5 minute poem
By Teri VanLieshout
3/3/10
By Teri VanLieshout
3/3/10
walls half painted
lists of things-to-do
on half-sheets of paper
everywhere
eggs on the counter
dish-filled-sink
dirty egg beaters
baby rocking on her chair
nursing baby,
fussy baby
"momma up,"
hanging on my leg
bible study -- genesis
bad girls need their reading too
plus the lenten reader
oh my, bible sure is getting used
news is on
big girl dancing
laundry waiting
on the bed
more to do,
so little time
so much to do
my aching head
(the life of a mom--
written in about 5 minutes, between tasks,)
lists of things-to-do
on half-sheets of paper
everywhere
eggs on the counter
dish-filled-sink
dirty egg beaters
baby rocking on her chair
nursing baby,
fussy baby
"momma up,"
hanging on my leg
bible study -- genesis
bad girls need their reading too
plus the lenten reader
oh my, bible sure is getting used
news is on
big girl dancing
laundry waiting
on the bed
more to do,
so little time
so much to do
my aching head
(the life of a mom--
written in about 5 minutes, between tasks,)
Time
by Teri VanLieshout
5/24/11
Time
A river I chase
Running alongside
With bare feet
And painted toes
I wade in shallow pools
Catching treasures in jars
To save
And set free
Later
And I stand on the bank
Where the rapids run
Wanting to jump
Suspended in the mist
Catching you with both hands
Meandering river
Rushing river
Your course, your aim
Through my fingers and painted toes
Never standing still
by Teri VanLieshout
5/24/11
Time
A river I chase
Running alongside
With bare feet
And painted toes
I wade in shallow pools
Catching treasures in jars
To save
And set free
Later
And I stand on the bank
Where the rapids run
Wanting to jump
Suspended in the mist
Catching you with both hands
Meandering river
Rushing river
Your course, your aim
Through my fingers and painted toes
Never standing still
"Kitchenette Building"
by Gwendolyn Brooks
by Gwendolyn Brooks
We are things of dry hours and the involuntary plan,
Grayed in, and gray. "Dream" makes a giddy sound, not strong
Like "rent," "feeding a wife," "satisfying a man."
Grayed in, and gray. "Dream" makes a giddy sound, not strong
Like "rent," "feeding a wife," "satisfying a man."
But could a dream send up through onion fumes
Its white and violet, fight with fried potatoes
And yesterday's garbage ripening in the hall,
Flutter, or sing an aria down these rooms
Its white and violet, fight with fried potatoes
And yesterday's garbage ripening in the hall,
Flutter, or sing an aria down these rooms
Even if we were willing to let it in,
Had time to warm it, keep it very clean,
Anticipate a message, let it begin?
Had time to warm it, keep it very clean,
Anticipate a message, let it begin?
We wonder. But not well! not for a minute!
Since Number Five is out of the bathroom now,
We think of lukewarm water, hope to get in it.
Since Number Five is out of the bathroom now,
We think of lukewarm water, hope to get in it.
"Praise Song for the Day"
by Elizabeth Alexander
Each day we go about our business,
walking past each other, catching each other's
eyes or not, about to speak or speaking.
by Elizabeth Alexander
Each day we go about our business,
walking past each other, catching each other's
eyes or not, about to speak or speaking.
All about us is noise. All about us is
noise and bramble, thorn and din, each
one of our ancestors on our tongues.
noise and bramble, thorn and din, each
one of our ancestors on our tongues.
Someone is stitching up a hem, darning
a hole in a uniform, patching a tire,
repairing the things in need of repair.
a hole in a uniform, patching a tire,
repairing the things in need of repair.
Someone is trying to make music somewhere,
with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum,
with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.
with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum,
with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.
A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer considers the changing sky.
A teacher says, Take out your pencils. Begin.
A farmer considers the changing sky.
A teacher says, Take out your pencils. Begin.
We encounter each other in words, words
spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed,
words to consider, reconsider.
spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed,
words to consider, reconsider.
We cross dirt roads and highways that mark
the will of some one and then others, who said
I need to see what's on the other side.
the will of some one and then others, who said
I need to see what's on the other side.
I know there's something better down the road.
We need to find a place where we are safe.
We walk into that which we cannot yet see.
We need to find a place where we are safe.
We walk into that which we cannot yet see.
Say it plain: that many have died for this day.
Sing the names of the dead who brought us here,
who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges,
Sing the names of the dead who brought us here,
who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges,
picked the cotton and the lettuce, built
brick by brick the glittering edifices
they would then keep clean and work inside of.
brick by brick the glittering edifices
they would then keep clean and work inside of.
Praise song for struggle, praise song for the day.
Praise song for every hand-lettered sign,
the figuring-it-out at kitchen tables.
Praise song for every hand-lettered sign,
the figuring-it-out at kitchen tables.
Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself,
others by first do no harm or take no more
than you need. What if the mightiest word is love?
others by first do no harm or take no more
than you need. What if the mightiest word is love?
Love beyond marital, filial, national,
Love that casts a widening pool of light,
love with no need to pre-empt grievance.
Love that casts a widening pool of light,
love with no need to pre-empt grievance.
In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air,
any thing can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp,
any thing can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp,
praise song for walking forward in that light.
