Rising, with the mist
Sunrise, how I’ve missed
Brilliant light, so alive
Morning song will survive
Birds fly across the skies
Muffled, breathless sighs
Reasons for warmth of dawn
Erasing shadows from the lawn
Oh, laughing sun, rising bright
Rescuing hearts from the night
It’s Sunday morning, this day
Will surely offer a chance to pray
For the joy, peace and love
That comes to us from God above
Always faithful, like the sun
Showing us that we’ve just begun
To see the wonders of our life
And feel the love healing strife
We’re surely given each new day
To lift our hands, praise and say
God is blessing our souls with grace
No matter how powerful the dark we face
Always, morning comes to reveal
God’s new hope our hearts can’t conceal
He is the Master who created all
Thanks to His gift, His gentle call
We know, this Sunday, as we pray
We’re full of thanks every Lord’s Day!
Line of inquiry:
“Neither desire nor aversion
Meditation our immersion
Conditioned beliefs discarded
Hymns we hum are our own version”
A child I was, when Nuns taught me in school;
so God was with me from an early age.
The catechism shaped for me each rule-
my soul's foundation at this tender stage,
to help unlock a door I would engage.
My reading about God was not the key-
but seeing what He is- enlightened me.
That feeling that He's near in all I do,
the balances of nature, my guarantee-
internal hymns of love, faith, hope, accrue.
I sing the hymn of Love through family,
and feel God's care is echoed from each heart.
I sing the Hymn of Faith, a tapestry
of sunset glow that leads to a fresh start,
and sing my Hymn of Hope on new day's chart.
Love, Faith, and Hope are His Amazing Grace-
my heart and soul, with God there, interface.
To show His love,
Our God did send,
His one and only Son,
To save from sin,
We mortals hear, that,
"This is not the end."
Yes, We offend,
Our God above,
Yes, we were born in sin.
Please, God forgive,
We’ll make amends, since,
"This is not the end."
We travel through,
This life we wend,
With Son of Man as Friend.
We have no fear,
Since He is near, knowing,
“This is not the end.”
And we have learned,
Faith, Hope and Love,
Of all our fellow men,
Must be secured,
On these Life depends, for,
“This is not the end.”
This life on earth,
With such few years,
Know death it will attend.
Yet we have Faith,
And Hope is dear, that,
"This is not the end."
And when the veil,
On life descends,
And closes out our case,
We'll know for sure,
That Truth endured, and,
"It was not the end."
* * *
Darrell Simmerman © 2025
New Born
By Frank Daub
Putting up the wash – Again
one wooden clothes pin gripped
tightly
in her lips. On toe-tips; blonde hair wind-whipped
dangling in her eyes.
The sun an apricot surprise
on the back of her legs.
All busy hanging clothes
and
Watching in the yard to see the baby lulling in the doze
Of May.
My perennial loving Guard.
In proportion to His love,
Is the decadence displayed
In the place He has prepared
For you one glorious day.
John 14:2 - "There is a special room in my house
Prepared just for you."
Step families are a tricky proposition. But with love, compassion and kindness, we can overcome challenges.
Family dynamics can keep evolving
By Michelle Morris
30/08/2026
I love your father
And he's the love of my life
I may not be your mother
But I love you like you're mine
I am going to love you
No matter how you feel
No matter what you say or do
My emotions are deep and real
Like soft petals that touch your cheek
Like sunshine on calm waters clear
Like soft puppies and kittens cute
Like the memories we hold dear
In this life we don't always choose
The family that joins our home
But we can make the best of it
Be kindness and respect in tone
On this journey filled with surprises
Like a roller coaster that keeps us thrilled
Family dynamics can keep evolving
Blessings and grace and goodwill
So, I will love your father
And embrace you as my own
Because we are one clan united
Love and happiness our home
© Michelle Morris, 2026
The day she decides she’s done,
Wasting her best years in fear,
Cowering in filth and shadows,
Her pet cockroaches near,
Who can’t face me in the light,
And scurry from the sight,
If not too tainted then,
By their black-fingered blight,
She may assume her place,
Beside me in spite,
Of a once-roach being sprayed,
And my Queen’s appetite,
Will never be spoiled again,
By these putrid insects,
Ever scavenging and stealing,
Like a cancer that infects,
Where she finally feels the kiss,
On her face so inspiring,
As sun enlightens her,
Without her scurrying, but smiling.
Write my story, in rhymes and prayers
Light of joy, in the skies, quiet tears
Praise in colors of laughter, sincere hope
Ways of a spirit who knows how to cope
Tell the world about this love that grows
Smell the roses, where faith surely knows
Rains of the autumn rest on those who see
Pains are erased by love when I fall to my knee
If you love me, tell me now.
Actions speak louder than words,
Especially when I wear my heart like a crown.
