Misty Morning - Poem

Misty Morning

Shroud-wrapped majesty

rests patiently

as hovering dew

gathers into glistening

droplets

that trickle soft

into thirsty

 open caverns--

delicate

t

h

r

e

a

d

s

of life.

Janice Harten

1 Apr 2026

House Next Door - Poem

 House Next Door

I often wonder,

   Who lives in the house next door?

What happens behind its walls?

   What paths did they explore?

Could it be a young mother

   Seeking calm in fleeting peace,

While her infant finally lay sleeping

   After nights that never cease?

Or a young father, battle-weary,

   Stretched out on the floor to rest

After a work day's labor,

   Needing nourishment, no less.

Perhaps someone smiles, taps and sings,

   Dancing through the day's routine

To music that lifts and enlivens

   Drudgery into cheerful scene.

Or a youth wearing headphones,

   Lost in noise, a wild selection,

Surrounded by electronic stimulation,

   Chasing connection through disconnection.

Perhaps screens - phone, TV, laptop

   Clutter counters, order's place.

Endless gadgets, tools of chaos

   Stealing calm from every space.

Maybe a young child,

   With toys strewn across the floor,

Propped by dreams, resisting sleep,

   In their rumpled bed once more.

Could there be someone gifted,

   Extraordinary or famous,

Seeking refuge, a quiet place,

   Or a creator, inventor, a genius?

There might be one in mourning,

   Lost to grief or deep sorrow,

Needing solace or comfort,

   Pleading for a brighter tomorrow?

Or perhaps it's someone uncertain

   Of who they are, shy and unsure,

Lacking courage to step or explore

   Outside their own front door -

Maybe a soul, sin-burdened

   With pain or regrets untold,

Seeking escape or forgiveness -

   A wrestling and restless soul.

Or one of fragile strength,

   Whose limbs need quiet rest,

After years of service in a

   World of constant press and duress.

I see them kneel at long day's end,

   Giving thanks to Heaven's friend.

Showing love with a tap, hug or kiss,

   Holding close life's tenderness.

Peering through their windows

   And prying open more,

I pause and suddenly realize -

   I'm the house next door.

Janice Harten

22 Jun 2024

Reawaken - Poem

 Reawaken

Soft rise of morning's glow,

   O'er crest of distant mountains flow,

Stirs a bundled dreaming sparrow,

   Awaiting dawn's tomorrow.

Sheer blushing wash

   Glimmers through chilled orchard's calm.

Geese glide 'long clear, silken ribbon,

   Their flight in new day begun.

God's presence hovers o'er all

   In the still, breathless air.

He lovingly surveys his creation,

   Glorious purpose reawakened.

Janice Harten

18 Jun 2025

Pure Beguile - Poem

Pure Beguile

Delicate blues and swaying greens,

   Soft twitter hums on musical breeze,

Child and chickadee en l'air swing.

Sun and light shadows gently frame

   Butterfly's dainty glissade sway,

Chassé, grand jeté, it flits away.

Bouncing curls and ribbons bright,

   Her pirouette's pure beguile,

Trace the air with God's gentle smile.

Janice Harten

9 Jun 2025

Stripling Warrior - Poem

Stripling Warrior

Fathers sent sons forth in their stead,

   Their swords, in covenant earth, laid to rest.

Old hatreds purged; their hearts made clean,

   Nobel sacrifice and faith; in Christ redeemed.

Untested youth, chose to follow God's plan,

   Life and freedom defended within foreign land.

Their straight, fearless valor, a sight unseen.

   This was the stripling warrior creed.

Their strict obedience to every command,

   Rallied and inspired other soldiers to stand

On Christ's mighty power, and boldly lean.

   This was the stripling warrior creed.

Not one of two thousand sixty sons perished,

   Teachings of their faithful mothers they cherished.

Strengthened and shielded by angels' unseen

   They witnessed what miracles God did achieve.

True, exact, sober, obedient, upright,

   Pure in heart, faithful, valiant in fight.

Never before witnessed and never since seen,

   This is the stripling warrior creed.

Janice Harten

September 2018

Alma 24:15-19, Alma 53:20-21, Alma 57:25-26

Puddles of Sorrows - Poem

Puddles of Sorrows

Puddles of sorrows

from rivers of tears

attempt to drown my suffocating heart

Master of shifting waves

grasp me from these frightening depths

and fill my breath

With whispers of hope for

a pained, hardened soul

to be softened, redeemed and made whole

Janice Harten

22 Feb 2025

Isle of Jekyll - Poem

Isle of Jekyll

River of blowing, flowing soft sand
races barely above dusty floor, creating foggy shore
wispy white and low
sweeps for a moment then gone, suddenly invisible

