Beneath the Thorns She stands at the margins feeling foreign not belonging longing for a place among the ones who claim they’re ‘in’ Who will reach for her? see her goodness masked by fear make a place for her to grow that she may one day know a love that has no boundaries. Perhaps the ones who only see her thorns and pull away their blinded arms have not yet learned that love includes the ones along the margins the rose beneath the thorns

Advertisements

A Thin Place

There is a Celtic saying that heaven and earth are only three feet apart, but in the ‘thin places’ that distance is even smaller.

Dark damp humus
below the emerald canopy
of ancient redwood giants
cushions steps with silence

Beams of early sun
sift through heavy shadows
glistening the forest
like a candle-lit cathedral

This is holy ground
where souls find rest
a thin place
heaven meeting earth

Jean E. Taddonio

Mary’s Music

I learned recently that 86 year old Mary from my creative writing class was an accomplished pianist. None of us in class knew she even played the piano. Mary has been deaf for 10 years and had stopped playing. It is not easy communicating with Mary in a class situation when she can’t hear. She read a memoir piece in class that blew us away with her honesty and courage. She does not often share her feelings I had to write something!

Her piano was orphaned
when her ears went silent
Fingers that danced the keys
had only memories
as did she, afraid to reach
too deep and weep
for what was lost

The music that once shined
for all to hear
was only in her mind
Until a daughter’s loving kindness
helped her find the courage
to play again
though ears were blind

And so it was
they all stood up and cheered
She could see it in their faces
and feel it in her heart
The music silent to her ears
once again was real
Bravo Miss Mary, Bravo!

Jean E. Taddonio

Bridge Repair…for all of us with broken bridges

Lord, I thought I’d built your bridge
but now it’s torn apart
perhaps it was my own

I ache with ‘whys?’ and sorrows
only you can know
the fragile pieces

my failures at forgiveness
the uniqueness of each soul
the unclaimed grace of generations

I claim it now

Wrap me with your pardon
Bind my wounds beneath your cross
Span my empty valley

with your never failing love
Rebuild me as your bridge
while I’m learning to forgive

Jean E. Taddonio

Reminder(#2)

Reminder ( #2)

Roses release their leaves
shortly after winter’s pruning
finding light to bud and bloom
through spring without effort
unlike many of us who struggle
through our thorns
to grow without fading into fall
forgetting
the uniqueness of our seasons
and the hope we can share
even when our thorns
are unadorned
past winter’s passage

Jean E. Taddonio

Reminder

Reminder

The rose bushes
released their leaves
shortly after winter’s pruning
becoming more lush
through the spring
vibrant with color
and holding their blossoms
into summer while
fading in the fall
How is it I forget
the uniqueness of each season
the uniqueness of each person
the hope that never fades
even when the thorns
are unadorned in winters passage
and I forget to pray or recognize
that some souls whose blooms
are less visible
amongst their thorns
may remain in darkness
until another
helps them find their light

Jean E. Taddonio

The Weight of Rocks

The Weight of Rocks

She pulls them from the dirt
sees herself
both rugged and smooth
gritty and unpolished

wonders at beginnings
theirs and hers

beauty’s subtle hues
pinks, grays and blues
tumbled to brokenness
long hidden in earth

she caresses their edges
connects their shapes

the weight of them
reminds her she feels
she feels real again
both rugged and smooth

Jean E. Taddonio