Poetry Needs a Hand

Based on a Ruth Forman poem

Poetry needs a hand

When it trips and stumbles

Up the set of stairs,

Papers floating down, down, down

While people stroll by,

Too absorbed with

Their iPods and cell phones

Too notice what is

Really around them.

Poetry needs a hand

When it sits at a

Table with piles of things;

Lists, books, binders and papers,

Swallowing everything,

And if only there were

A hand to bring some relief.

Poetry, lend a hand

To the mother who raises

Three kids and works two jobs.

To the young man,

Struggling to see

Why things are the way they are.

To help the world know

That we are a society

Of change. Change that

Brings forth the good

No matter what.

Rain-clad

The heavens opened and rain poured forth

My soul jumping like a young child

Come, come and play

We run and run until our bodies are soaked

Clothes

Skin

Hair

Soul

And the sky burns a wondrous flame

As the gray matter clouds begin to leave

And I am content with this rain-clad evening.

An Idea of Faith

I run toward you in pain

Searching for something to ease this hurt,

This frustration,

This disbelief,

This doubt.

This doubt in you as to why things are the way they are.

Why aren’t they fixed?

Why is nothing happening?

Why does the world seem so static?

So unready to change and renew,

To give new life to those who need it,

Desire it,

Seek it,

Welcome it.

This world is an evil place

Marked by evil things and evil deeds.

And while I struggle to see the good that is ever present,

This is where I find my faith,

My hope,

My love.

For I know that in my doubt there exists belief;

A belief that tells me that all will be well,

That in time, I will see light and understand just what is in store.

That I don’t need to totally understand to welcome the truth.

That all I need to know is you.

That although this doubt exists, my belief will always win.

Change

When I was 14

I had a best friend

With long brown hair and freckles

And a laugh that could make anyone smile.

Now I’m 17 with a

Best friend with brown hair,

Freckles, an infectious laugh,

But they’re different people.

Oh, how the world changes.

Nostalgia/Closure

Pain

Heartbreak

Anxiety

Fear

I wait for the day to come when I will no longer call this place home

Time seems to move faster as we grow older

There is so little time left

The devotion forges connections that hurt to break

But time brings change

Change brings new life and a new point of view

I can’t wait for the day when I will go out and make a new place home

Delight

Rebirth

Anxiousness

Excitement

The Chase

An assemblage of phrases poem

Life is hard, then you die

but don’t give up,

   don’t surrender.

shake it out

         go for it

             just add water

Like old friends

         never fade,

         ever since we met

I’ve been in the pursuit of happiness

and I’m loving it.

Don’t regret,

              it’s always darkest before the dawn

How poetic. How pathetic.

I heard your heart beating

to its own beat;

fragile, handle with care.

Lay me down,

this side up.

                                  What the water gave me:

a deep breath,

a great value,

    a change of pace.

Pain is inevitable

                                 faith is trusting for everything

                                 hope is trusting for the future

                               love is forever.