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

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

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

One By One - Poem

One By One

One by one God’s beloved son healed and blessed each one

Have ye one sick, lame, blind, one halt or any one maimed person

Is there one leprous, withered, deaf or one afflicted in any manner

For I have compassion, mercy and will heal, come bring each one hither

No eye can see nor tongue repeat the marvelous things he taught

Each saw His light, they felt His love, they witnessed and none forgot

How deep is Christ’s love, how marvelous His power

How rich are His blessings, how great His desire

To fill one mind and heal one soul and mend one broken heart

Lifting each one toward Heaven’s home never again to part

One by one God’s beloved son held and blessed the children

He wept and prayed unto his Father and one by one he blessed them

Look behold your little ones, they cast their eyes toward heaven

And saw angel’s fiery light descend and encircle each little one

No eye can see nor tongue repeat the marvelous things he taught

Each saw His light, they felt His love, they witnessed and no one forgot

How deep is Christ’s love, how marvelous His power

How rich are His blessings, how great His desire

To fill one mind and heal one soul and mend one broken heart

Lifting each one toward Heaven’s home never again to part

Jesus commanded twelve disciples to bring forth bread and wine

He blessed and brake and one by one delivered emblems divine

This ye shall do in remembrance of my body and blood shed

That my Spirit may abide with you and testify, he said

No eye can see nor tongue repeat the marvelous things he taught

Each saw His light, they felt His love, they witnessed and never forgot

How deep is Christ’s love, how marvelous His power

How rich are His blessings, how great His desire

To fill one mind and heal one soul and mend one broken heart

Lifting each one toward Heaven’s home never again to part

Janice Harten

Torn Fabric - Poem

I appreciate the friends I have in my life.  I have felt love and support from them through the years and I likewise have tried to offer them support.  I wrote the following poem for a close friend who continues to suffer the pain and heartache of divorce.

Torn Fabric

Torn fabric - torn heart

Can it be mended?

So suddenly ripped apart

One thread at a time

Carefully woven within

Creates a personal design

Now, new fabric - new heart

Pattern unique

Foreseen above from the start

Unseen hands mend

The anguish, hurt and fear

Gently laced with love divine


Janice Harten
Aug 2, 2000

Copyright © 2013 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

Poem - A Different Point of View

Our sons participated in the scouting program while growing up.  They endured cold, fatigue and food prepared by other scouts.  One hike was particularly grueling. (Bill also went on this hike.) The trail was overgrown and they found themselves backtracking from impassable cliffs and ended up bushwhacking through miles of scrub oak brush.  It tested them individually and bonded them as a group.  They often look back on this experience and the lessons they learned together.

A Different Point of View

United in purpose, their goal barely in sight

   Test of will, endurance, the scouts stayed out another night

Lifting, encouraging, sharing the load

   A prayer in each heart, a brief call to home

Struggling, straining, grabbing a hand

   Both young and old, all brothers, all men

Beyond the trial of mountain, now, testing the soul

   Realizing someone far greater was in control

With faith, hope and courage, maintaining the pace

   Finally, arriving homeward to loved ones embrace

The purpose magnified, lessons not soon forgotten

   Knowing leaders both seen, and unseen, had taught them

The journey once began as small to a few

   Now, seen through all eyes with a different point of view

Trust in the creator, brotherly love understood

   And the protective practice of His priesthood

By Janice Harten
Copyright © 2013 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

True Self - Poem

True Self

Within any given day, week, month or year

   Our hearts and actions become very clear 

Either love, compassion and kindness is shown

   Or selfishness, hate and anger are grown

Whether felt for a parent, spouse or neighbor

   A sibling, child or a complete stranger

This world is but practice for another

   Where we will once again be living together

And who knows, when we finally get there

   To our joy or sadness we will discover

That our feelings here, toward our fellowmen

   We also feel toward our Father in Heaven

For given enough time, days, weeks, or years

   Our true self emerges in spite of our fears

And our heart is revealed for all to see

   Possessing hate and envy or love and charity

By Janice Harten

Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.