Embers

Embers
by Lyn Marinello

Born of equal innocence, naked and pure and clean
Each of us unknowing of what our lives could mean
A product of what's around us or the culmination of our choices
Battered by adjacent bitterness or bolstered by tantamount voices
Limited only by boundaries built by societal fray
You're a stunning piece of artwork; a masterpiece of moldable clay
And as precious as you are, there's the occasional chip or crack
To reach the pinnacle of your grandeur, there is nothing that you lack
The path may seem so daunting. A dark and frightening, chasm-ed course
Your greatness dwells within you, in your soul, your strength, your source
We each possess a purpose; an impact to be gratefully shared
A humble being with a lesson if we allow those imperfections to be bared
Life may take its toll; dull your shine and steal your zeal
You were created for a reason. Don't let your mission be concealed
There are innumerable parasites looking to erode your worth
Dig deep to fully resurrect the simplistic beauty of your rebirth
Your value lies not in the tangible; but in your essence, an artful uncloaking
Those brilliant, flickering embers that are truly worth the stoking

Great Shepherd

Listen up flock ...

from Margaret Shepard:

Sometimes,

your only available

transportation

is a 

leap of faith.

Not.

This is not my poem,
but one I think a lot of folks
could use right now.

Not.

by Erin Hanson

You are not your age,

Nor the size of clothes you wear,

You are not a weight,

Or the color of your hair,

You are not your name,

Or the dimples in your cheeks,

You are all the books you read,

And all the words you speak,

You are your croaky morning voice,

And the smiles you try to hide,

You're the sweetness in your laughter,

And every tear you've cried,

You're the songs you sing so loudly,

When you know you're all alone,

You're the places that you've been to,

And the one that you call home,

You're the things that you believe in,

And the people that you love,

You're the photos in your bedroom,

And the future you dream of,

You're made of so much beauty,

But it seems that you forgot,

When you decided you're defined,

By all the things you're not.

Ain't that nice?

Off-grid for the weekend.

Be back on Monday.

Find those silver linings,

count those blessings,

be well and know you're loved.

Zig & Stevie

A pair of quotes
from two very different people
that truly are powerful.
Let them sink on in ...

Don't count

the things you do,

do the things

that count.

and

We all

have ability.

The difference 

is how we use it.

Without Googling ...

who said which?

Bricks

Found this David Brinkley quote and had to share:

A successful man

is one who can

lay a firm foundation

with the bricks

others have thrown at him.

(mic drop!)

For my Ch-Angel Amie

Saw this and thought of you:

Don't try to steer the river.

Love you ... and stuff.

Parenting

As promised, I am back and brought with me
the words that were rolling around in the old noggin'.
This is written for myself, my brand new moms, my mom
and a bazillion other people who will 'get it'.
I hope you enjoy. Please let me know.


Parenting
by Lyn Marinello

As you age you understand just a smidge of your parents' woes
The worries that they battled as each precious child grows
Work hard for what you want and play when you are able
Say your prayers before bed each night and keep your elbows off the table
Always say, "Please" and "Thank you"; treat strangers as though new friends
Apologize when you've made mistakes; always try to make amends
Eat up all your meat and veggies. Don't be afraid to enjoy dessert
Don't be afraid to speak your mind, but be mindful that words can hurt
These are simple tasks of parenting, though none of them are easy
Parenting's not for the faint of heart or for those who are quickly queasy
As children grow you navigate on terribly thin ice
You hope the foundation that you've laid is solid enough to suffice
You must build up a little ego, but not to boisterous extreme
Raise a considerate, caring human with a bullet-proof self-esteem
You have to teach respect but debating tools as well
Obey the laws before you, but when wronged you fight like hell
You tilled the earth they walk on. Set down roots to keep them grounded
Redirected when they veered off course; offered guidance when confounded
You padded the nest they laid in; provided a haven of safety and rest
Imparted the passion to chase their dreams and the stamina to face said quest
You urged them in jumping from that nest, assured you'd catch them or they'd fly
You gave them strong and mighty wings with which to soar on high
When they're little you protect them, but a broken heart is hard to mend
So you sit and cry and listen, so they know you comprehend
You hug them back together; absorb all the pain and tears
Stand beside them undeterred as they battle down their fears
You celebrate the victories and coach them through defeat
You let them fall; the lesson learned, though the education's bittersweet
You've got to let them go and make errors all on their own
You pray they will take solace in the most basic seeds you've sown
You can't hold their hands forever, but hearts are eternally connected
The only true rule in parenting is that absolutely anything's expected
Without manuals or directions we all take on this blessed task
With nothing but each other to answer all the questions that we ask
Those apron strings must be untied, though the bond is never-ending
Parenting; that thankless, unpaid job is worth all the effort you're expending.