Snow Day, Lisa Hecmanczuk [best summer reads TXT] 📗

Snow Day

The world is made new by the fresh clean snow that falls from the sky;
Big soft flakes land in my hair, eyelashes, and against my lips;
I revel in the newness of the world, covered by a blanket of white soft snow;
Exhilaration fills my soul as I remember frolicking as a child in the mounds of white stuff;
A fresh year dawns as snowflakes fall steadily;
Life goes on and is made new;
Bulbs below the ground soak in the snow--
Will burst forth in the spring with the radiance of the sun;
I savor the day and give thanks to the Almighty who created it for us.



Pink Sky

Pink Sky
Layered with violet clouds
Light blue sky above the clouds
Pure, beautiful, desolate
No wind
The black limbs stand still, waiting
Waiting for the dawn of a new day
The end of the weight
The heaviness of the past being lifted
The heart that retreated, ready to burst open
Welcome in love, acceptance, warmth
Become willing to embrace a new life
The winter of my discontent receding


Nativity

Weakness, great power
Vulnerable, exalted
Humility, strength


Foggy Glasses

Foggy glasses blur my vision;
The trees are softened around the edges;
A gentle haze covers the winter landscape.
I walk on, my breath further clouding my sight until at last I pull down the scarf and the fog starts to lift.
Ever so gradually, my vision becomes clearer;
The black trees now contrast against the light gray winter sky;
The cold touches my nose;
I inhale the cold dry air and hurry home--
Back to my sanctuary.
The heat momentarily fogs my glasses, but soon they clear again.
I embrace my safe, warm world,
Yet fear still lingers just beyond my fingertips: Angst in my heart asks what is wrong.
I retreat to my room;
I close the door against the others.
Is it that long lost anger that I fear?
The voice that was silenced one crisp winter day as I lay in my crib napping?
I feared that yelling and waited for it to return. What had I done to quiet the voice?
What payment would be required of me to have silenced it?
I wait still for the return of it, never addressed at me, but rendering the household still and nervous. Everyone waiting for it to end and fearing what would come next.
Would he one day hit us or leave?
Would he abandon my mother and us, too overwhelmed to deal with it all?
He never came home that day;
I awoke, expecting to be pulled from the crib by my dad.
Instead, my sister lifted me up and hushed me.
What had I done to deserve this? What had we done? Surely, he would return soon--
I would wait.
Perhaps the anger would come first:
I would first hear him yell.
Then the silence, then he would hold me;
He would rock me and give me a cookie;
He would play and sing with me;
I would toddle to him and he would smile.
I would make his world okay again.
Just give me one more chance--
I would make his world okay.
He wouldn’t have to leave. He could stay.
I would help him when I got big.
I would be a good girl.
I wouldn’t cause trouble like the others;
It would be okay--he wouldn’t have to yell.
Mom wouldn’t have to tiptoe around;
I would fix it all if he just gave me the chance.



Jingle Bell Dog

Jingle pooch, jingle pooch, jingle pooch Kip
Jingle tags swing and harness does ring
Sniffing and pulling and bushels of fun
Now the jingle pooch has begun

Jingle pooch, jingle pooch, jingle pooch Kip
Jingle tags chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing and sniffing the air
With a doggy stare.

What a bright time, it’s the right time
To walk the pooch today
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go walking in the park I say
Giddy up jingle pooch don’t you go poo
Jingle around the park

Mix and mingle with the other dogs too
That’s the jingle pooch
That’s the jingle pooch
That’s the jingle pooch bark!



<<font;_bold>November

Leaves now brown and crisp
scurry along the sidewalk:
a thousand souls march
toward their final resting
place. The sun breaks through,
the wind continues to blow,
pushing us forward.
The trees having shed their leaves
now reveal new buds
to burst open in springtime
when the new leaves grow.


This Season's Look

Lime green, yellow, orange, pink and red line the runway:
The latest fall fashions on display;
A glimpse of each color peeks out:
Lime green is scanty, revealing long, graceful limbs,
Yellow is a full skirt, flaring out widely,
Pink is dainty and petite,
Red is voluptuous and full-figured,
The contrast is stunning, harmonious and rich,
As only the Grand Designer can envision it,
We can only humbly admire the fashion show of the season.


Decision

Couldn’t you just tell me what to do?
I hate this adult thing where I’m responsible,
Can’t I go back to leaning on you and blaming you
When it all went to hell
The joy and fun has passed and the dark clouds of guilt
Sit on the horizon, which guilt will be worse?
It’s up to me to choose,
Stay or go, go or stay, call or don’t call,
Scurry around or relax and pray,
God is challenging me,
Which action is trusting him?
Taking a step and going on the interview,
Staying in my cocoon of writing
Am I isolating more and more?
Or do I like to be alone and practice my craft?
Am I an irresponsible, selfish mother?
Am I setting an example of following your dreams?
Shall I go for it or run from it and
What am I going for or running from?
Won’t someone else decide?
I only have to decide to give it to God,
Then what?


God Provides

When I've lost my way and think God isn't listening,
God provides,
When I let go of trying to control,
God provides,
When I give up my plans and schemes,
God provides,
When I ask for help despite my fears,
God provides,
When I see no way out,
God provides,
When I surrender and listen,
God provides,
When I keep doing the next right thing,
God provides.


September Night

I regard the pink-orange sky as remnants of the sunset melt into the blackness of night
Crickets chirping in different rhythms and frequencies
The cool air caresses my ankles and chills my bare arms
I hasten my step around the track
Leaves on the trees reach out as if to grasp the last of summer
I leave the park and head home, the crickets chirp quieting
I see the big full moon glowing ahead, beckoning
The last weekend of summer fading away
The air is cooler; some leaves are crisp beneath my feet
I hurry home, memories of summer nights long ago, the race to get home before dark
The street lights are glowing orange as the darkness creeps in
Summer is ending, fall is coming, and change is here
I discover myself, my inner-beauty, my connection to God
As the trees prepare to turn orange, red, and brown
I embrace the cool air of autumn even as I long for the summer not to end.


Dandruff

Dandruff coming down
Not mine, but into my hair
Little bits of snow


Standing Up

You try to keep me down;
But I stand up,
You try to ignore me;
But I achieve
You pretend I’m not here;
But I breathe
You look at me with disgust;
Yet I smile
You invade my space;
Now I claim it,
You startle me with your anger;
Now I accept it,
Your anger you must now own;
I walk away
My fear no longer rules me;
God does
I will no longer be shut away;
I am myself,
I will let myself shine;
And God will lead me.

Text: Copyright 2010 Lisa Hecmanczuk
Publication Date: 01-10-2010

All Rights Reserved