Maude Reading 4 Poems

Maude Reading "Sky Dancers"

and Other Poems

Maude Carolan Pych

SKY DANCERS

There's something happy about butterflies.

They flit-flitter as they flutter by,

flying flowers against the azure sky.

They alight upon the milkweed, and then

they circle, soar and alight again,

toe-dancing on pink petals in the glen.

Ever dwelling in hue and sweet fragrance,

in garden splendor they flicker as they dance.

Pollination is purely happen-stance.

I delight in their overflow of joy.

(They wouldn't even know how to be coy.)

A flame of mirth! A whirligig! A toy!

Do they recall they once were grubby worms,

remember well their dark and squiggly squirms?

Reborn, now grace and beauty each affirms!

This almost seems to be sheer fantasy,

sky dancers as enchanting as can be,

springing from blossoms right in front of me!

So, merrily a-nectaring they go,

reaping and sowing sweetness in day-glow…

Seems they have learned what all of us should know.

In contemplation of their simple ways,

I wish to add their ballet to my days,

to sky dance Heavenward on wings of praise!

Maude Carolan Pych

The three other poems included in the video are:
Symphony of the Woods
Women Weep
Hallelujah Hands

There's Power in Prayer

Photo Credit: fggam.org

WILL I LOVE ENOUGH TO PRAY?

Someone told me you’ve been ailing,

that the medication’s failing

to bring the healing that you seek.

You are scared and you’ve been crying,

you’re afraid that you are dying

and the faith you have is so weak.

I can tell you I sympathize,

even attempt to be quite wise,

cajole you and go on my way,

but the question of the hour

is will I turn my heel and cower

or will I love enough to pray?

A young man has just been sharing

that his wife is overbearing

and he can’t take it anymore.

He said he met a gal somewhere

and they are having an affair,

tossing his vows right out the door!

I may advise him to be strong,

say infidelity is wrong,

bring in a counselor today;

but the question that I ponder

is will I just weep and wonder,

or will I love enough to pray?

A close friend has been criticized

by a neighbor she despises.

Getting even is what she yearns.

She says she hates her in heart,

of forgiveness she’ll have no part.

Oh, how her words of anger burn!

I can attempt to intervene,

may even be the go-between,

tell them there is a better way.

I might speak of sin and leaven,

bellow, "Seventy times seven!"

but will I love enough to pray?

When a situation’s stormy,

I can seek Thee or ignore Thee,

use worldly wisdom come what may...

Though advice may have some merit,

I must look up, not to blur it;

mindful, there is a higher way.

Some will look at me quite oddly,

still, I must try something Godly…

I'll do it…love enough to pray!

Maude Carolan

"He Keeps the Joy Going"

“HE KEEPS THE JOY GOING”^[1]

Six stone jars

stood tall like soldiers

for ceremonial cleansing

of the outer man.

It was the third day

of wedding jubilation

at Cana in the Galilee,

and the last drop

of the wine of joy

had been poured.

Guests would soon

have begun wandering off

with parched tongues

and clipped gladness,

had not Miriam perceived

that her Son could save the day,

could keep the grape flowing,

could keep the joy going.

He told the servants

to fill the vessels

with water

and draw a cupful

for the master of the banquet.

Upon sampling,

the delighted master

proclaimed to the bridegroom,

“The choicest wine

has been saved until last!”

They clinked their goblets.

Celebration resumed.

He who came

to heal the sick,

raise the dead,

set the captives free,

first

gave New purpose

to stone jars of the Old,

a mere foretaste

of a Covenant

brimming

with gladness.

Maude Carolan

---

[1] This is a quotation by Jonathan Cahn, pastor of Beth Israel Messianic Center, then located in Garfield, NJ, during his message about the wedding at Cana, from the Gospel of John, chapter two. Beth Israel is now located in Wayne, NJ.

Praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem

Photo credit: smith.edu

BURIAL OF THE PRAYERS

Israel Pilgrimage—2006

We fold bits of paper

on which are written

our secrets before God

our yearnings

the deepest desires

of our hearts

and tuck them

in crevices of the stones

of the Western Wall

We lay hands

upon the cool stones

and pray earnestly

where others have prayed

their prayers

over the years

The woman next to me

is sobbing, clenching

a slip of paper

in her hand

clearly demonstrating

why some call this

the Wailing Wall

The wind blows

some of the papers

out of the crevices

They sail through the air

and skitter and scatter

along the ground

I ask Etay, our guide

what becomes of them—

He says they are swept up

and placed into bags

then they are buried

…with respect

Maude Carolan Pych

Photo credit: epperlytravel.com

Statue of Liberty Renovation, 1984

I'd like you to meet my Uncle Fred...

Frederick L. Harris, master crane operator

THE TORCH

Each of us has a moment of fame to shine as the star of the show;

a time to behold our very name setting the marquee lights aglow!

It is likely the day fore or aft is spent with the mainstream, obscure,

but for one golden instant we waft in glory no man can ignore!

 It was like that when our dear Uncle Fred (a rank and file kind of guy)

who worked hard for butter and bread, at once was thrust in the public eye.

He operated a long-necked crane (master of operation, he was)

the day of his notable reign, when folks around bestowed a great fuss.

The old torch he deftly brought down, Nineteen Eighty Four, Fourth of July,

from Miss Liberty, donned in her gown, as the nation stood looking by.

The Lady needed restoration, a new torch to lift in her hand.

It evoked a huge celebration, including a full-dress brass band!

Papers carried Uncle Fred's photo, he was on the News on TV…

Suddenly a star of the nation! The pride of our whole family!!!

Aunt Carol was phoned by reporters, seeking facts about her lime-lit spouse.

Said she resented his orders to work on the Fourth, which kept her in-house!

Said she'd rather gone on a picnic or watched the neighborhood parade

or seen the current pick-flick, unaware history was being made

by her modest, hard-working spouse. Of course, when at last she understood,

and realized that this honor was great, she burst pride-buttons as one would.

Our family still gets to snicker about our aunt when Uncle Fred ran the crane

and each year as fireworks flicker, we salute his great day of fame!

Maude Carolan

Happy 4th of July, 2016!