT WAIT!
Just look at what I’ve done…

sighing in her sleep,

she dreams about the future,

not the past-

flipping to

the cool side of the pillow

sing over me,
autumn wind-
remind me how to lift my voice
even when the song seems lost in the night

dance over me,
willow branches-
remind me how to move
even when the stillness overtakes me

fly over me,
south-bound birds-
remind me how to look ahead
even when the destinaton seems too distant

pray over me,
faithful friends-
remind me how to trust
even when the storm is raging around me

"Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed." -Psalm 107:28-29

tucked inside a book,

a love letter dated

1950-

my grandparents

live on...

after the storm,

a lullaby of raindrops-

pianissimo

(This is my response to Andy's post tonight on Past Tense...)

wishing I could

capture the moon as he

has captured me-

a cloudy sky leaves me

alone in my chains tonight

Perpspective: It's a Beautiful Thing!

I don't usually write in a non-poetry format on this blog, but today I feel like sharing my heart in this way, so please bear with me. If you've only come here for poetry and are not interested in reading my long and drawn-out prose, I completely understand. :)

I won't lie. I have been bathing in a pool of self-pity over the last week-and-a-half. It has certainly not been pretty! My husband is training to be a police officer at an academy four hours away. He is gone all week long and will be for the next ten weeks. I miss him terribly and the stress of that lonliness mixed with the everyday weariness that comes with motherhood and teaching and keeping up with life had started to take its toll by yesterday. I was tired and anxious and I could feel a heaviness in my heart that could not have been more real if there had been a brick sitting on my chest. I hit my breaking point, and after a good cry and some genuine hyperventilating, my compassionate boss (who has been down the exact same road before) told me to go home and rest. Sleep has been difficult to come by since my husband has been gone. So I did, and after a refreshing nap and a much needed six hours of sleep last night, I found myself feeling much better today...a little more ready to face the world and my life with all of its little challenges.

Today, with the new-found clarity that rest does bring, I noticed that God seemed to be sending me little messages throughout the day. Not messages of "poor Kristin", but instead ones of "pull yourself up and look around...it's not all that bad". The first one came via the internet. I received one of those email forwards that often go overlooked in my inbox. For some reason, I took the time to really look at this one. It was a picture of a four-year-old little girl who just could not let go of her daddy's hand. Her father is a soldier. He was about to be deployed to Iraq for 18 months. He had joined the formation with his fellow officers, but his daugther (a little blonde that reminded me so much of my own daughter) was still holding on to his hand even as he stood in the line. A year and a half, I thought to myself...no weekends, no breaks, no kisses, no hugs.

The second message was sent to me on the radio as I was driving to my church for choir practice this evening. I was listening to a Christian radio station and a woman called in to dedicate a song. Her husband has recently become a Christian as a result of a ministry inside the prison where he is currently incarcerated. They have been apart for four long years and he has only served half of his sentence. She called not only to dedicate the song, but also to let him know that she was waiting for him-staying true to the commitment that she had made. What a testimony of strength and enduring love.

These "messages" did more than just evoke sympathy in me for a few strangers whose lives have been affected by seperation from a loved-one. They brought me a little thing called perspective. These people and their stories reminded me that no matter what struggles life brings, if I take the time to look around, I will always be able to find someone whose circumstances are more difficult than my own. No matter what, there is always cause to be thankful...and so I am.

"Be joyful always. Pray continually. Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I feel you...

in the rustling
that whispers my name,
desire confessing

in the soft rain
that slides down my back,
fingers caressing

in the fragile leaves
that can't help but fall,
surrender sweet

in the nightsong
that burns throught the chill,
sultry beat

yes, I feel you.

listen...

October wind

whispers to the leaves who

cling desperately, "just let go..."

hear it?

I breathe better

when you're breathing

beside me.