Surrender

Surrender 5/18/14

Maybe you know that ache: when you’re

broken but not humbled
clean but not cleansed
rested but not refreshed
restored but not reborn
still but still not at peace
but you...how you tried.

And you know you need the New now more than ever

and that it was never in your reach
and somehow that’s why it’s in your grasp
and somehow fighting on looks like giving up
and somehow falling on your knees steadies you
and somehow starting over brings you to the finish
and somehow it’s the easiest thing and the hardest thing

Because it’s not up to you somehow.

It’s not how you tried
It’s not how you gave
It's not how you reached
It’s not how you strove
It’s not how you worked but
It’s some(body’s)how

Because the how isn't yours when what’s yours is His.

Strong Hands

Strong Hands 12/25/13
My father has strong hands,
                                            hands that
Build, setting threaded finger-tips to tools
that drill and level making good increases
of toil, soil, bolts and wooden pieces,
that conjure, gird, and hem with metal rules,

that Point to points on maps with labeled lakes
established in his mind but by his aim,
that Work at keyboard keys almost the same
creating quick, sure-fingered things he makes,

that Fold with equal readiness to say
his thanks to He who gives good things and pray,
that Falter,
                 testifying they are truly hands
and better for it, by it proving them a man's.

Ode to Swing Dancers

This was a Christmas poem for my sister.

Ode to Swing Dancers 12/25/13

 It's commonly known that the dancers of swing

Are one of the greatest of all of the things.

While everyone knows that this isn't a lie,

It's common to ask for the reasons of why.

As easy to ask as it is to reply,

Below are the reasons swing dancers are fly.

One: Swing dancers see the whole world as spinning

(Which it is, is it not? ever since the beginning.)

This fact merely proves that not only delightful,

But swing dancers also are rather insightful.

Two: Swing dancers keep both their feet on the ground,

But not all that firm as to keep them earth-bound.

They're prone to take off at the least provocation,

Whether Lindy or Charleston, it's like levitation,

Not flying, not walking, not hopping nor prancing,

Not magic nor earthly they just call it dancing.

With their grace and their charm they surpass all the rest,

Whether gentle or lady, swing dancers are best.

If you doubt, simply watch, just observing them twirl

And you'll realize these folks are unmatched in the world.