Earthen Sundae - Poem

Earthen Sundae

Chocolate mounds
plopped, stacked and
tottering
ready to be licked
before they drip
onto smothered
crunchy
red and green sprinkles

Leaning
cavernous sloppy scoops
arched and
balanced wondrously
precarious
topped and peering into
wispy
cream and blue

Heaping perilous creation
of delicious consumption
too much to swallow
in one view

Janice Harten
23 May 2024
Arches National Monument

Knockout - Poem

Knockout

Loud, Boisterous

and bloviating Anger

rush from one corner

and crowd into my space

Pushing, jousting, jabbing

out of order

demanding to be heard

shouting "Justice!"

With red-faced lather

and puffed-up blather

shoving Peace aside

causing Pride with Enmity

to colide

While in opposing corner

blissful Hope

patiently chooses

strategic moment

And with deft side-step

followed with repeated

padded Faith

applies leverage

to disable, disorient

subdue opponent

then grasp them in firm hold

and whisper --- let Peace

unfold

Unbalanced

on the ropes and then

collapsed to the mat

exhausted

Ten counts declare

punctured Pride and Anger

knocked out

High Hope

united ringside

with

persistent Peace power

remain the victor

Janice Harten

22 May 2024

Shawl - Poem

Shawl

A father lifted protective shawl

off his shoulders

To gently drape

onto crown of departing daughter

His heart and love wrapped

into one little bundle

round her face

then to each side

one fringed edge atop the other

finally tucked over her shoulder

Covered against world's icy chill

Gray homespun cloth of no particular worth

now held his greatest treasure on earth

Moist lingering gaze

bestow cherished blessing

And plant within each of their hearts

prophetic threads that weave and bind

through unmeasured distance

of eternal place and time

Scene stirs remembrance

of a sacred pattern

and veiled moment

near Kolob's door

When glorious Father there bid good bye

with moistened eyes and anointed blessing

upon His beloved child

leaving for earth's distant shore

Who one day upon her temple shelf

like protective shawl

discovered garment and robe

pure white

shield from world's bitter foe

With apron, sash and flowing veil

He covers and crowns her head

with power, glory and light

Christ, the anointed

bearing marks

direction and pathway straight

Beckons to follow Him

back to Father in Heaven's heart and home

Enveloped within His shining place

and His tender love's embrace

Janice Harten

3 Mar 2024

Morning Dew - Poem

 

Morning Dew

Peace of morning grant me while the earth is still

As quiet light rises upon my windowsill

Gentle warm breeze floats my whispered prayer

Along ethereal wave toward heaven's ear

Thoughts lodge in deep corners of the heart

Private wonderings and ponderings about life's part

Awe distills and covers like morning dew

Glimpse through cloudy windows clearing view

Janice Harten

8 Jul 2023

Wave Strategy - Poem

Wave Strategy

Wave wanders and washes up sandy shore
Trickles backward, popping bubbles in trenches
Where weapon wielding crabs prepare for war
Rattling grains trickle, roll and erase
Bird claw and child footprint place

Again, torrent tumbles
Breaching drawbridge and castle mote
Then gradually retreats
Toward unlimited reinforcements, to gloat
Tumbling tide rushes forward, attempting to capture it whole
Down dives side tower
Leaving remnant of shell armor
Which rumbles and rolls
At last, swollen tsunami crashes, dissolving walls and gated doors
Conquered fortress succumbs and finally is no more
Lump of ruins barely visible
On smooth sandy shore

New day brings new battle
As armed and steady
Knighted child wields shovel and colorful bucket ready
Mote dug, mounded bulwarks, peaked towers, flag anew
Foaming breaker restlessly waits within sunlit view
Forming master tide, wind and storm strategy
To rearrange, remove and conquer new enemy

By Janice Harten 23 Sep 2022

Flufferella - Poem

Flufferella

Flufferella the hamster went missing

Traps with treats were made enticing

They searched day and night

Hoping to grab her in flight

But lo she eluded all in spite of wishing

Then one day fair maid went washing

When low near her feet she spotted

The swift fluffy critter

As it scampered and skittered

What a dance betwixt rodent and laden maiden

Within minutes thereafter rose a squeal

From a young'un near peanut butter's appeal

For lo she did find

Flufferella divine

Back home from her adventure surreal

Janice Harten

19 Jul 2021

Singed - Poem

Singed

How long must I be in the midst of this fire

like Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego?

(Four appeared conversing there)

I cry out! - Unlike them, I am singed

With flames creeping higher, higher - 

Thy will?

Then purify my feet, my arms, my head

Consume earthly wrongs

Sear my doubts

Char pride's muscle that binds me to man

Scrape ground, blackened by fear carbon

Fill me with light to see what was hidden

Kindle flare of radiant hope

Cauterize weeping sorrow

Shadowy ash mark my cremation

Scattered dust returned to creation

Coal embers glow with God's grace

Memory of sin and error permanently erase

Come tomorrow, blaze bursts brighter still

But when I plead, "No more!"

Heat rises more intense than before

Evermore brilliant than sun at noonday

Impurities liquefy and melt away

Becoming Love's translucent cosmic ray

Janice Harten

18 Nov 2020