Tag Archives: poetry

Let the Change Inspire You!

Posted on by under Photography

This post is written in response to Ese’s quote & Shoot Challenge from last week: INSPIRATION

Find other sources of inspiration at

http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2014/03/15/ese-s-weekly-shootquote-challenge-inspiration/

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” ― Maya Angelou

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
― Maya Angelou

 

Never let the changes in life get you down.As you walk them with faith, changes are just placed before you to light your path to the greener pastures.- JEL

Gettin’ On the Slow Train (A bop)

Posted on by under The Stories

100_0763A.M. train runs too fast.

Commuters out the door before she slows to stop.

Buttons pushed on elevators going nowhere,

Deadlines drive the fingers shut out the mind.

Push. Push. Push. the boss man drives to the top floor

Can’t fall behind. The boss man texts “Get ‘er done.”

The Message says, “One step ahead. Stay one step ahead”

This midnight train don’t run to Georgia. The project’s on my mind.

A clackety-clack text trap  made in pillows.

I hear the hummin’ even in my dreams.

I wish for  tunnels that aren’t filled with dreams gone dead.

” Remind. Rewind. Be kind to yourself.” I hear but then,

“Push! Push! Push!” goes the Monday to Sunday message

The boss man wants to get to the top.

But is it so? Ain’t He already there?

The message says, “One step ahead. Stay one step ahead.”

Take a breath. Take a break. Missed the train today.

Sabbath comes when pillows make no sound and nights don’t hum with texted goals.

When dreams are tunnels that lead to lands where Mammon ain’t no god

Slow is the word heard.

To “Push!” I just puff and accept “Up” is the boss man’s business not mine.

I am born again the little boy who played with trains but never rode them.

The message says, “One step ahead. Stay one step ahead.”

Knowledge Preferred

Posted on by under The Stories

Today technicolor blood drips from HD screens. Bullet holes, stab wounds, fangs mark made for TV movies. But what is left when the story can no longer be told between good and evil?

Light and dark fade.

Yin and Yang cease.

Misty morning comes.

What mortal fascination relies on the acquisition of the knowledge of good and evil? What entertainment shall remain when the tension juxtaposed precariously on tenterhooks of fairy tales Is eaten by the Revelation?

Eve’s fruit, one

Silver screen

Nibble, replaced.

the Knowledge Preferred shall swallow the knowledge of Good and Evil. No drama will be  lost by the resolution of the final scene. Knowledge Preferred is the rising of the curtain on a new series made for bigger screens and better stories than mere good and evil can contain.

C.cada Weekend 10-18-13

Posted on by under C.cada: Arts and Stuff

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Dear Readers,

I am writing you from the quiet of the church sanctuary where I am sipping the first of what I expect will be many cups of Hawaiian coffee. The weekend of our annual C.cada art show has finally arrived. This is the first year we have done a full weekend of display. The show has also doubled in size since last year. Hanging and setting up displays for over 150 works of art is a larger undertaking than I expected. I am so glad I opted to start setting up after service on Wednesday night!

The work you see above is a multimedia wax and wood piece entitled “The C.cada Cross”. The cross is the collaborative effort of 13 artists from C.cada and has been donated by our group to the Christian Healing Center of New England. It will hang in the center’s  guest hall for their open house scheduled  next week. We presented “The C.cada Cross” to the Christian Healing Center’s board of directors last night in a public prayer segment of the show.

If you are in the area today, stop by. The show is on until 6 P.M. and if you miss that come to church for a visit tomorrow! The artwork will still be on display through our morning and evening services.

Cornerstone Church

Rt. 140

Winchendon MA

For a schedule of events go to     http://www.artistdayapart.com

Weekly Travel Theme Through

Posted on by under Photography

This week’s travel theme given to us by Ailsa at “Where’s My Backpack” is the word THROUGH.  She has put together a really creative montage of photographs for us this week. Pop over and view her work as well as the work of her contributors at http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/09/20/travel-theme-through/

I gathered these thoughts and photos on the word “Through” during my travels this summer to the transcendentalist commune at Fruitlands and also during my time leading worship In Connecticut at the New England Special Touch getaway.

Through

by JE Lillie

Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses. Ann Landers

Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.
Ann Landers

We glimpse our best selves through the eyes of others.

Our vision seeming masks

Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away. Elvis Presley

Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away.
Elvis Presley

Soul light asking purchase through the  shade as

Sun in the deeping wood.

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Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Helen Keller

We blinded stood through shadows. Friends enemies

All grasp our Ever task.

