I Contemplated Yesterday

Bayou Bonfouca by Sherry Lynn

I contemplated yesterday
   with ripples, breeze and clouds;
I pondered life and all that was—
   in mystery mirrored, unbowed.
  
I sat and watching the daylight ebb,
   flowing out to touch tomorrows;
In silence then I watched life wane
   and mused on all my sorrows.

But Life spoke "Up!" and "Look away!"
   To the sky I turned my gaze.
The sunlight voiced its quiet peace;
   while round me poured its gentle rays.

And therein found I solitude
   and nurturing balms of peace;
It's not the Past that holds my lot,
   but Future and its sweet increase.

So now I ponder my tomorrows
   with ripples, breeze and night;
The daylight ebbs but comes again
   with hope of coming light!

- D. Benning

An Altered World

Photo by Christopher Story

The hallowed halls, the sacred rooms,
  the special compass of the consecrated sweep of time.
The fetch, the stretch, the etch of bloom,
   the flourishing of life midst light and grime.

The hallowed halls, the walls, the stalls, then falls
   the ancient passage and the room once decked with gold;
Now spirit filled and crumbled round
   the old time visage whispers bold
         and cold with hold and life tenfold;
    Oh, have you told!
          this imagery of life untold.

The wispy light, the wavery forms,
   The spirited shadows of a time before;
The wavery light and transforming clouds:
    But light before the transformed light that warms.

That warms and roasts, and suns and toasts;
    That drives the life unto its morrow;
This life shall now, with meaning plow,
    Ignore the sadness upon its sorrow.

And all gathered then shall pause,
   shall cause with all its laws and grand applause,
       induce a breathing space, a time with life adorned with grace—
A pensive moment on our brief amplitude;
    a timeless moment of a fortitude
        a moment within a special place.

An altered world `tween life and light,
    dash and flash, breath and death,
An echo here and now of that which was
    and that which might yet come to be.
And here I pause to view and think,
    with hush and rest, ken and zest,
Knowing that the moment here is gold
    and tomorrow's no guarantee.

- D. Benning

Happy Mother's Day

My dear, my love, my wife, my friend,
   a help-meet fit that God did send,
a trusted wife, a caring mother,
   sworn to help and aid another.

A touch, a brush, a kiss, a hold—
   the years roll on and turned to gold;
the children small that once we held,
   maturely walk with skills excelled.

Another chapter in our walk with Him,
   though here on earth our sight be dim;
yet through this vale our course be true:
   you walk with me and I with you.

- D. Benning

The Magic of May

"The Magic of May" by Sherry Lynn

Like living lace it fluttered by,
   Frilly wings adorned and painted;
With ready ease it rose to fly,
   With care it was untainted.

A touch, a smell, a gentle wing—
   This creature spoke with silence;
With casual rush and iron-like cling,
   It tread among the giants.

The magic of May with wings expands,
   Midst flowers' regal beauty,
A quiet touch becomes so grand,
   By attending simple duty.

- D. Benning

An Oaken Arch

"An Oaken Arch" by Sherry Lynn

 

Tranquil!—
   Placid, peaceful, pleasant place:
Soft—
   Golden light and rimmed with lace.

Like cathedralic hallowed shrine,
   nature's room grants us access,
bids us gaze upon her love then dine,
   and feel her tender caress.

Feel the light which falls down without fears,
   Feel the air that hovers round,
Feel the thoughts that echo down through years—
   Light with mercy crowns the ground.

Where skies kiss trees with perfumed breeze,
   where sunlight falls resplendent;
An oaken arch gives way to March,
   and earth glides up transcendent!

- D. Benning