Tag Archives: love

the Rocking Chair

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Someone told the story about their grandfather’s love for his wife. She passed first from this deadly virus. He passed a few months later from heartbreak. I was so moved and it prompted me to write this poem as a memorial. God bless their souls and may their memories be a blessing. As of today 216,000 people are dead. More than 25,000 more can potentially die if the deaths continue at the rate of 1000 deaths daily by election day. Please vote!

It sits there waiting for him to come back,

He who loved it best

will never return to it again,

to share his joys

in silence, and sometimes

whisper his long held secrets.

Like how he should have let her win the argument

she was so passionate about.

Like how he ate the tofu but he really hated it.

He gave that rocking chair a special purpose.

It rocked him to sleep when he missed her the most,

and could not bare to sleep in the bed they shared for so many years.

It tolerated his snoring when she could not.

It did not complain when he packed his three grandchildren on to it.

He loved their hugs and kisses so much.

The rocking chair brought him peace.

He loved its attention;

and often was the sole witness

as he smiled

when his dreams were the sweet dreams

that brought her back to him.

Rumi’s Poetry

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More simply known as Rumi, his poetry was mostly written in Persian but popularized in many languages including English. I recently read The Love Poems of Rumi published in the United States in 2015. This collection was translated by world-renowned Iranian-American architect Nader Khalili, who was also an author and humanitarian and teacher.

Before then I had come across some of his poems and quotes which impressed me greatly. The love poems connect expressions of deep emotion to the very soul of the poet. Rumi’s full name is Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī  which is a mouth full but I was intrigued why Rumi is most popular. Rumi’s birthday is commemorated on September 30.

Here is one of his poems from the collection:

Come Let’s Speak

Come let’s speak

of our souls

let’s even hide from

our ears and eyes

like a rose garden

always keep a smile

like imagination

talk without a sound

like the spirit

reigning the world

telling the secrets

uttering no word

let’s get away from

all the clever humans

who put words in our mouth

let’s only say what our hearts desire

even our hands and feet

sense every inner move

let’s keep silence

but make our hearts move

the mystery of destiny

know the life of

speck after speck of dust

let’s tell our story

as particle of dust

Also My Prayer for today

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These two great singers are among my very favorite singers. Listen and read the lyrics. They always bring me peace.

 

I pray you’ll be our eyes,
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise,
In times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer,
When we lose our way
Lead us to a place,
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe

La luce che tu dai (the light that you give)
I pray we’ll find your light
Nel cuore resterà (In my heart it will remain)
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarci che (To remind us that)
When stars go out each night
L’eterna stella sei (You are the eternal star)
Nella mia preghiera (In my prayers)
Let this be our prayer
Quanta fede c’è (How much faith there is)
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

Sognamo un mondo senza più violenza (We dream of a world with no more violence)
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza (A world of justice and hope)
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino (Everyone lends a hand to their neighbour)
Simbolo di pace e di fraternità (A symbol of peace and fraternity)

La forza che ci dai (The strength you give us)
We ask that life be kind
È il desiderio che (And the desire that)
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amor (Everyone will find love)
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro a sè (Around and inside themselves)
Another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child

Need to find a place,
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
E la fede che (And the faith that)
Hai acceso in noi (You have ignited within us)
Sento che ci salverá (I feel that it will save all of us)

The Prayer

 

How many more?

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Today I learned about two deaths in the family. One, was taken by the virus we are all fearing these day and the other passed in an accident.

She was full of the kind of ganas that few people have for life and living. I do not think I ever saw her without a wide and beautiful contagious smile. She survived cancer twice and those scares gave her the courageous to take on this deadly virus called COVID 19. She fought it as long as she could and passed away all alone. This is the first close up and personal case I have heard of among friends and family members.

I been thinking a lot about the AFTERLIFE and what is is that happens when we leave this dimension. I have been thinking of the family members who have passed on, some for decades now. I think about these things not to be morbid or obsessive but because I suppose numbers matter and as of yesterday 138.000 souls are somewhere on another plane. Some not able to say goodbye to their loved ones.

So I did what I always do I write to alleviate the pain and to help me cope with the reality we are all facing this year. We will all know someone who knew someone with COVID and who lost the fight. It is worse when the person is someone in the family.

The other family member was younger, full of dreams. A former military man returning from a final tour. He had just relocated and was looking forward to a new job. His mother visited him this week to help him get organized and all moved into his new house. He went out to get take out and five minutes later he was killed instantly in a vehicle accident. A drunk driver impacted his motorcycle.

Two people died two days apart. One never imagined what destiny had planned. The other although on a ventilator hoped she would make it. But once again hope and praying just did not seem to be enough.

Here is my poem to help family deal with these horrible events. if you have been coping with a similar situation please share your thoughts. I always love to get your feedback. Please stay safe.

How Many More?

A rhetorical question, maybe.

Sadness stared me right in the face last night.

I could feel the heartache and pain from far away.

Grief and sorrow walked down two different paths;

Each taking a loved one to a place where forever is a stay.

Sorrow never stands alone.

Woe wails loud and clear,

when sadness comes with the loss of someone dear.

Grief pierces our hearts and I wonder if it even cares.

We can only hope that death is not proud of what it does.

How many more?

Only God knows.

In the meantime, let us remember them all

and pray that their memories are blessings.

Always Remembered

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I salute all those who served our country today. I am grateful for their sacrifice. I hope that as we celebrate today we remember that there are many others who sacrifice daily to keep us safe. God Bless America!

