I am so glad the questions are some that you can explore the invitations that the Spirit of God is opening up space for. Sometimes I think the noise all around our lives makes it hard to sit in stillness with questions like this. So happy they were helpful friend!
Thank you so much for sharing this, Sarah. I love it. Beautiful. My poems are always like this too—with lines crossed out, and retried. That's often why they stay in Notes, because I can't quite get a couple of the words right. They're finicky like that sometimes!
Thanks Jess 🥹 My kids are always saying little zingers that blow my mind. I'll be like, "Wait, what did you just say?" and they'll already be onto the next thing, like asking what is for supper or singing a little nursery rhyme, etc. as though they didn't just drop something profound.
What a wonderful idea, Deidre. I love that you mined your notes for all this gold. One of my favorite lines is the moon that is really snow in the sky. Seeing the world through our children's eyes is such a gift. You inspired me to check my notes app, and I found this fragment at the end of a long piece I had voice texted.
Oh my goodness. It was the cutest moment. This is what I love about poetry: because that poem made its way into my Notes app, it became ingrained in my mind and I can replay it, over and over again, in my imagination.
I love all of these poems here Deidre. This could be part of your next Poetry Chapbook “Notes from Life’s Margins”
OOOOOH what a fun idea!
“Questions on a rainy day”
What you look for in this world you will find and I hope that you find ways to look for the humanity in all people.
Where can your humanity be connected with others this next week?
What is filling you with unbelievable joy right now?
What has been life giving for you lately ?
Who would you even be if life didn’t have to be so hard ?
These questions feels like a personal, pocket-sized spiritual direction consultation, and I would like to stow them away for later use.
I am so glad the questions are some that you can explore the invitations that the Spirit of God is opening up space for. Sometimes I think the noise all around our lives makes it hard to sit in stillness with questions like this. So happy they were helpful friend!
"When Eve Snuck a Snack (some Haikus)"
Eve was notified
sneaking snacks is bad for us
but, alas, she munched
and Eden was lost
but who was responsible?
a blame chain happened
Mark, this made me smile the first time I read it, and it makes me chuckle now. And also—incredibly clever use of syllables!
The updated and enhanced version of "When Eve Snuck a Snack" is now posted on https://spiritwhispersbymarkstucky.substack.com/p/when-eve-snuck-a-snack.
I love it!
Nicely done Deidre, here is one of mine to share.
Fawn Season
.
Once a year – I ought more still
come see these boyhood-wandered hills
eyes were open, ears to hear,
pheasant, squirrel, cougar, deer.
.
I wander hills and streets of town
alert to every movement, sound.
Practice unveils the form that's hidden
eyes and ears meet unbidden
.
Not in forest undergrowth –– there on someone's lawn!
eyes, ears, spots –– plain-sight hiding newborn fawn.
Yet here I'm told it's not so rare
for deer to wander back porch stairs.
.
Once a year – I ought more still
wander here at last until
eyes can't see and ears don't hear
cougar, squirrel, pheasant, deer.
Wow, this is beautiful. It is a full-blown poem—certainly more than worthy of being liberated from the Notes app! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Thank you. This was about my hometown in Oregon.
You are precious, Deidre. I love your brain so much; thank you for letting us peek inside.
Here’s a little thing I found in my notebook:
The Art Exhibit
I cried not for the
magnificence but because
you gave us your time.
I have several crossings out for the last line — you gave of your time, you sacrificed time, you gave us your heart… 🤔
Thank you so much for sharing this, Sarah. I love it. Beautiful. My poems are always like this too—with lines crossed out, and retried. That's often why they stay in Notes, because I can't quite get a couple of the words right. They're finicky like that sometimes!
MAN, this is stunning! I love the My Baby Says one! I would not be sad if you shared the darlings again when you have more...
Thanks Jess 🥹 My kids are always saying little zingers that blow my mind. I'll be like, "Wait, what did you just say?" and they'll already be onto the next thing, like asking what is for supper or singing a little nursery rhyme, etc. as though they didn't just drop something profound.
I really loved that one too; so succinct, so powerful!
You have inspired me to set free my ponderings that are living a shadowed existence in my notes app!! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Oh, YAY. I love to hear it. Let them into the light of day!
I rediscovered a phrase I wrote for my tombstone: “Arrived curious, left Inspired.”
Wow, good one!
Here the bird sings louder
than the riot of society, ... Yes. Love this
A haiku from mine 🤍
insignificant
one pebble dropped in a lake
still ripples forth change
Gorgeous.
What a wonderful idea, Deidre. I love that you mined your notes for all this gold. One of my favorite lines is the moon that is really snow in the sky. Seeing the world through our children's eyes is such a gift. You inspired me to check my notes app, and I found this fragment at the end of a long piece I had voice texted.
Last night as I was reading in bed
an owl hooted
so close to my head, he must
have been in the river birch
which bends low
over the east side
of our house.
I wished him happy hunting
and turned the page
to hunt
for my own food.
Ohhhh I can see and hear and feel this momently perfectly. How lovely. Thank you for sharing this gold from YOUR notes!
"In a Crowded Airport" is SO CUTE!
Oh my goodness. It was the cutest moment. This is what I love about poetry: because that poem made its way into my Notes app, it became ingrained in my mind and I can replay it, over and over again, in my imagination.
These are worth saving.
Thanks, Rachael 🫶🏻
I love your poetry, Deidre. It inspires me to sharpen those pencils again.
Thank you Susan. You KNOW I love everything that you write. I would love to hear some poetry from you at our next writing night.
Lovely.
Thank you, fellow poet