I eagerly prepared to start
but where I wondered was the end?
Predictions failed. Beyond each bend
lay proof that I was not so smart.
My beating heart got torn apart.
There is, I’ve heard, a promised land
somewhere where I’m not looking and
the way is not that hard to find.
If pride would pause, I’d change my mind
and let you take me by the hand.
Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “start” for this week’s décima challenge to be used in the A line with rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.
Melting ice and blossoms show
that there’s a coming spring.
Faith will lead us. Where we go
may we give praise and sing.
Dave offers the prompt “first hints of spring” for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge.
The men’s group I participate in will study the Book of Jude three weeks from now. So I need to prepare and I wonder if any of you have recommendations that you’ve found helpful.
After reading various translations of this short letter, I sought David Pawson’s perspective. I’ve found his Unlocking the Bible series to be helpful in the past. So I listened to the following lecture again.
Pawson noted that Jude referenced the very long Book of Enoch which is not part of either the Catholic or Protestant canon. Although I will try skimming some of that, I am aware that I might be staring at the entrance of a large rabbit hole. I have Alice’s curiosity, but I pray that I don’t lack the gift of discernment.
The rising of the morning’s jewel, the sun,
wakes me up today.
Reborn I walk by grace
following the way.
Eugenia offers the word “jewels” for this week’s prompt.
The syllable count (10,5,6,5) for this poem comes from a form created by Myrna Migala to imitate the pattern found in the name Yahweh (yod -10, yeh-5, vav-6, hey-5) and a similar pattern found in DNA. Since the letter ה was used twice I added the rhyme pattern ABCB.
I just found out that RevivedWriter has provided another example of this stanza form in her poem “Staunch Support”.
My story started when my will
decided it would have its way.
A pleasure boat I bought that day.
I fixed it up with dreams until
I felt my future fatten, fill.
Then came more sin. Then came more fear.
The promised shores did not appear.
I struggled, fought against the knot
that held me sinking with my yacht.
It’s only by God’s grace I’m here.
Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “knot” to be used in the D line of a décima for this week’s Décima Poetry Challenge with rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.
This wasn’t Timothy’s first rodeo, but the corruption went deeper than he suspected. The interrogations after the fall of Headquarters led to the whereabouts of additional missing people, mostly children, more than he had anticipated.
“Do you think we’ve found all of them?” Helen asked.
Helen first met Timothy when she was investigating the kidnapping of his own daughter a decade earlier. She remembered him telling her during their month-long search that his prayers left him convinced that his daughter had always been in stronger arms than his own even before they found the body.
As to whether they located all of the victims, Timothy said, “I hope there will never be any more.”
Denise offers the prompt word “rodeo” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Story. This story continues from Kaleidoscope – Six Sentence Story. Next part is Theory – Six Sentence Story.
One photo looks a tad too odd.
The other one does too.
To compensate I’ll make both small
and hope that that will do.
Dale offers the theme of “solid, liquid and gas” admitting this encompasses just about anything for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge.
I first heard this song on a post by Geri Ungurean. I like the deep sound of their voices as well as the message.
I am also grateful to Geri Ungurean for suggesting Brave browser with the Duck Duck Go search extension as an alternative to Google’s Chrome and search engine. The goal is to allow open searches and cut down on tracking and ads.
I installed Brave, took the option to let Brave copy over my bookmarks from Chrome and then searched for Duck Duck Go from the Brave browser where I found a link to install it as an extension.
I did some other tweaks to the home page like disabling fake news feeds. So far things are working all right. I am also looking at the Opera browser now that I’m in the mood to try new software.
Wealth or wits aren’t what it takes
to stop that giant, curse and all.
God alone transcends and shakes:
One river stone, one sling, one fall.
Eugenia offers “champion” for this week’s prompt. I am thinking of 1 Samuel 17.
Helen laughed when she heard Headquarters claimed Bill was killed in the raid. “They don’t even know who Bill is,” she said. “The agents we arrested in that kaleidoscope of tunnels made plea bargains before Headquarters heard anything of it.”
“I wonder when the rats will start running.” Timothy added, “I hope they think it’s safe to implement the spider protocol.”
An hour later Helen smiled, “We got them!”
Denise offers the word “kaleidoscope” for this week’s Six Sentence Story. This story continues from Plow – Six Sentence Story. The next part is Rodeo – Six Sentence Story.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 