Why plant tulips?

Why plant tulips?
they take all winter.
i might not see them bloom
they are everywhere.
Why plant tulips?

Why plant tulips?
buried in the ground
doomed to die
threatened by the squirrels.
Why plant tulips?

Why plant tulips?
6 months, a year
2 at the most
then I move on.
Why plant tulips?

Why plant tulips?
pressing through the last glimmer of snow
waking up the world from its sleep
giving hope where there was none.
Why plant tulips?

Why plant tulips?
put down roots
not for you, but for the next
seek the peace and prosperity of where you are.
Why plant tulips?

Why not?

jep 25.10.11

inspired by Jeremiah 29

Tulip with dew, spring 2010, Pella, IA

Fireflies

Sparks dance like fireflies

Against the blue green gray sky

The allure of the flames

Blue and yellow and green and red

Draw me out of my terror

As thunder rumbles without pause

Lightening flashes big and bold

Yellow and silver across the sky

The smell of mint fills the air

Criss cross applesauce

Burning wood and hair

Dirt, soot, refuse

Colors dance before my eyes

Ever changing always the same

Deathly still, no breeze

Smoke rises in all colors

Gray, black, brown, white

The breeze starts

Mint drifts through the air

Trees sway

Flames dance

Rain drops start to fall

Steam rises from a t-shirt

Rain and sweat flow together

Faces red and hot

Close to stir the fire

Far to watch it burn

Against the ever darkening sky

Sparks dance like fireflies

An Ode to Mothers

I don't actually know what an "ode" is, but it's a fun word.  This goes out to all the mothers.
Whether you birthed us and bathed us,
Whether you fed us and clothed us,
Whether you were there all our life or just for a season,
Whether we called you Mom, Mommy, Momma, or Mum,
Whether you are young or old or just "well practiced",
Whether you live close by or far away,
Whether you comforted us when we had broken arms or broken hearts,
Whether you taught us arithmetic or how to make chocolate chip cookies or the meaning of the word "Commitment",
Whether we screamed in anger that we never wanted to see you again or whispered our forever love,
Whether you live on this earth or have gone on to a better place,
Whether you bore us or adopted us (formally or informally),
Whether you've laughed at us or cried because of us,
Whether we colored on your walls or left footprints on your clean floor,
Whether you read this or not,
Happy Mother's Day!  Thank you for all you do!

Keeper of Secrets

This is what happens when I'm beyond exhausted but can't sleep...I write.  And you get to read it.

Keeper of Secrets

They come to me

Whispers on the wind

Quick glances so that no one sees

A note with words, short and broken

They come to me

They come to me

Broken, hurting, afraid

Excited, joyous, hopeful

Anxious, pleading, begging

They come to me

They come to me

Hurts that are big

Joys that are shaky

Fears that are all too real

They come to me

They come to me

I don’t always look for them

I don’t always seek them out

I don’t always expect them

They come to me

They come to me

I hold them in my heart

I lift them in my prayers

I cherish this act of trust

They come to me

They come to me

These whispers on the wind

These secrets from the dark places

These precious burdens of faith

They come to me

They come to me

And for a time, I carry them

But they are more than I can carry

They are more than my heart can hold

But still, they come to me

They come to me

And I hold them for a time.

