Stutter-Stepping Seasons

ONE (A-to-Z Challenge & NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo)

April 17, 2024

Could not imagine

I’d marry very wrong one

Harsh wedded desert–

Small girlhood dreams romantic

Seemed modest, simple request

Never meant to be–

God had more perfect story

Draft He’d written, saved

For silvered later season

Solitude, He gifted me

Some shun solo life

Fear silence’ shivered embrace

Quiet suited me–

Heart did not long for children

Normal world of family days

Mine are rich, brimfull

No lonely moments–indeed

Finest adventure–

Chosen by the One, my Lord

His ever-warm company

©V.Sparrow, 2024

No-Not-Never-Nothing-None-Nowhere (A-to-Z Challenge)

April 16, 2024

Never abandoned

No, not ever forsaken

No good thing I lack

Nothing can separate me

From the Lord God Almighty

None can condemn me

All my sins He’s forgiven

And long forgotten ~

Nowhere can I go that His

Eyes don’t see, keep safe my steps

None other will love

With His faithfulness, caring ~

No Light overcomes

Brights so fully heart’s night-fears

His Presence never departs

All God’s promises

Are found in Christ ~ Yes, Amen

His covenant stands ~

To whom would I go? there’s no

Other Savior–just Jesus

©V.Sparrow, 2024

Note to Readers: time ran short to include my usual pile of scripture references, but trust me–everything I mentioned is in the Bible!😇

Strange Night (3TC)

April 16, 2024

https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2024/04/14/three-things-challenge-m664/

Di’s words are: UNCANNY, STRANGE, EERIE

🌙🌓🌖🌘🌒🌕🌙

It was going to be one of those strange nights when Darcy wouldn’t sleep well.

It was uncanny how, when menopause began, she’d get odd feelings early in the day (beyond the hotflashes, crying jags–and irritability, which was generally related to her husband, Chuck…a perpetual annoyance).

She’d drop a sticky spoon, or put the bag of dry oats in the fridge; or imagine she saw mouse droppings that were just spilled raisins. And she’d suddenly fear she might be losing her mind–it wasn’t a worry she’d experienced before this mid-life madness.

She went about her routine this day, just feeling weird, and not exactly looking forward to bedtime…nightmares were another new thing that surfaced.

After dinner, which Chuck had implied was not her best culinary effort, she tidied the kitchen, grabbed a new mystery and went to the bedroom to read in peace. The book was a fascinating page-turner, but when she felt sleepy she set it aside and burrowed beneath the blankets.

Sometime in the dark wee hours, she was startled awake–she’d heard something…something eerie she couldn’t discern, and didn’t want to investigate. What if it was a poltergeist, she asked herself–then giggled, and replied to herself, ‘don’t be an idiot’.

Talking to herself was yet another thing she hadn’t expected with the onset of “change of life” (what a stupid term, she thought–didn’t life change frequently? with no advance notice?).

She punched the pillow back into a comfortable mold, and resettled herself to sleep. Soon she was awake again: eerie “scratching” sounds, and perhaps cupboard hinges squeaking.

Chuck wasn’t in bed, and she tried to recall if this week he worked night-shift. Her memory was on the blink… But if she wasn’t going to be able to sleep, she may as well get up and confront whatever was disturbing her rest.

She put her robe on, reached for the large flashlight by the bed, and tip-toed downstairs.

The glare of light landed on Chuck’s face. “What in the name of Horatio are you doing?” she practically shouted.

He frowned slightly, “I was looking for those little peanut butter with cheese crackers you said you bought for me–can’t find then anywhere.”

“They’re with the raisins…the ones you were eating 2 nights ago, and didn’t clean up.”

“Oh, that’s right.” He grinned. “Ya know?…I think your hormones are giving me cravings.”