INDEPENDENCE: An Acrostic

Posted on by under C.cada: Arts and Stuff

Independence

by JE Lillie

Innocent

100_2622Native son

statue in blue

Driving back lethargy

Engaging the world about

Mel 5Prevailing darkness wearing carnival masks,

Ensnaring hapless men. “Everything’s just fine,”

Nattering poppin-jays proclaim.Without knowledge lies reign.

Duplicity doesn’t dupe  truly free slaves of righteousness.

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Every step they take frees the land from bondage.

Native sons and daughters rising up. With truth ignoring through

Charity the carnal call to embrace an existence  proclaiming freedom yet

Ending in nothing but a pop of smoky fire. This is independence!

firecracker (1)

Escape Into Air: A Triolet

Posted on by under C.cada: Arts and Stuff

I conceived this piece out of Tuesday’s Daily Prompt, “Might as well jump”.  http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/daily-prompt-jump/

 The question asked us  was,” What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take — but haven’t been able to? What would have to happen to make you comfortable taking it?”

Escape Into Air by JE Lillie

Escape Into Air by JE Lillie

Escape Into Air

by JE Lillie

A leap of faith lies straight before me

An unfinished bridge, an escape into air.

Fear makes blind hopes from eternity.

A leap of faith lies straight before me.

Faith arise! At the edge rescue me!

Reveal the way frail flesh has made unaware.

A leap of faith lies straight before me

An unfinished bridge, an escape into air.

 

C.cada April 2013

Posted on by under C.cada: Arts and Stuff

Devotion:

We discussed rejection at April’s artist gathering. Rejection is a part of life and of course a big part of being an artist. It is rejection that causes many artists to become untrue to themselves and their work in hopes of becoming pleasing to people. It is fear of rejection that separates people from their talent. Yet rejection can also drive artists to improve their craft or to try new mediums which better suit their gifts. In the end rejection is what we make of it.

How have you dealt with rejection in the past?

What’s happening this month:

This month our choir started its new work for Memorial Day.

One of our artists has been invited to lead worship for a Royal Ranger event in our network.

Clayton Phelps was asked top play at two art shows this month and just interviewed with a local radio station about his new album.

Garrick Brewer one of our teen writers and preachers qualified for the National  Fine Arts Festival in Orlando Florida

Our featured artist this month is Charlotte Dorais. Charlotte is a wonderful artist in paint. Recently she has returned to an old love… poetry. Here is some of her recent work:

The Walk

Charlotte Dorais

The church steeple protrudes up a missile ready for launch

Radiant white against the grey early morning sky

The predawn sky glows orange over the downtown lights

Sporadic traffic, delivery trucks commuters pass by

Soon I will be one but now my feet transport me

The swish of cars passing barely audible over Jim Croce’s Greatest Hits

The music a metronome paces my steps

Solid comfort flows from each foot as it strikes the ground

The music and scenery collides my thoughts muddled

A goose taking off from the river draws my attention outward

My labored breathing witnesses the challenge the hill gives

Rounding the corner Central Street stretches quiet before me

Fresh brewed coffee entices me to stop yet I press on

I speak a breathless greeting to the woman as I pass by her outside the diner

Through the open door I view the pre-customer ritual taking place

Sugar bowls filled, clean ashtrays set out

The mail box sentries guard the front of the Post Office

My reflection moves with me as I pass blank windowed store fronts

Crossing I watch a lone dog, his look determines I am of no interest

Diner customers are entering into their morning routine

The coffee shops activity increased with the sun rise

Down hill my step quickening the sky alive with movement

Geese swimming upstream break the reflection of the golden clouds

traffic’s increase impedes my cross back home

My walk over I enter the house to complete my morning ritual looking forward to tomorrow.

Creator

 Charlotte Dorais

Tanka  5/7/5/7/7

God’s love is mighty

Awesome powerful potent

Unfathomable

Taught by example practice

Received by invitation

The Netherlands 2013 Day 3

Posted on by under Travel

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At Last the Plane

A Haibun

The trunk slams. A hug, a kiss and she’s gone. I’m left standing on the corner with my bags. Checked in, belt off, shoes in the box. Then some old guy says “Put out your arms.” He pats me down. “Thanks,” I say. I’m through. Sitting in the window as the sun goes down.

The Em’rald Isle

Winks Golden before sunrise

Brownie magic.

Four hour layover means Irish breakfast in Dublin: Black and white pudding, ham, boxty, eggs, ‘shrooms and hot tomatoes. No tea for me just a strong black coffee. First on last off the plane.

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Train from Schipol

Zaandam bus to Womerveer

Pumpkin greets me.

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