Trees
How any poem is created is a mystery to me. How concrete (shape) poems like the three below happen is an even greater mystery. I had nothing in my mind. Then bam! a shape. Why one shape shows up and not another is God stuff. Why one word, the heart of the poem, dominates the entire poem is God stuff, too. But hey, it’s Christmas! My little gifts to you.
“A Giving Tree,” the second poem below, has roots as well as the first and third. It came after seeing a tree on the highway. Imagine someone troubling themselves to set up and climb up a ladder and put colorful balls on a tree for passersby! Inexplicable. The tree has a kind of nobility, stoically cheerful, a dramatic uplift, whittled down to a pole with notches. Hey, it’s Christmas! And it’s certainly worthy of a little poem.
Poetry is the emotional history of the world. Maybe one of these concrete poems will touch your heart. Hey, it’s Christmas! And I’m feeling it!
Friday, First Day of Winter, 2018
“Waiting Mode”
I
am
in the
waiting mode
for baby Jesus, star,
angels, light, a sweet piney smell
that takes me over after the shortest day
of the year---when the darkest night comes to an
end
Saturday, December 22, 2018
“A Giving Tree”
Like a soldier
at attention,
the scraggly
cedar tree
with notches
stands
humble,
noble
and willing
to hold
a sign
and
ornaments
of love,
hope, and joy
for children
of all ages.
Never
does the tree
reject
or look
the other
way.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
“Prayer of Expectation”
Dear Jesus,
Thank you
for how
You
changed
my life.
You hung on a tree, and I am not the same.
May God’s will be done. I give up this day
and pray for physical and emotional bread.
Thank you for the gift of salvation.
I ask for
adequate
income
for every
household.
Forgive me
of my sins
like I
forgive
other
brothers
and sisters.
I pray
all this
in the
name of
Jesus.
Merry Christmas,
Pat Durmon
P.S. Thank you for sharing my life, my blog, and comments.
Photo of the Giving Tree on Hwy 201 was taken by Rebecca Bland, December 19, 2018.