We must have compassion for a culture
that has a promise for immediate gratification.

Yet, you and I remain unsatisfied.

The devil does not have his own clay.

I dip into it
embracing sunshine and warmth
a good day indeed

watercolor night
blues and purples are seen as
I watch from my porch

Sweet night is coming
I feel her lovely embrace
I am content now.

Because I feel you
close to me... though you are far,
I thank God for you.

"One of the secrets of life,
is that all that is really worth the doing
is what we do for others."

Though
He
first
loved
us,

*we
could
not
live,

were
it
not
for
the
love
we
find
every
day

I just realized
how much more enjoyable
a good walk or run is
without all the labels

how many miles?
how many calories?
how many minutes should i strive
till i am in shape

i wonder how a good run would feel

I wonder how a good sleep would feel
without so many hours
8 if your above 55
9 and a quarter if your my age
but i can't seem to rest peacefully
with all this noise in my head
seducing me into wakefulness

I wonder how a good sleep would feel

I wonder how a friendship would feel
with all this competition at hand
i'm sure i couldn't keep up with the pace..
my hair, my makeup my attire
and then
you must make sure you say the right things

Yes, i wonder how a good friendship would feel

I wonder how a good trip would feel
not exactly where your going
but to feel some relief, some relaxation, and some love
from the person you're traveling with.
without all the distance, commotion and chaos

Yes, i wonder how a good trip would feel

I see you

in the stillness of the snow
that blankets the meadow

in the kisses of couples
long spent together

in the rays of the sun
that slowly rises

in the rising of the choral piece
that praises your essence

in the hollow of my heart
steadfast in beating

I see you

bullet through my brain
seems like the only way
to tell the american population
there are such things as absolutes

often times we place
our hope
in something invisible
only to find
the invisible
often times places
His hope
in us

perhaps              /                  perhaps

there's                 /                   there's

a reason              /                   a reason

we can never     /                   our heart

consciously       /                    never does

stop                    /                    stop

breathing          /                     beating

now that we
have made everyone equal
can I live?

to the grocer i run
to find the best sandwich buns
and the finest wine to see
on the budget that i heed

no time to matter on the childs nose
she'll wipe it her own
"we must run now it's time to leave
throw that purple dress on i just sleeved"

to the barbershop i take little john
so much like his father i admire
his cute little cheeks perked up in a smile
makes me fall in love all over again with his father

two babes on my hips as i stole the wiles
one ham, two loaves, a bag of potatoes
yogurt, milk and five tomatoes
and two candles for mom and dads own table

coming close to five o'clock
i put on the crock ***
put the stove on for this monday night dinner
the side soup on just a simmer

coming close to six
I give my husband a quick fix
of beer and wine for me as we sit
"What a day" he whispers, looking at me

"What a day.." i said, looking back at him.
"..henderson said Johnny had hair just like yours
when he used to cut it. and pat gave
the girls two pink bows in line when we were at the grocer

But the girls next door, as we were washing potatoes
said they have never seen a girl so happy
and I asked why? (you know I'm so gossipy)
They said, 'Why Sophie, your love shows right on your face'"

I could hardly look my husband in the eye
"you've got one hell of a place"

You are the King of my heart,
even though it doesn't feel that way.

and I so often desire to do things against your will

help me to place Your will above my will

for I desire that resilient, abiding peace which comes with this
but also Your Heavenly Kingdom,

where I may only praise, love and contemplate You,
forever more.

Love,
Sophie

compassion

a glimpse
out of this world

into the Divine

When i read your poems
I am happy to see
that love is still among many
even though it may be hard to see…

striving to make sense of our feelings
our deep and inner dispositions
when we are presented with this thing,
this thing, someone named "love"

because people
with there beaten and broken hearts
the medication, alcohol and ailments
do not heal or stop this predicament…

it is so hard to see the light
my friends, look beyond the situation

everything is as meant to be.
though hard to see

your life is held in the palm of a hand
whose gentle care will never end

so raise your head
and stand up tall

you are one among all
whose hearts have been broken

but you, this individual
my friend, you are

for I am a witness to say,
you are a blessing to me every day

I
told
you
that it is
easy to
feel
the community
when you
have to be alone.

but I
never thought
that
I would
feel
alone
amidst
all
of
these
people

i can't help but lay my love at your feet
my dearest love of mine

your essence has captivated my vision
my heart, my soul and my mind.

there is love among the snow capped trees
upon the porch faintly lit,
among the cross that stands on the steeple,
even the water trickling from the fountains tip

it is all i see,
all i want,
all i need,
all i sought

so you my love,
i have finally seen,
allowed me to die to my soul
a softening, ever gentle renewal

no winter is not sharp,
no winter is not mean,
winter is the reminder that
we are to melt body and spirit;
and rise up again with spring

frolicking in the white
light, soft
untouched snow
my heart melts like
butter on toast!
to simply see
my beloved ones
(I)


let everything stop for a moment;
all movement
(and)


locate the wondering mind
among the tips of the trees;
(that)

are weighted by the substance
dipping towards the earth;
(I swear that)


*all I can feel is Your presence

Too scared to take another step
too tired to go all the way
too deep to back out and start over
my heart always kept at bay

why is it in this society
we shape our actions so sharp
our fears, our concerns, our inner strives
so clothed in our never-ending doubt

we need to look to light
so keen and soft and true
that is always sure to bring us
back as we begin to brew

sweet and longing tales of old
that keep our hearts so soft
like clay in the potters hand
or creation in the makers land

Live Life Without Regrets!!

