Monday, October 7, 2013

Autumn Leaves




Autumn leaves, symbol of farewell
How is it, the heart laughs and grieves
Beneath the golden, glorious folding
Canopy of autumn leaves

Autumn leaves; but its returning
Trembles in the sky and sod
Where we plant and reap in yearning
‘Til we touch the arms of God

Autumn leaves fall; soundless, subtle
Weightless cups of memory
Scatter like life’s joy and trouble
Underneath the reaching tree

Autumn leaves; a silent journey
Stretching to winter’s unknown
Where the quadrille of life’s seasons
Draws us nearer to God’s throne

Autumn leaves; its crown of grandeur
Comforts our summer-grief
Autumn leaves in scarlet splendor
Autumn leaves in every leaf

© Janet Martin

I had a little 'cup of calm before the storm' this morning. 

5 days to wedding!


Garden Lullaby





The gardens are looking tired and sad and ready for bed...(after hearing the forecast on Saturday afternoon I realized we better quickly rescue what we can before dark!) I'm glad we did.

Go to sleep, dear garden
The leaf is in the sky
And every bloom has fallen
Into the by-and-by

Go to sleep, dear garden
May your repose be sweet
For soon your paths will beckon
To music of bare feet

Go to sleep, dear garden
Well-honest is your rest
You harbor hope and harvest
Beneath your umber crest

Slumber now, sweet garden
Where dreams and duty bled
You spilled your vibrant laughter
In green, orange, gold and red

So, go to sleep, dear garden
All tumbled and forlorn
Soon, soon you will awaken
To spring-time’s gladsome morn

© Janet Martin




In Kind Mercy...



 This morning the sky is dull and gray; a few days ago the sunrise held a cross in its colors.

He places, in kind mercy
Life’s moments to our reach
And in their joy and sorrow
They keen and prune and teach

How gracious is the Giver
Of moments; come what may
The darkness yields to morning
And the morrow to today

Grace gilds dawn’s virgin tresses
Lord, help us once again
To be kind, humble servants
Of these moments in our hand

© Janet Martin


Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 2 Sam. 7:18

Side-chuckle...Victoria read the verse as I typed it. 'who is hitherto? she asked.:)

Balancing Act




We should not cling too tightly
To the things that we hold dear
For at that faint and final breath
It all will disappear

We should not hold to loosely
Life’s gifts we have been given
But cherish them most wisely
Until the Gates of Heaven

© Janet Martin

Sunday, October 6, 2013

When Death Walks Closely By...




When death walks closely by
Or carries one away
We turn to touch more tenderly
Those little words we say
‘Good-morning’ and ‘good-night’
Are sweeter than before
Because ‘O Death’ walked closely by
Reminding us once more

© Janet Martin

A neighbor/husband/daddy was killed suddenly in a farm accident this past week…

'What you have; each other, never let a day pass without cherishing it'. From Larkrise to Candleford



Autumn Morning After Midnight Rain...





Midnight rain slumbers; a mantle on morn
Scarf of frothed jewels on frost-fingered corn
Summer sleeps somewhere beneath tumbled row
Of ghost-garden graveyards where sweet echoes blow

Whisper of wishes and worries subside
Soft is the raiment of midnight’s rain-tide
Seeping its sigh to the core of the soul
Willing our wants to a Higher Control

Ocean of moments are swept to the sky
Fallow and fortune, a wink of the eye
Here in the balance twixt morning and night
We join all nature in Time’s transient flight

Pendulums play out another swift hour
Autumn falls prey to its ethereal pow’r
But, in the still morning after midnight-rain
Mercy breathes courage to trust once again

© Janet Martin

Where Did the Summer Go?





Where did the summer go?
The highlight of each year
Is gathered in the silent flow
Of gold and scarlet tear

The green-leaf of fair June
Trembles upon the limb
Where blue wind strums a fading tune
In Nature’s farewell hymn

Where did the summer go?
Oh, coveted abyss
Of wave-washed shore, clover-plateau
And morning’s mellow kiss

She disappeared while we
Absorbed in her romance
Of floral and sun chivalry
Harboured Time’s onward dance

When did the summer leave?
How did she shield her grief?
She fell beneath the weeping tree
In every little leaf

© Janet Martin



Leaves in the Rain...





Leaves in the rain sing a lonesome refrain
Deep in the darkness when daylight is done
Pitter-oh-patter, a somnolent splatter
Weeping for loves ones and hours long-gone

Leaves in the sun gleam gold; medallions
Whispering, giggling in merry melee
But leaves in the rain strum a mournful-sweet strain
Carol akin to love’s fond memory

Leaves in the wind are like eager children
Chattering, chattering without a care
But leaves in the rain play a tender refrain
Rising and falling into the night air…

© Janet Martin


Hubby was called in to work this weekend leaving me with a wee bit of unexpected blogging time!It's foggy and rainy outside today.