I'm sitting in a lovely chair

I'm sitting in a lovely chair--
not on a porch
not even by an open window
This chair is in my daughter's
tiny living room
decorated with peacock lamp
stacks of books
mirrors, candles, pillows
and photos of her family
and friends
She brings me coffee
and a blueberry muffin
warm from the oven
And while there are no
misty fields nor breaking sunrise
my heart is filled with love
for this girl
and I am loathe
to leave this chair.

Morning in Jubilee's apartment. I'm here for a week with her and actually decided to return for an extended visit. I'm having fun working as her sous chef, and marvel at her prowess in the kitchen.
-September 25, 2015

New Day

I'm present at creation...
However it all started
It's Genesis just the same
The sun has separated from the night sky
And a new day
Unlike any other
Is forming

All manner of bird songs
Dewy fields
Mystical meadows lying still
Under hovering mists
Blue skies with wisps
of clouds with gold linings
Peaceful stillness

How grateful is my heart
To be present in
This place on this morning
And many mornings to come
I'm one with this day
In heart and soul
I'm present at creation

October 2015

Clucking

When a chicken lays an egg
the announcement is
loud, shameless and persistent.

It's wonderful to feel so passionate
and proud of one's
contribution to the world.

Makes me want to
practice clucking--
just an ordinary squawk.

Life on the farm is so inspiring; even a chicken stirs my creative pot!

Nancy Perkins
October 2015

I Am

Relation is the essence of everything that exists. - Meister Eckhart

I am
the grass
the shrubs
and the trees

I am
the blue jay and crow
the chicken, the finch
the tiny hummingbird

I am
the cricket trapped in the sink
the shriveled worm on the sidewalk
the stinkbug and granddaddy long legs on the screen

I am
the 300-pound guy lifting weights
the little old lady on the stationary bike
the men with walking sticks

I am
the rising sun
the pink clouds at sunset
the afternoon breeze

I am
my sister
my children
my husband in heaven

I am

A Fair Exchange

It's true I left my cozy porch 
on Pleasure Road

And it was hard, I can't deny that.

But I have been given fair exchange

This back porch on Bent Farm Road

Is more than I could ask for

It faces the sunrise--

The orange glow spreads over

The eastern sky

Rising from behind a distant tree line

And breaking through the branches

Of a closer cedar tree

Mist rises from the meadows

And the night sounds of 

cicadas and crickets

Give way to early morning song birds

The crowing of our rooster and the 

Clucking of a hen who's laid an egg

The cardinal's here--just like the one who

Sat in my neighbor's tree; here accompanied 

By the thrumming wings of a passing

Humming bird, and the tat-a-tat of a woodpecker 

And under all the sounds of nature

There is a profound quiet. 

No passing cars, no distant interstate

No conversations of passing walkers

Just fields of hay

And a garden of kale and collard greens

With gorgeous red and green Romaine 

And end-of-season tomatoes 

So here I sit with my morning coffee

Smiling as the sun bathes my face. 

There's no question

I am home and He is here

And all is well. 

My first poem in my new home in North Carolina. These first few days have been perfect. Cool mornings and warm days--God's own daily poetry. I'm so fortunate to be a part, as Maggie and John David's home becomes mine as well.   (9/21/15)

God is love: let heaven adore him

God is love: let heaven adore him;
God is love: let earth rejoice;
let creation sing before him,
and exalt him with one voice.
He who laid the earth's foundation,
he who spread the heavens above,
he who breathes through all creation,
he is love eternal love.

God is love, and is enfolding
all the world in one embrace;
his unfailing grasp is holding
every child of every race;
and when human hearts are breaking
under sorrow's iron rod,
that same sorrow, that same aching
wrings with pain the heart of God,

God is love: and though with blindness
sin afflicts and clouds the will,
God's eternal loving-kindness
holds us fast and guides us still.
Sin and death and hell shall never
o'er us final triumph gain;
God is love, so Love for ever
o'er the universe must reign.

Timothy Rees (1874-1939) 

A beautiful song.

Hunger

I saw a robin as I walked the labyrinth
I paused to watch her
Hop hop hop hop pause
Hop hop hop hop pause
I continued
When one again I faced her direction
There she was
Hop hop hop hop pause
She was on a prayer walk
Or maybe just listening for food
Just like me.


4/25/15