…

*but isn't
                 to each his own?

Why do you rob me?

toys,                                            (phones, laptops, headphones, music..)
times with friends,                   (won't you have a drink? a smoke?..)
times with family,                    (ugh i hate them..)
food,                                           (don't eat that..)
dances,                                        (lemme touch you..)
body image,                               (you looked better….)
photographs,                             (fake smiles..)
dates,                                           (***..)
religion                                       (haha.. wait. you don't really believe that.. do you?)

If only
you could be just a little more
****** up
so every one else
could see
some of what I see.

Sincerely,
one of the victims,
of this preposterous, soul diminishing system.
just an anonymous person,
who can't embrace anything but your beliefs in the right column. (oh so certain...).

first
step
new
day
alas
my heart
opens
my chest
livens

yes
i am
ready
to
live
for
You

my feet
start
already
echoing
my
heart

like
a
request,
my
pace
echos
the beat
as
it hastens

yes
i
am
ready
to
live
for
You

armored
though
i feel
just as
light
as
the snowflakes
outside
my window

eyelids
just
slightly
open
to
the
dawn

yes Lord.
yes.

I
am
ready
to
live
for
You

how can i explain….

i
  have
     no
        words
               to
                   say

how do i show you….

im
    lost
          at
            this
                crossroad­

/
do you think                                                   /
maybe?                                                          ­  /
possibly?                                                       ­  /
excuse me... a second?                                  /                                                      
i meant to say..                                               /
pardon me, i...                                                /
i have this feeling...                                       /
listen.. I                                                           /
take a minute....                                             /
                                                                ­         /
                                                                ­         /
My points never get across                              /                                                         .........
                                                       ­                  /                                    *Pardon me.. hard of hearing.
                                                        ­                 /                                                did you say something ma'am?

little implications
that there may be something bigger
lies under my foundation i've build under the belief that there simply
is
something bigger

why you reveal yourself
in twinkling of babies eyes
in crinkling of maroon leaves under my feet
in the hint of bitter nostalgia sitting in my soy milk of my peppermint tea

out of all things living and lasting
                                   out of all planets and stars rising, falling, suspending
                                                      ­                                                      out of all people born, dying and living


                                                       ­          Am I a Seed or a Remnant.

The moment
i reached over to you
and whispered in your ear
(over the hard piece separating us)
and I whispered
"Wish you were in town...."
"Why?" he asked turning from the stage..
"Well... because..
                                                       ­     * because I love how you kneel at church
                                                          ­     how you always seem to be around
                                                          ­     how you perk up your eyebrows
                                                              **­w we talk about how God graced us
                                                              ­how you are so smart. In Anatomy and Psychology
                                                      ­         how your eyes make my shoulders slump
                                                           ­ (I think it's because my chest collapses, must be somethin' in there)
                                                          ­   because you asked me to an opera
                                                             how you smile after I mess up
                                                             that you open up doors for me
                                                             I love your funny Dr. Fischer impressions
                                                     ­         that you work in an italian restaurant
                                                      ­        and play the guitar and go to church to praise God
                                                              **­w your lips seem so incredibly soft
                                                            ­  and I lose myself in your eyes....

-"I was wondering if you could go to the Sadie-Hawkins dance with me?"
-"I would love to Sophie!"

-"I just thought you would have already been asked!"                                 red
-"No, I don't have *that many women chasing after me" wink
-"Hah, yeah I couldn't imagine why." wink

                                                      
                                                             .................................................................­............................................*Sigh

not always an overcoming bliss...
love is...
conversing with a friend over a sad event that happened in there day,
stopping for a minute in the playground with your brother to play
showing steps in a math problem for your little sister
spreading the cheese over the lasagna for your mom and her mister
carrying grocery bags to an elderly person's car
picking up a **** in a yard
letting someone know some insight you have on a particular action
looking into someone's eyes and absorbing how they feel (for a minute, forget attraction)

doesn't have to be relatable.
doesn't have to be fun.
but this is the kind of love,
that when you give it,
you can't help but feel
some warmth coming from somewhere out there
and unwillingly, unknowingly
makes it's way inside your heart.

i want to thank you!
you led me the right way
so i have you to thank
for making me so hard to please
for unveiling
this beautiful world
though i am so far from
being in it
because of you
under these stars
these moons
these suns
it's because you tell me no way
for sure thought i was the victim
about to walk the plank
i was told to tell you
                                                    no way, this ain't fair play
                                                            ­                                        (hah! you thought you knew what was best)
theres a long line of things...
but i got something to thank you for
forever in debt to you
i have you to thank!
for making me so hard to please!
for making me try with perfect faith!
because of you
because of *you