Archive for January, 2020

an overnight at grandma’s

January 15, 2020

I have many memories of staying overnight in my Dutch grandparents’ house & going to the Dutch Reformed church w/ them Sunday morning. Occasionally they would take either my sister or me, one at a time, for an “overnight”. This will be revised, but it captures it:

Sleeping in bed with my Dutch Grandma,

I lay awake, hearing her breathe,

Grandpa in his bed, one room away,

did they dream of each other at night?

Feeling special, the only one,

got up to the morning sun,

Grandpa’s coffee on the stove,

it perked in a silver pot,

a clear glass piece was on the top,

so we could watch it perk,

A saucer was his coffee cup,

he lifted it to his lips.

I went to church with the two of them,

sat in the middle and didn’t move,

We spoke in whispers in this church,

while the organ played,

I reached for the fan with Jesus’ face

smiling back at me,

it was hot and sticky

in this place,

There was no central air.

I sat in my slip, and pretty dress,

white gloves upon my hands,

Grandma’s immigrant face looked down at me,

a smile and a wink were on her face,

and afterwards, proudly showed me off

to all her women friends.

         cfblack, 01-15-2020

 

 

 

Posted in Family, poetry | Leave a Comment »

He walked the banks of rivers

January 7, 2020

This poem is about the Founder of the Baha’i Faith, titled “Baha’u’llah” which means “Glory of God”, as He was banished for a time, to Baghdad. He wrote words for the world to come together as one, recognizing ourselves as one humanity, under one God, Who has spoken to us through various Messengers over our time on earth. Today is the time we need to learn to live as one people on this planet. He said we can do it easily and peacefully, or it will come after much suffering and devastation. Looks like we have chosen the latter. But our eventual unity is inevitable. It’s the only way we will survive. 

He walked the banks of rivers

writing words for the world,

walked along the Euphrates

and Tigris,

a prisoner of the Ottomans,

banished from His home,

His Words were flowers

to bring peace to all mankind,

For a time, He consorted

with the Sufis and the mystics,

He wrote the Seven Valleys

in Baghdad,

He summoned Kings and Rulers

to reduce their armaments,

to compose their differences,

bring justice to all,

— but the leaders turned away,

we now see the result

of fresh wars being waged

where He stood,

and I cannot help but wonder

if fresh blood is being spilled

on the banks of the rivers

where He strolled,

Oh Baghdad, are you not tired

of the killing on your soil?

Can you not rise up and stop them,

bring peace to the world?

For there is no turning back,

There is no other way

but to love all the world

as one,

We are “fruits of one tree,”

“flowers of one garden,”

We must learn to live

as one family.

cfblack  01-07-2020

Posted in poetry, stories in the news | Leave a Comment »

what is happening

January 5, 2020

I see young faces

in Army gear

wearing cameflouge, helmets, backpacks, guns,

standing in lines to get on planes,

confused, and wondering why,

and when will we come home again?

and why are we going there?

because of leaders we cannot escape,

whose mouths now drip with blood.

Forgive them, Father, for they know not how

to make a peaceful world,

Instead, they send out younger men

to self-made danger zones.

The world is weary of their ways,

and mothers tired of giving sons

to wars brought on by power-hungry,

anger-laden fools.

Come home, my dears,

refuse to walk this path to living hell,

Come home and build a better world

of mutual respect and goodwill.

cfblack  01-04-2020

 

 

(This needs work.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in poetry | Leave a Comment »