Cup

Image: Pixabay

I am thinking today of a cup
mug, glass, tumbler
goblet, teacup, sippy cup
tulip or barrel-shaped
angled or rounded
plastic, glass, china
silver or stainless steel.

I am thinking today of a cup
of water, milk or juice
drunk to slake thirst, add nourishment
coffee or tea to add a burst
of energy and well-being
beer, stout, nog or wine
to “gladden the heart.”

I am thinking today of a cup
a lot in life, a portion, a destiny:
“O Lord, you are … my cup.”
“My cup runneth over.”
“‘Father, if it is Your will
take this cup from me.”
“‘Shall I not drink the cup
which My Father has given Me?’”

I am thinking today of a cup
a pewter chalice, common mug
or plastic throwaway thimble
of grape juice or wine
and of memories:
“Jesus took the cup…’Drink from it
for this is My blood which is shed
for the remission of sins.’”
and choices:
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord
and the cup of demons.”

I am thinking today of a goal
a prize, a winner’s cup
that I have pressed toward
to be awarded at the end of life’s race
handed out at the judgment seat.
Will there be one for me?
Could winning it include
answering “yes” to Jesus’ question
“‘Are you able to drink the cup
that I am about to drink?’”

© 2017 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)

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Prompt – Inspiration
The word “cup,” which has many meanings in Scripture, was the inspiration for this poem. I chose it for today’s post because today is  Holy Thursday when we commemorate Jesus establishing Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion.

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This April I’m celebrating National Poetry Month by posting some not-as-yet published poems from my files, along with what inspired them. If the prompt inspires you to write a poem of your own, you’re welcome to share it in comments. Whether you write or not, thanks so much for dropping by!

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Tax Time (NPM ’16-Day 22)

Tax Time

Number crunches
reconciliations…
what I need when I must do my
taxes.

Quicken
holds my numbers
generates report for
neighbourhood accountant—tax time
good friend.

Boxes
all filled in right?
Have faith in tax person.
Rebate in bank account proves we’re
all done!

© 2016 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)

Photo: Pixabay.com

 

Intent (do not spare)

“… sing with gusto”  (Photo © 2012 by V. Nesdoly)

do not spare

– After Isaiah 54:2

rise with optimism
shower with sweet-scented soap
dress in fine denim
eat with appetite
drink from a large mug

serve with a smile
teach with imagination
parent with compassion
heal with mercy and gentle hands
buy with foresight
sell with honesty
drive with caution

sing with gusto
play with a light heart
laugh heartily
relax without guilt

befriend with loyalty
face injustice with courage
cruelty with kindness
poverty with generosity
a stranger with hospitality

pray with faith
love with passion
worship always

sleep in peace

© 2016 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)

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Intent, Leigh Anne Eck’s one-little-word choice for 2016, is another of those words with several meanings. As a noun it means something that is intended—a purpose or design. It can also be an adjective that describes what is firm, steadfast, having attention, sharply focused, determined, a resolve, earnest (and a slew of other synonyms).

I have binders of poems, many of which have never seen the light of day. The one I’m posting today was written back in 2008, but it expresses what living with intention means for me. It came out of thinking about Isaiah 54:2 — a verse I love for its challenge to grow, risk, and think big.

“Enlarge the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.”

– Isaiah 54:2.

Join us this week at Spiritual Journey Thursday

This post is linked to Spiritual Journey Thursday, hosted by Holly Mueller at  Reading, Teaching, Learning.

 

Earth Song

View ascending from Toronto, ON airport, June 2013

They call me sod
loam, dirt
clay, turf, dust.

In cahoots with rain, rocks and roots
worms and grubs
perforated by ants and moles
aquifers and oil

veined with lead, copper, gold
and hiding diamonds and coal
cables, wires and pipes

I hold your huts and your tents
your houses and barns
anchor your bridges, apartments and high-rises.

In beds below rivers
lakes and oceans
I slumber.
In the open I bask in sun’s warmth
sprout and nourish your food.

Sometimes I seizure
shudder and quake
vomit magma
belch steam and ash

or slump and ooze
tongues of brown porridge
smothering your villages and roads
in mud.

But mostly I am solid and safe
keeping you upright
with my mysterious magnetic powers.

Feed me wisely
for I ingest
without discrimination

and someday soon
you will join me.
I will reclaim you.
You will again
become mine.

© 2014 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)

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Humans have a deep and abiding relationship with earth. Our bodies consist of elements common to earth. The Genesis account of creation has God forming man from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7).

This poem ends with my tip-of-the-hat to what will happen someday to each of us—our bodies will return to the dust.* However, to clarify, I believe that the soul inside each of us lives on; even death cannot extinguish God’s “breath of life” that makes us living beings.

(*God’s words to Adam in Genesis: “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread / Till you return to the ground, / For out of it you were taken; / For dust you are, / And to dust you shall return” – Genesis 3:19.)