Sand dunes swollen lumps upon seawall shielded row

trap and swallow palms, grass, gritty dock and all

wherever powdery grain blows

in slow undetectable, unrelenting motion

Vanishing, persistent footprint chases curling wave

and gentle foam crawls then rolls away

enticing, drawing intrepid toward underworld mystery

and bold stories longing to be told

Moist shell dollar, oceans unburied treasure

momentarily scooped and gathered

not intended to be kept or captured

disintegrates and dissolves back into natures ashen matter

Hidden crabs peer somewhere

from within watery pinholes

tiny movement reveals sand bubbling, quickly refilling

their presence exposed

Draped Spanish moss sways

twists and dangles in waltzing, danciful delight

from mighty boughs of grand ancient oaks

adorned in lacy flowing grays

While elsewhere, stark exposed wood skeletons

lay perishing in creeping graveyard from salt and sea

enormous roots imitate fractured branches jutting skyward

ghostly stoic fascination

Bundled historic tall-tale buildings with elegant checkered past

view dots of distant cargo, luxury and fishing ships

dozens of pelicans lined in graceful flight

glide each evening in wistful, silent dusky light

From peppered balcony, salty wooden tables overlook worn pier

where local fishermen with romping, curious children

laugh, play, position poles and hope to reel in

and grill daily tasty minions

Turtle-slow, quaint and simple

topped with tart key lime green pie

sudden rumble, flash and downpour, then momentary drizzle

unpretentious life on Jekyll

Janice Harten 4 May 2025

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

Palette - Poem

Palette

Saturated puddle of rich, ripe pigmentation

Mop, swirl, plummet then fling across horizon

Dart, pause, hover midst billowy cushion

Enchanting below, textured peaks and ponds with gem potion

True hues shame amateur's trial rendering

Breathless highlight or purple shadow gradually surrendering

To sparkling ribbon strands flung far and wide

Strewn nightglow beckons glorious surprise

Slowly veiled by glistening morning dew

Artist prepares grand canvas anew

Janice Harten

2 Nov 2020

Shiloh - Poem

Shiloh

Here, an unexpected guest finds His way

Small meal of fish, soft avocado, crust of bread

I hastily array

His body weary pauses for a moment to rest

Chin dips in momentary private prayer, only

closed eyes remain resting there

Hesitant to disturb, eventually I wait to find

awakened, His bright blue gaze meets mine

Reassurance accompanies gentle smile

With unspoken understanding to stay for a while

Thoughtful question invites exchange and contemplation

As dripped honey dresses bread in golden creation

His stories draw laughter and thoughtful instruction

midst black olives, goat cheese and sweet plum crimson

Gentle breeze cools, waves across cream chair

Linger, I silently pray, sensing His departure drawing near

Warm glow, fresh calm in my heart long to remain

Not knowing when He might return again

Long He's been gone from meal hastily prepared

But gentle wind, food, feelings and lessons linger

I sense quiet blessing earlier bestowed

Upon my open, faithful and grateful household

Whose stonewalls, wooden table and simple cloth chair

Still welcome Shiloh's warm, calm presence here

Janice Harten

7 Mar 2021

Wind - Poem

Wind

Childish wind tumbles down hillside with reckless abandon

Grass and trees bow and crack in humble prostration

Earth’s fall cleaning, sweeps and stirs with blind ambition

As terra summersaults with man’s possession and obsession

Toward some chaotic goal

Where nature triumphs and humanity folds

 

By Janice Harten

This Is Why We Came - Poem

This is Why We Came 

We will suffer sickness

We will see loved ones pass away

We will feel discouraged

We will be exhausted at the end of a day

We will see injustice

We will have pain

We will grieve for others and ourselves

We will pull each other up and start over again

We will cry tears of sorrow

We will not understand

We will long for peace

We will wonder if this is part of the plan

 

We will see miracles

We will feel hope and inspiration

We will find moments of peace

We will seek justice

We will discover joy and new strength

We will look beyond ourselves

We will plead for deliverance

We will kneel

We will love and lift others

We will give our all

We will find each other

We will find God

 

This is why we came

 

 

By Janice Harten

Leap Frog - Poem

 

Leap Frog

 

Said one frog to another

   Let’s travel cross this field together

Croak, leap past rock, then hold

   Does not matter fast or slow        

 

Again the first said to the other     

   Now crouch down then I’ll leap over

Said the second to the first

   Then I’ll jump while you’re at rest

 

Bounding past each obstacle

   Fitful journey, loose control

Tail to head and head to toe

   Over, under, through they go

 

Eventually field’s grass edge they find

   O’er gravel, now pond on lily wind

Each companion to the other

   Joyful leaping life together

 

 

Janice Harten

Lay Down My Tears - Poem

Lay Down My Tears

Lay down my tears, empty arms and sorrow

Quiet grief wrapped heart I would borrow

Till air and breathe return within

And tell my body to live again

Yet opening veiled watery eyes

Witness within bright glorious skies

Twirling two forever together plus more

Brought thankfully to exaltation shore

Crossing heavenly continents, spared suffering

Of dark fallen world and buffeting

To rest and bless and joyfully prepare

Earthly mother and father’s reunion there

Lift up understanding and open eyes

Light, glory and power expose worldly disguise

Combined work above and faith below

Wraps Christ’s love and salvation round all bestowed

For Emily and Rob

26 Nov 2019