John Stevens

John Stevens Feb 2018

Paddy - Year Seven
Seven years since you sat upon the rock
Sitting there taking stock
of things of this world
and things of the next.

A Poets heart since you were young
the written word delivered by tongue
lives on forever in the heart
of those who've read to never part.

You ran the race with no disgrace
Inspired others to take their place
In the words of true poets to be
Filling the hearts of all they see.

Thanks again Paddy Martin

02-08-2018
Read Paddy Martin at:
http://hellopoetry.com/paddy-martin/

http://hellopoetry.com/the-paddy-martin-fellowship

John Stevens Jan 2018

His Spirit

His spirit resides in us, with us,
even when we no longer know who we are.
He carries us through the darkness,
is with us until the new morning
transforms us into who we really are.
A child of God.

Dementia and ALZ takes its toll. We are still in His hand.

Nov 2017

Marion

my friends are skyscrapers

i stand, rotting
a small wooden structure in a large city
barren and empty
one window, a single pane of glass

surrounded by skyscrapers
tall and terrifying
yet they too,
they too are rotting
windows smashed,
cavernous corridors tainted by crude slogans,
abused.

my small frame is fragile,
a foundation that is questionable,
my walls are depending on these skyscrapers
willing them to stay tall and terrifying
yet they are crumbling at the edges,
the debris beginning to become almost too heavy on my roof.

an ode to my friends and the people surrounding me. everyone is not always as they seem

#friends #love #sad #depression #metaphor

John Stevens Oct 2017

Poems by Lucy - 1 - Sunshine

Granddaughter Lucy 8
First poem

Sunshine

Sunshine is bright.
Moonlight is too.
The sun shines on my sparkly shoe.

When it ends
There is still light
Cause moonlight is bright.

Lucy called it Sunshine because that is what Grandma calls her.
I have a poem called Grandma Sunshine. Of course it is Grandma’s favorite.

John Stevens Sep 2017

Morning

When we wake up in the morning
on the other side.
The long night has ended
in Him we will abide.
He will carry us through the darkness
into the beautiful light.
The rejoicing of the angels
will be an awesome sight.

When we wake up in the morning
on the other side.
Where no more pain or sorrow
in Him we will abide.
His Love has brought us through the night
into the awesome light.
Where forever we will be with Him
In all His glorious might.

I have awaken in the morning
On the other side.
With a Joy beyond compare
in Him I now abide.
His love has brought me through the night
Into the awesome light.
Forever I will be with Jesus
What a beautiful beautiful sight.
----------
Hallelujah to my Savior
Hallelujah To His name.
Hallelujah to my Savior
We will never be the same.

(Ending. Repeat first four lines of third verse)

Hallelujah. Evermore.
Hal-le-lu jah.
(C) 09-12-2017

Song running through my head. Dedicated to my brother Ed.
My brother died Saturday Sept 9, 2017. See you later Brother Ed.

John Stevens Aug 2017

Always There

Sometimes when I fall
Into a pit of despair.
When the dark clouds roll
You are always there.

I offer a finger
and get Your hand.
To lift me up
to solid land.

Sometimes. Sometimes
I have no idea where I'm headed.
Directions of hope
Or some place most dreaded.

But always. Always
I feel Your hand holding me.
Lifting me up to a new day
Standing. Where I need to be.

I would be lost with
More than I could bear
But You Oh Father.
You are Always There.

(C) 08-15-2017

Jun 2017

Mary-Eliz

Moments In Time

I see you there
suspended for a time
between the shadow
and the light.

You look pale
but peaceful,
in a dream state.

I rest awhile,
a shallow sleep,

then I awake

knowing…

without words
my mind whispers

it’s time

I gently wipe your lips,
brush a stray hair
from your forehead.
It’s all I know to do.

Then I sing
a cherished lullaby
hoping you hear me
hoping it wraps you in love
as my arms wrapped
around you
as a child.

I hold your hand,
kiss your forehead.
In that instant I see
and feel all you’ve been
all that is you

tiny wrinkled infant
delightful, smiling six-month old
curious toddler
proud school age
struggling teen
loving adult

realizing
we're losing all of these,
all that you've been
all that is you

then

I feel your spirit leave…

for that brief moment
I’m overcome with a calm
I can’t describe.

A gift rare and precious –

as I was there
when you entered the world
I was with you
when you left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The butterfly counts not months but moments and has time enough."
Rabinadrath Tagore

We lost our son to a brain tumor. He fought bravely and determinedly for seven years, enduring two surgeries, radiation, Gamma knife "surgery", chemotherapy and clinical trials. He never lost his sunny smile or determination. He only let go when he knew it was time, slipping into unconsciousness shortly after his two brothers (his best friends) arrived to say goodbye. He remained in that suspended state for two days. On the third day the four of us gathered for dinner and shared thoughts about him and our life with him. We cried, we laughed, we shared memories. Later that night he let go. I will always believe, being the caring and generous person he was, that he heard us talking and knew that, as hard as it would be, we would be okay.