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

Perched Upon Her Daddy's Toes - Poem

Perched Upon Her Daddy’s Toes

Perched upon her daddy’s toes

Golden hair, laugher and innocence pose

Twirling, twinkling, swung up high

Triumphant child and father fly

Carefree youth with emerging grace

Playful in traditionally awkward place

Where vision, skill and desire grow

Smiling, delighted mother behold

Performing only what some imagine

With discipline, excellence in practiced vocation

Graceful illusion and exuberant passion

Movement song performs full soul expression

Embracing full purpose, nobility sublime

Wed, and bears three plus more children divine

Fleeting dance, lullaby and whispered stories

Mirror movement of heavenly mother’s glory

One grand leap, dramatic change of story       

Arabesque and pirouette into clouds of glory

Leaving sight of brief earthly call

To join God of love, creator of us all

Where limitless love, light, power and glory

Shines and continues personal story

Of love here, there, and in between

While entwined in promised forever binding

Flowing, celestial robes of brilliant white

Billow round woman bathed in light

Perched on Heaven’s Father’s toes

As round and round and round they go

By Janice Harten

13 May 2020

For Katie Shumway McKay’s family

Janet and Roger Shumway

Breath of Life - Poem

Breath of Life

The breath of life once given

To an infant long ago

Now ceased, still and quiet

In a body left below

From the realms of heaven

Spirit first entered in

Now taken back to Heaven’s home

Where it once began

Heart no longer beating

In this one, but faithful children

Reflect on tender memories

And the lives they were given

Flesh tired and worn, yet sacred

Performed its mortal task

Protected in an earthly tomb

To rest in peace at last

To await a day not distant

When the words 'Come Forth' are heard

And joyful spirit and flesh, again

Obey the Father’s word

By Janice Harten
Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

Transcendence - Poem

Transcendence -

Lazarus arose

   from sickness

   and wrapped death

To the astonishment

   of all

Except one

Whose power

   transcends sorrow

   and opens manmade tombs

To a realm

   of glory

By Janice Harten
Nov 28, 2008
Copyright © 2011 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

Taps - Poem

Taps

Adieu Mom

Flown anon

O’er the lake

O’er the hill

O’er the sky

All is well

Safely rest

Loving Son

Janice Harten

Sept 4, 2011

Copyright © 2011 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

In Memory of Jeane

On August 24, my mother-in law, passed away.   Bill and I were on a temple trip through Canada when he received the phone call from his sister.  Some people might have wondered why we had tears in our eyes, moments later, while sitting in a restaurant, as the first realization about our loss began to sink in.

As I contemplated what Jeane meant to me, a certain question kept coming to mind.  Will anyone remember me when I am gone?  It seems like a selfish question to ask at the passing of another person, but I couldn't get it out of my mind.  Will I be remembered a week after I am gone, in a month, a year, in ten years, or one hundred?

I thought of many conversations I had with my mother-in-law.  She had a way of telling stories about her own life, that taught lessons.  She also shared stories of her childhood, such as the time, as a teenager, she visited the home of a friend whose father had given her a musical instrument, called a marimba.  Jeane asked if she could try playing it.  With great natural musical ability, she played it beautifully the first time.  This was offensive to her friend, but Jeane recognized the gift she had been given, and in years to come, she would obtain and play her own marimba at many events.  Other times, she spoke about doing genealogy, reading, or writing in the middle of the night.  Her writings contained powerful concepts, such as, keeping her fingers off other people's buttons, meaning their agency.  When her life became more solitary and isolated, as her hearing and vision faded, she spoke about her prayers to find her glasses, or her purse.  She acknowledged the Lord's help with her simplest, momentary needs, as well as his help to remain grateful and happy as she endured to the end.

As I reflected on the impact these conversations have had on my life, I had a profound realization and found the answer to my question.  My life has been forever changed by knowing and spending time with Jeane.  And I will never forget her, because her life is woven into the very fabric of my own.  I have become a certain kind of person because of her influence.  My thoughts are not just my own, but are also hers, and I can no more forget her, than I can forget myself.  And her influence continues to be passed on,  into the lives of my children and grandchildren.  More powerful than our physical genes, is our spiritual heritage, which lives on in the lives of anyone we have contact with.

Oil Painting by Jeane