Busy

Busy, busy, busy
spin, spin, spin
put another coin in
watch her turn again, then
all this frantic racing
never thinking, pacing
how to get there fastest
never finish last, best

Rushing, sprinting, flying
run, run, run
cannot take a break, yet
no thing left undone, none
heart inside is shrinking
no room for feeling, thinking
A robot's all that's left here
There's no time for tears, dear.

The bucket (again)

I am needing to re-remind myself that there is an end to me:  I can only handle so much, do so much, be in so many places at once, and that is okay.  And after I am done with that "so much," rest is good and necessary.

Today after school I plopped down, exhausted, for my daily nap.  As soon as the covers were pulled up, the guilt began to pile on.  Slanderous, unkind accusations of laziness and sloth filled my head: "Shouldn't you be grading?  Shouldn't you be more productive?  Why are you such a bum?"

As I talked to my mom later in the evening and began to describe these thoughts, tears filled my eyes.  I believe the accusations in my mind.  In fact, I let them bully and coerce me into to taking on more responsibilities and activities.  Then my mom kindly reminded me about the bucket...the little bucket that can only handle as much water as a little bucket is made for.  Thanks, mom, for reminding me (again) that you can't fit 10 gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket.

The Bucket
A five gallon bucket
is all that I am
though I shove and I push
trying always to cram
more and more in my life
than can actually fit
til the bucket's too full
and starting to split

A small trickle begins
just droplets at first
til the bucket is bulging
and ready to burst
at the seams though it seems
it can hold it all in
but this bucket is made
for five gallons not ten.

sweetly

Kiss me sweetly
while we're young
in spring green
and golden sun
underneath fresh fallen dew
seeds of love now brightly bloom

Hold my hand
when we are old
in gray winter
frosty, cold
still hearth fire inside glows warm
love snuggled close 'gainst snowy storm

a liar and thief

Fear, you are a thief and a liar.

You treat me like a child, turning the bedroom dresser of day into the monster of night.  Turning happy moments anxious with the flip of a switch.  Shrouding in darkness truth and goodness.  You are shadowy, menacing, false.   May the light reveal who you truly are!

Liar and thief,
you are the great cheat
strangling peace         
choke, worry, and grief.            

Angst you bring,
you false old thing,
you twist and distort
best plans often thwart.

Masquerader of light,
you skulk through the night
whispering, false-
doom, dispair, loss.

You kill and destroy
and with falsehood employ
your counterfeit words
dark, carrion birds.

Stop! Enough!
You have been rebuffed.
You're a sham, straw man,
in truth light cannot stand.

tardona

Un poema de siempre llegar tarde..

Tardona soy
tarde voy
por la vida
yo ando vencida
por el reloj
el viejo mandón
que siempre me manda
corre, Trish, anda

night storms

I love the sight of the flashing light
splitting, brightening tumultuous night.

I love the sound of thunder claps
bowling, rolling, thunderous smack.

I love the feel of the falling rain
renewing, reviving, refreshing again.

spring

borrowed hope

planted shallow

in rich ground

lying fallow

summer, fall

blooms awaited

nothing yet

hope abated

winter cold

roots digging deep

the quiet ground

a secret keeps

spring green

blooms bursting forth

richer, lovelier

than ever hoped

mirror

a kind mirror
are the eyes of a friend
reflecting the heart
the beauty within

filled with sorrow
when tears they see
crinkled with laughter
when joy rings out free

my words

My hands are full of words for you
I hold them tightly to my chest
I poured them from my heart for you
But can't let you see them yet

I'm afraid that you might love me more
more than I can bear
but I'm not ready to love you, friend
I have not the confidence to dare

You see, my heart's still sleeping
not long from now it may awake
right now it lives in dreams
where it longs and hopes and aches

hope.

hope.
it is growing in me again
forward only
there is no backward
no looking in the past
there is nothing there
the captain, my leader, my king leads me on
my heart trembles at the unknown
but I know my king's heart
it is for me
He longs to be gracious towards me

trust.
what does trust look like?
quietness
ceasing striving
thankfulness
open hands
open heart
submission
confidence

rest.
my king is sovereign and good
my heart waits on Him
I try not to run ahead
but follow where He leads
rest
for my heart, my soul, my mind
the future is well tended
but it is not mine to know
the one who knows it guards me in His hand.

Beautiful Fall Leaf

Beautiful fall leaf,
It is to your glory
to fade,
to let go,
to fall,
and to be crushed.
Let me not hold so tightly that I miss the beauty of surrender.

Emmanuel

One word from you will still my heart
and silence all my questions.
Perhaps it was I who silenced your voice
and ignored your sweet presence.

Emmanuel, you are always there
help me not to flee from your side.
Let my heart cling to you
and to you always be tied.

michigan

fireflies
twilight skies
blink and twinkle
passing by

tall trees
sweet summer breeze
sway and dance
clapping leaves

little fish
splash and splish
wiggle and swim
journeying swish

big lake
tall waves break
wide and deep 
crashing great.

The words I speak

The words I speak are not my own
No wisdom Can I give
But come and look upon the cross
Come, believe and live!
His grace sufficient is our hope
His mercy calms our fears
Wrath and judgement borne in love
Life bought with blood and Tears

Righteous One

Righteous One by trishjackson


You hold the nations in your hands
Kings and kingdoms obey your command
Alone your throne will stand
Held firm by your strong hand.

Bow down and kiss the son,
You are the only righteous one
Every tribe and tongue
is your possession
 
Arise, oh Church, Arise
Beloved, chosen ones
Behold the Crucified Son
He calls you by His name
He's risen, and He comes again

Oh, do you hear the mountains sing?
Praises resound across the sea.
What great news they bring
of our strong God and King!

He rides the ancient skies above
His voice like thunder shouting of
His heart for His beloved
Bought back with His own blood!

Arise, oh Church, Arise
Beloved, chosen ones
Behold the Crucified Son
He calls you by His name
He's risen, and He comes again

Arise, oh Church, Arise
Behold the King is coming soon
Prepare the Bride for the Bridegroom
Arise, oh Church, Arise

Harmony

I am a harmony
searching for a melody,
the beautiful tune
that will finally set me free.

Where is that melody
that creates a euphony?
The wrong song creates
a cacophony inside of me.

Sing a song for me!
Would you, if I say please?
I want to hear your heart,
know if you are for me.

Until then I will bring,
the half song that I sing
bittersweet to my own ears,
yet pleasing to the King.

strangers

familiar stranger
i know your face
but neither one of us
has much to say
you don't know me
i don't know you
and we're not sure
that we want to
so we both turn
and walk away
"love you, see you soon"
we say

What do you see?

What do you see,
when you see me?
A soaring bird
or a busy bee?
a tiny seed
or a tall oak tree?

What do you do?

What do you do with hope?
Do you walk it like a rope?

What do you do with fear?
Do you pretend that it's not there?

What do you do with pain,
when it falls on you like rain?

What do you do with joy?
Can you believe its not a ploy?

psalm 1

Small, frail seed
you were meant to be
a strong, tall oak
a towering tree
a place of rest
beneath your leaves
with roots that run deep
beside the stream
bearing good fruit
in every season