I remember our adventures

when we crossed the river

and slipped on the moss covered rocks

we laughed because one of us would always loose our shoe.

I remember how we loved to go to the Saturday matinee

and watch three movies for fifty cents – our whole allowance.

I was only two years older than you

yet I was your aunt as chance would have it.

But you called me sis.

I remember your love for nature.

I remember how you always picked buttercups and made a small bouquet

and bring it back to surprise your mom.

I remember how happy it made you to play your guitar.

I remember your contagious smile and fabulous chuckle.

I remember the day you decided to join the army;

your mom and I were terrified.

I remember listening to radio that dreadful day;

It was Memorial Day morning.

TAPS was played and then America the Beautiful.

My heart stopped beating for a second as it always did when I feared

something horrible would happen to you.

I tried switching the fear gears in my brain.

Two days later we got the news.

You had passed.

Forty-three years ago I could not believe what had happened

and it is still hard for me to believe it is true.

It was not supposed to happen;

I prayed so much.

Now I pray I never forget your face.

I wonder how it would have been if you were here.

All I know is that somehow I can still hear

your hearty chuckle

and see your beautiful smile.

Rest in Peace my dear Nephew.

You are always remembered

even when it is not Memorial Day!

Sonnet 116 – Shakespeare

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Let me not to the marriage of true minds

	Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

	Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

	That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

	Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

	Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

	But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

	I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
Image by Sierra Maciorowski from Pixabay

A Picture Says It All

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Drawing by Melba Christie (c) 2020

Remember

No matter where you are on this great planet

No matter what language you speak

The symbol above is quite universal

Our hearts all beat the same

Take a minute and listen to your heart beating

It may sound a little louder, A little bolder

because our hearts are beating in unison

more than ever.

God bless you all.

A Deep Thought

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I tried to unwrap a deep thought;

The kind that yells at you silently,

abruptly and honestly.

I wondered about all that is happening right now.

I explored all the what if questions.

They scared me at first.

Reality stepped up

and asked me a few questions

I could not dismiss.

Questions I knew I could not answer.

But, they opened my heart.

I know he is a human being,

not perfect by any measure. No one is perfect.

Then I wondered about this unique individual,

the self-proclaimed chosen one.

Does he sit alone somewhere and worry about life?

Does he cry in silence?

Who is it that really loves him?

Does he get scared?

When he is alone with only his conscience

does he forgive himself for the outrageous,

unbelievable, untruthful things he says.

My heart opened.

He is human.

I remembered scripture:

Hebrews 10:17

Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”

I must believe that our humanity will prevail.

I must believe that this too shall pass.

I must believe that we are indeed all one.

We are all human;

We are one.

May God bless America.

Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay

On Happiness – By Melba Christie

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“Ever since happiness heard your name

it has been running through the streets

trying to find you.” -Unknown

Happiness finds us

when we are not looking.

Our hearts speak softly

when it wants us to listen,

to let you know

about your uniqueness,

and the wonderful things

only you can see,

feel and know.

Happiness will find you

when it does

Open the journal

in your heart

and engrave

the precious day.

Image by Pezibear from Pixabay

Words I love

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These are some of the words I truly love:

There’s gorgeous, grandiose, and green

then there’s soothe, silly, and savvy

and of course, omnipotent, and magnanimous

along with mini and mania,

but best of all are verbs

like kiss, kissing, and kissed.

These words I will forever miss.

Floating Kisses

What are your favorite words?

All Rights Reserved (c) 2000

Passwords

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“In the arts, as in life, everything is possible provided it is based on love.” 
              -Marc Chagall

I wish I had the password

to access pure love and peace.

The one to help us to release

tensions and frustrations,

biases, and even hate.

It would prohibit foul verbalization

vulgarization, and dehumanization

just because we have free speech.

You may characterize my wish

as utopian and or even naive.

My wish is deeply embedded in my soul

and I just want to think

It may come true someday.

Pure Thoughts

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“All that we are is the result of what we have thought; it is founded on our thoughts; it is made up of our thoughts. If we speak or act with a pure thought, happiness follows us, like a shadow that never leaves us.”

– Buddha

Pure thoughts

rare like sea lions

drift among us

at times, they try to become embedded in our hearts

because we need them to survive in the wildness

of our times.

Deafening but ignored somehow

are the chants for peace

Powers of persuasion

bluntly lie to tie

us up, unable to move or feel

the true grief

of what is missing:

LOVE!

The purest thought of all

Despite the potentially dangerous situation

of more divisiveness and stubborness

I remain inside my world of hope

As I think of hate as fire

and love as water

I search in hopes

of finding

the fountains from which

we will allow the waters to flow

to heal our swollen hearts

and to allow for pure thoughts.

Image by Birgit Böllinger from Pixabay

Grandparents Day –

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Today is National Grandparents Day. It is a day to remember perhaps the eldest family member. It is an opportunity to remember those who have passed as well. I met only one grandparent. My maternal grandmother was an extraordinary lady. She was widowed young and raised four daughters on her own. I remember her stories most of all. I spent most of the summer vacations with her so I was always asking for her to tell me about my grandfather and other family members I had not met.

Here is my poem in honor of my late Grandmother:

We called you mother

sometimes I wondered why

But as I grew older I understood

the importance of your legacy

You taught me about love

You taught me about patience

You taught me by setting the example

You taught me to love nature

You used language eloquently

your voice calmed

your gentle touch soothed

My mother reminded me of you

You taught her how to love me

and for that I am grateful.

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