Then I give them to the One who is able

The One who holds what I cannot

I give them to Him

I give them to Him

The whispers on the wind

The broken, hurting and afraid

The worries, joys, and hopes

I give them to Him

I give them to Him

He holds them closer than I ever could

He lifts them higher than I ever could

He cherishes them more than I ever coul

I give them to Him

I give them to Him

He gives me peace

He gives me rest

He gives me comfort

I give them to Him, my Keeper of Secrets

jep 15.02.11

Evolution of Friendship

So I didn't do such a good job being attentive in church Sunday morning.  Instead I jotted these thoughts down on a slip of paper. It's not much and maybe not cohesive, but it was on my heart.
Friendship
Will you be my friend?
Let's share the blocks.
You can play with my truck.
Can I play with your doll?
Let's make a club.
You can be part of my fort.
We have the coolest club ever!
You can't come to my birthday party!
I'm never talking to you again!
Her clothes are so last year.  We can't be friends with her.
You can be our friend if....
Friends today, enemies tomorrow.
Friends forever, friends again? Never!
Classmate, acquaintance, friend, colleague?
For today, for tomorrow, for a season, for a lifetime?
Networking, name dropping, you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.
How did we get from there to here?
From blocks and trucks to jobs and references?
From acceptance to exclusivity?
From a "forever" you could believe in to a "forever" you can't believe exists?
From whole hearts to broken hearts?
Can we go back to a time before, to a time of innocence?
NO.
We must learn to live in this.
This world we have created.
We must strive to create a better one for those who follow us.
jep 05.12.10

Life's Not Fair.

I don't know what's gotten into me...two poetry posts in a row. :)  Maybe it's the colder weather or maybe it's a sign of how good I am at procrastinating on homework.
Life's Not Fair
One baby gets to go home from the hospital right after he's born, healthy and happy.
Another baby stays in the hospital for months after he's born, fighting for a chance at life.
Life's not fair.

One man is born into a life of wealth and ease.
Another man works 2 jobs to try and feed his family.
Life's not fair.

One student is given a world of opportunity and skips more classes than he attends.
Another student wishes there was a school where he could learn to read.
Life's not fair.

One person gets a diagnosis and treatment plan months after symptoms first appear.
Another person waits years with no answers at all.
Life's not fair.

One child throws most his breakfast away because he "didn't want it".
Another child goes to school hungry, waiting for free lunch.
Life's not fair.

One couple longs without ceasing for a baby to call their own.
An young women gets pregnant with a child she doesn't want and aborts.
Life's not fair.

One person hides their faith because it's "uncool"
Another person dies for their faith because it's illegal.
Life's not fair.

One world deserves to die for it's sins.
One Man dies so that they don't have to.
Life's not fair.

jep 31.10.10

You Never Promised

You never promised it would be easy
You said it would never be more than I could handle.
I just wish You didn't think I could handle so much.

You never promised I wouldn't ever be lonely
You said I would never walk alone.
I just wish I could feel you more.

You never promised it wouldn't hurt
You said that You would bear my pain and my shame.
I just wish I was better at giving it to you.

You never promised to give me all the answers
You said You had a plan for me beyond my wildest dreams.
I just wish I had more trust in your plans for me.

You never promised that it would all be sunshine
You said that the rain would end.
I just wish I could dance in the rain.

jep. 25-10-10

Every time I fall

It's been awhile since I've written poetry for sharing.  Wasn't sure at first if I was going to share this one, but I decided to, so enjoy.
Every Time I Fall
How many times must I fall,
Before I learn to walk?
How many times must I fail,
Before I learn how to succeed?
How many fights do I have to fight,
Before I learn how weak I really am?
How many bad choices must I make,
Before I learn which the good ones are?

Every time I fall,
Every time I fail,
Every fight I fight,
Every choice I make,

Everything brings up the same lies:
I have fallen too far,
I am too bad,
I don’t deserve your love.

Everything drives me back to the same place:
I am a wretched sinner,
Completely unable to do any good,
Inclined to all that is evil.

Everything drives me back to the same truth:
I am Your child,
Washed in Your blood,
Saved by Your grace.

I am weak, but You are strong.
I am foolish, but You are wise.
I am tired, but You never grow weary.
I am undeserving, but You gave Your son anyhow.

I am human, You are my G-d.

Every time I fall, catch me in Your arms.
Every time I fail, teach me how You succeed.
Every time I fight, fight in my place.
Every choice I make, keep me within Your will.

Turtles

Remember, if you are viewing this post through facebook notes you need to click "view original post" in order to see the entire note...
Just a little something I wrote about turtles...It's nothing fancy or profound, but it's something and I'm not even sure it is finished yet. Pictures are just random ones I found online...
Turtle
I am a turtle with a shell
As hard as
Rock.
I start to trust you and
I begin to
Talk.
And like a turtle in a shell
I can hide just as well.

But even little turtles learn
Although their insides churn
That hiding in their private shell
Doesn’t work out quite so well.