You’re my choice of drug—
Addictive.
Mentally, physically, and emotionally.
You’re the queen of my heart,
No crown needed.
Till death do us part,
But death will be beneath us.
Nothing will ever come between us.
Eyes blue like the Atlantic,
So deep I get lost in them.
My lips on your skin—
What a heavenly taste.
You’re all I desire;
You can call it a sin.
You’re mine, forever and always.
Pull me closer.
I’m in your arms, my love.
All my worries fade away,
Like a cloud on a sunny day.
You’re perfection.
You’re my peace in every storm.
Even on the darkest days,
Your smile still shines through.
Just me and you.
Love is based upon changes we experience in our lives
Only to realise that it our memories remain to ponders
Vulnerability exists between the sparks and the flames
Each day we thrive to hold onto the memories we held
For us to believe in love power is to look for that spark
Leaving it behind what was consumed to be renewed
A spark will ignite a flame though that flame consume
Must be willing to burn in the embers of what will be
Everyday it has to be it own spark igniting a new flame
I heard a poem on immigration. It was a desperate plea for stopping the insanity that has taken place over our world and country. That a leader of our country would allow harm to come to our immigrants. Who once came to the Americas to gain promise. To build up a country that needed support. A country where one could thrive and grow from tyranny. That someone would send backward to life's death. How could we as Americans, all immigrants, allow this? I am writing thoughts to express; how deeply disappointed, I have become. in my eighty-two years I never thought this could happen here, and yet it has.
Can't we all come together to pray to stop the insanity? Can we not look for a brighter future as immigranits. Building up, sharing and caring for one another. Can we not talk among ourselves to make the great change to what this country once was? Is the dream over?
In my arms you gently smile,
My world blossoms with hope.
Your tiny eyes shine brightly,
May tomorrow welcome your dreams.
My heart overflows with pride.
Your little footsteps inspire hope,
Every smile brings endless joy.
Wisdom always walks beside you,
Kindness becomes your true jewel.
Compassion fills your gentle heart.
Face the world with courage,
Truth becomes your faithful guide.
Honesty shapes your every step.
Win hearts through humble love.
Humanity walks beside your soul.
Mother's love gives you strength,
Father's dreams become your wings.
Every failure teaches wisdom.
Every victory teaches humility.
May your life spread bright light.
Your smile is my treasure,
Your happiness is my breath.
Become an inspiration to many.
I will support every dream.
Forever, your loving father.
A room, stilled in silent contrition, steeped in repentance.
Freshly dressed Roses at tables end.
Flowers die too; he confesses!
No more will he discern her voice
nor caress the gentle source of her existence.
Slumbered back against the cathedra he
decries the mellow cherub of the cardinal
perched aside his window.
A message?
As he dreams a tormented reflection of his past,
a tear pearls gently down as memories play
Silently in his pain.
He repines only now that; " if only he had been a better man". Hoping in chance that she may forgive.
Cease this pain to not sustain beyond his wish for a moments exchange!
His dream delayed. For his bride of many a year appears, waking him from his mare. In somber refrain he delights. Its you my love!
Never waste a moment to tell her.
When Fragile Blossoms Fall,
Gentle winds stir the leaves and summer calls
Now, when morning dew settles on the lawn.
We meet again, when fragile blossoms fall,
From this; a promise of a future drawn.
On your return, hope in new seasons cast
When the blackbird’s song breaks the silent dawn
And the long winter of your absence passed,
From your loss, this new summer’s promise born.
If your stay be shorter than a winter’s day,
And the slow passing hours no comfort give,
Leave, let me in memory’s cavern’s stay
And forlorn hope in deep labyrinths live.
Stay; let old fading memory depart,
Let bright hope then in future seasons start.
Barry Stebbings
July 2026
Then if, after my death,
The world is still as cruel,
Stand on my grave with two feet,
And if a flower were to grow,
Next to my stone,
Step one foot out,
And look upon your peers,
And if you see sadness,
Take the flower from my grave,
And bring it to a stranger,
And if you bring upon that stranger, happiness,
Step the other foot out,
But if the stranger were to walk away,
Pluck the petals, and place them on the soil;
Then if, after my death,
The world is still as cruel,
Stand on my grave with two feet,
And if a hummingbird, lands on my stone,
Take the seeds of a fruit,
And place your hand out,
And if the bird eats from your hand,
Step one foot out,
But if the bird rejects the seeds,
Take them and plant them,
For the hungry can eat them,
Then the world could be made less cruel;
Then if, after my death,
The world is still as cruel,
Stand on my grave with two feet,
But know as you live on,
That each small kind gesture,
Every flower given,
And every seed sown,
Has left a soft imprint on the earth,
For the world may not change,
But our small gestures linger,
And our hopes stay alive,
To pave a kinder path for those to follow.
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