The clouds aren’t usually this quiet.
They’re trying to sneak by unnoticed.
No definition. Looking a little pale,
they scrape the tree-line like a hangover.
The cool night chained them to the low places
and now they slip away into the light of day.
With their dissipation I am thinned,
the heaviness of dark lifted,
shadows spilling as a remembrance.
Forgiveness as the dew,
mercy as the burning thereof,
and grace its antecedent.
What if each day was a first down
and each conversation a well executed play?
What if forgiveness was called up
like a third string quarterback
and offences were pigskins
with strings attached?
What if what we said
we didn’t mean it,
and if we said we didn’t mean it
everything would be as it was
in the beginning.
No flags thrown.
There would be no riding the pine,
sitting like a judge on the bench.
There would be plays
and grass would be uprooted
and sweat would mix with the dirt.
Spittle would be placed over the speck
in our eyes and we would no longer walk the plank.
What if we were on the same team again
and offense wouldn’t be against each other
and our only defense would be ours, together?
The plays called again from the sideline
and we huddle-up, arms over shoulders.
We are in the back yard lines
set on scrimmage like boys with grass stains
and SpaghettiOs and hot dogs would
sit warm in our super bowls.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 reads
“By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.” The Message
Caps of cumulus grab the first light
and float like golden vanilla scoops.
Blue grey fitted sheets crawl
beneath the infusion of pastels.
The sun brush strokes a new day.
When I close my eyes the leaves,
combed with cooler breezes,
mimic waves from Lake Michigan.
The blue noise settles my soul
and I receive this gift of Another.
*
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘Therefore I hope in Him!’”
Lamentations 3:22-24 The New King James Bible
Gerald the Writer 