Darrel

a relief map of the heart 

signals the highs and lows 

the beauty and ruggedness of the topography 

but each is a singular journal 

of what love can do 

 

so when you check the heartbeat

below the bowtie 

and divine its shape 

you will discover 

hope and truth 

    in meadow and stream 

intellect and openness 

    in forest and lakes 

appreciation and concern 

    in hills and rivers

and love overflowing 

love flooding the plains 

for this is the calling 

this is the shape 

this is the heart

of a friend 

    colleague 

        pastor 

Christ follower

this spring

what do the robins think 

when a big blizzard belts us in April 

just started a nest finding worms 

in thawing ground 

ready to begin a new life in northern plain 

with open skies and long sunny days 

but winter isn’t done with us yet 

snow coating branches 

cold wind wiping memory 

of peaceful preview of summer 

so where do you go plump red breasts 

to endure the weather 

to emerge once more when the storm passes 

and lift our thoughts away from brutal invasion 

wintry hearts in need of feathery love

in the rifted rock

grand children’s love billows 

through iPhone speakers 

a sung embrace of closeness 

mother daughter hands clenched on lap 

failing ears can just make it out 

this song for the ages aged 

seeking rest from care and pain and turmoil 

my moist eyes lower to the floor 

where slippered foot taps the beat

 

spring song

sometimes spring 

onsets without much warning 

sun suddenly warm 

like Mozart after Mussorgski 

and the melt begins 

icy eyelashes blink into blue sky 

warming air caresses new born skin 

and there’s a blue jay in the tree 

learning an aria 

from The Magic Flute