Perfect God Is Not A Perfectionist: ConTEXTing Free Verse

My wife posted this on her Facebook yesterday:
‘I created something today and was grappling over whether it was good enough. . David responded, “It’s good enough… why do you think it has to be perfect? Do you think God is a perfectionist?”
“Probably,” I replied.
“No, He’s not. He can’t be… He created us.”
Touche!’
After I thought about it, I changed my mind and wrote this free verse:

Because God IS
just
perfect,
He made us
perfectly
imperfect,
so we can learn
and grow
and become.

Nike Rags Footware Honor: Revolutionary ConTEXTing Haiku

Some former football player (under contract to a shoe manufacturer) said that the “Betsy Ross” flag was offensive, so Nike removed shoes with the flag from their lineup. This is my response:
Nike’s new footware/
should be torn and blood-stained rags,/
like at Valley Forge.

Twice-Told Sunset Lesson Told Twice: Revolutionary ConTEXTing Haiku

Today my daughter texted me at about 4 p.m. to ask: “What does Grandpa always say about sunsets?”
(Answer: If you’re too busy to watch a sunset, you’re too busy!)
Ironically, later in the evening, I was outside working on finishing installing/repairing our new (to us) chicken coop. Suddenly, shortly after 8 p.m., I stood up and looked westward … and realized I’d missed most of the sunset. Weird that my daughter and I had JUST DISCUSSED that point … and I’d missed the lesson!
So I wrote this haiku:

Dont get too busy/
and forget to turn around
and watch the sunset.

Suspend Disbelief To Be You: Revolutionary Free Verse

When you suspend disbelief
about who you are, then
you can come to believe
who you truly are.

Thinner Belles (Christmas in Dixie) : Revolutionary ConTEXTing Haiku and Song

When Dixie’s daughter/
Comes back from Christmas up North,/
I sing “Thinner Bells”.

*Sung to the tune of “Silver Bells”
Thinner Belles!
Thinner Belles!
it’s Christmas time down in Dixie!
Not much snow!
fewer clothes!
Soon it will be Christmas Day.
In Wisconsin
they’re all bundling
trying just to keep warm
that you can’t even see what they look like.
Past Mason Dixon
they’re all fixing
to show off their form.
With no snow suits or parkas we’ll cheer!
Thinner Belles!
Thinner Belles!
it’s Christmas time down in Dixie.
They’re so cute.
No snow boots.
Soon it will be Christmas Day!

Bidding Adieu And Starting Anew: Revolutionary ConTEXTing Free Verse

How do I bid adieu
To a life
And a lifestyle
I’ve lived
For years?

It was never comfortable.
Too Often
it was not pure,
nor holy,
nor of good report.
Rarely was it
praiseworthy.

It was not
Where I needed
Or wanted
To be.

At last,
here I am,
at the edge
of potential new paths,
rising out of the muck
and mire of the past.

New vistas,
new visions,
new opportunities
are spread out before me,
inviting me,
filling me with hope
and belief:

I CAN do this!

And yet…
I don’t know how
to step away.
I’m afraid I’ll lose
my shoe,
Stuck
In the past’s muck.

Then I recall Him.
He asks me to change.
He will lift me
up
and out;
Place my unshod feet
On paths He has traveled,
to places He has gone.

I believe
that when I’ve walked
His paths,
barefoot,
long enough to have worn
all the muck from my feet,
they will be shod
through His Grace
and Mercy
with righteousness,
And I will be purified
and able
to be
in the vistas
I can now only
dimly
see.

Help Me Connect With You: Revolutionary ConTEXTing Haiku

I will notice and/
connect with you IF you’ll just/
stop looking downward.
OR

I can notice and/
connect with you once you stop/
looking at the ground.

Mothers Day, 2017, Tribute: Revolutionary ConTEXTing Prose

I texted this to a friend early this morning. As I wrote this, deep in my thoughts were the way my own birth Mother raised me until 10, and how she has been my roommate for the last 6 years; my Mom, who took over raising me through the tough tween and teen years, and who was such a great friend and companion to my father for more than 55 years (and still counting! ); and the mother of my children, who was my friend and companion for decades, and who has continued to love, support and sustain our children.
I think it applies to almost every mother I know, and so, even though I’m not mentioning you by name, I hope you will feel honored this Mother’s Day. And thank you!

Motherhood may start at the birth of children. Some may think it ends when those children leave the nest, but true compassionate mothers continue to provide spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental support and stability and stay connected to their children throughout their life.
You are doing that with your children, and so, on this Mother’s Day, I honor you and respect you and uplift you and wish you a happy and joyful Mother’s Day.

Looking Backwards Crashing: Revolutionary ConTEXTing Haiku

If you keep looking/
backwards, you will run into /
light poles and stop signs.

Making Choices And Being Responsible: Revolutionary ConTEXTing Haiku

Many folks want me/
to go dance tonight, but I’ve/
too much to do. Choice.