O shimmering moon –
setting on sorrow.
Watcher of the night,
sleepy eyes hopeful
for optimistic awakening.

Dreamers lament,
old thoughts drift,
impending rebirth.

Even daylight awaits
your departure.
Your countenance unfailing,
you hear the whispers
of the darkened sky.

Degas

Temporal winds blown
leave me tarnished
and scratched in
brambled insults
to character once
clearly defined –
but alas
now swaying
in crippling breeze.

Where is hope
in such places?
How easily I forget
that Jacob’s ladder
from heaven to earth
is gilded in truth
and love and extended
to my heart for my eyes
to see the face of God.

Rick Stassi

October 22, 2018

Ann Ancher

My feet gone ragged
from toiled path.
My self-determination to
find peace always
clouds a simple
wisdom.
A quiet moment with
eternal gaze.
Sanctuary
is where
I meet God.

Camille Pissarro

I tread
on paths
thoughtfully prepared
with sight
not on tomorrow –
or yesterday,
but here with me now.
the certainty
that i fall short
is gracefully
embraced on
straighter roads –
and always and ever
the sun settles
on the point between
God and man.

Rick

What is life, afterall?
The waning time from summer to fall.
Winter’s sting shall take its toll,
In springtime thus a reborn soul.
Reborn on ground or there above,
For certain born in holy love.
Afterall, earth run its course,
But heaven shall ever shun remorse.
Gone too soon and hearts asunder
gives rise to doubts of heaven’s wonder.
But persevere and shed your tears,
God lovingly casts off our fears.

…for Isaiah Bernstein. Now with the Lord.

Pissarro

all the things i’ve ever seen
are buried deep in soul serene.

all the things I’ve ever known
are neatly placed in arable loam.

the struggle inside with these temporal things,
shall subside again with spiritual wings.