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| sonnetoh, dear! i've taken up a challenge from some poetry buds to write a poem a day in July based on the book of Proverbs. we'll see if i persevere through the month! here's a formal sonnet for day 3, based on a line from Proverbs 3:12 … a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Discipline
At times along the journey I can feel
the chastening hand of God upon my back –
when I have erred from gentle wisdom’s track;
mistaken stagnant ponds for waters still.
When I would forfeit pastures green for straw
or call a noisy throng my place of peace,
it’s then God’s hand will heavy on me press;
I dread to hear correction in His call.
But, oh my Father! leave me not alone!
Return me to the blessing of Your way;
though painfully, my wayward feet restrain.
In chastening all who are Your true-born ones,
You shape our hearts Your glory to display
and our great good Your rod severe obtains.
Becky Haigler
July 2009
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| exceptional imagestill haven't been writing much poetry. editing and mentoring have been occupying my time and that's good work, too. saw a note on Writers' Almanac a couple of days ago about a man who purposed to get up and write a new poem every morning, first thing. he persisted for 188 days, then culled and refined and got two books of poetry out of the results.
twice now in the last year i've participated in month-long poem-a-day exercises through the Writers' Digest poetry blog, but even then, some of my poems were posted a day or so late and a few times i cheated and posted an old poem that fit the prompt -- either because i was too busy or really liked the old poem and didn't think i could do better for that prompt. but 188 days? all new stuff? that's a very challenging thought.
a couple of summers ago, i blogged about the idea of journaling 'one exceptional image' each day, rather than trying to capture daily routine in a journal. i didn't keep up with that very long. i have been doing the more mundane kind of journaling for a few months now and keeping up with it pretty well, but i often wonder why. it's boring even to me! today while walking, i thought again about the 'one exceptional image' idea and thought maybe i could get at least one new LINE of poetry a day.  so, here is my 'image' for today -- not very exceptional, but compelling and repeated throughout my walk.
grass thriving
in merest cracks of asphalt -- a testimony
God prefers green | | |
| guilty pleasuresa facebook entry made by my niece, Starwhisperer, reminded me of this piece i wrote last fall. i haven't done any new poetry for a couple of weeks, so i offer some leftovers for your edification. this was from a collection of poems on the theme of "Beauty Will Save the World."
Guilty Pleasures
I’ll confess I don’t always want what’s lovely
or true and good and pure. Sometimes
I just want a hamburger and fries;
want to sit in the dark and play solitaire
or watch a makeover show where somebody
is transformed, so I don’t have to be.
Becky Haigler
November 2008
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| May Morningi have been walking in my neighborhood instead of going to Curves, three days a week, for the past few weeks. i actually like it. hoping i can keep it up as the weather gets hotter. will have to get out earlier than i usually go to Curves! anyway, the poem-a-day challenge for April is over, but the Writers Digest poetry editor puts up a prompt on his blog every Wednesday. the topic this week was 'spring.' this is what i wrote while walking this morning.
May Morning
“…if these should hold their peace,
the stones would immediately cry out.”
Luke 19:40
Thank You, Lord
for this blue-sky day
no less yesterday’s
gray mist; gratitude
for the ceaseless song
of mockingbird
determined that no stones
cry out on his watch.
Becky Haigler
May 2009
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| baby showerwe have lots of baby showers in our church because it is a growing church with lots of young families. when i was younger, i didn't like showers. wasn't really comfortable with rooms full of so much estrogen, but i'm mellowing in my old age. and the women in our church are very dear to me. the poem-a-day challenge prompt for Saturday was to write about an event, and we had a baby shower yesterday, so here's my poem. p.s. i qualify for 'old biddy' status in this group! :)
baby shower
a gathering of old biddies
earnest new mothers and blasé
mid-life moms where wisdom
is passed from ear to ear
and generations share
strength with lullabyes
humming in our breasts
Becky Haigler
April 2009
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