©V.Sparrow, 2024

Memory Twigs (NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo)

April 16, 2024

Written for NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo AND The Sunday Whirl

https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2024/04/14/wordle-650/

~~*~~

Memory twigs fall

On ledge of my mind

Where I do not wish

To wallow lest

I wake ancestors

Cause their crystal cup

Thus far, unbroken

To suddenly shatter…

I cannot abide stench–

Blood of divine cells

Drip of their august

Creation–spilling down

My face, coursing over

My body, covering my

Feet…and rising back

Up, so deep, too deep

Until I drown in cursed

Mystery unsolved…

Of what I came from

Who I should have been

©V.Sparrow, 2024

Gilt-Edged Innocence (NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo)

April 15, 2024

Poem written for Moonwashed-Weekly-Prompt AND NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo

https://amanpan.com/2024/04/09/moonwashed-weekly-prompt-gilt-edged/

Gilt-edged innocence

Should have been cherished, not shunned

Humiliated

Naivety had high cost

Not knowing path to take, lost

©V.Sparrow, 2024

Escape to the Farm (3TC)

April 15, 2024

https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2024/04/12/three-things-challenge-m662/

Di’s 3 words are: ALLOW, PERMIT, PERMISSION

🚜🚗🚜

Charlie, at 16, was devastated to learn he wouldn’t be allowed a student driver’s permit.

Like most teenagers his one aspiration in life was to be able to drive, even if only in his parents’ older car. But there were rules, and they were set in place for a reason–a good reason, in his parents’ minds.

The first was that his grades had to improve–they’d not done so to an acceptable level.

The second was that he needed to show initiative and responsibility–not wait for his mom and dad to tell him several times to do minimal chores…then sigh as though burdened by life when he finally got up from bed, or his beanbag chair, to appease them.

So things were getting pretty tense and testy around their house, and Charlie wasn’t making fast progress toward the goal of becoming “another crazy driver who’ll endanger the rest of the world”.

Which was NOT his goal–but rather, his folks’ paranoid and insulting visual.

He had every intention of being an excellent, careful driver, he’d assured them in his most serious voice. To which his father had “harrumphed”, and his mom reached for the aspirin bottle.

But a miracle was on the way. Grandpa called, wanting to know if Charlie felt like working for him a bit on the farm–salary yet to be determined. Oh yes! this was his winning lottery ticket–Charlie packed a bag before his dad hung up the phone.

His grandfather arrived, visited a few minutes–then read Charlie’s eagerness to hit the road, in his bright eyes and wiggling foot.

When they got to the farm, Charlie saw the big tractor he’d admired since he could toddle over to it and shout, “cracter, cracter!”

He and Grandpa lunched on sandwiches Charlie’s mom had sent, and began talking business: the scope of Charlie’s farm duties, and an agreeable wage.

“Grandpa”, he interrupted, “I’d be happy with half the amount you want to pay me–I love being with you here on the farm…but I was kinda hoping maybe you’d let me drive the tractor”.

Wondering when this wish might surface, Grandpa smiled with delight. He remembered being Charlie’s age…(the tractor was the love of his life, until he met Loralee, that is). He made Charlie wait a long moment, pretending to ponder the idea. Charlie remained silent, wiggling his foot.

“Permission granted,” Grandpa said, and then, “but this has to stay a private matter between us guys. If your mom finds out, she’ll kill me–and I’m not ready for you to inherit all my worldly goods, and this farm.”

©V.Sparrow, 2024

Mighty Mercy & Miracles (A-to-Z Challenge)

April 15, 2024

With just a breathed word

Oh God of might and mercy

You do miracles

Bitter waters You turned sweet*

Your command, Red Sea retreats*

Even sun and moon*

Both stood still, You answered prayer

All obeyed Your will

Who, awestruck, witnessed wonders

Of justice done, Love’s mercies

Life called into Death*—

Clasped ‘gainst hearts, loved ones returned

Widow’s oil ran dry*—

You replenished jars again…

You heal now as You did then

Your kindness endures

Your mighty power ne’er weakens–

These are times of hope

Despite world’s dire distractions

Your direction alerts, guides

I will sing your praises! You are my mighty fortress, and you love me. Psalm 59:17, Contemporary English Version

Behold, God is mighty, and yet does not despise anyone [nor regard any as trivial]; He is mighty in the strength and power of understanding.
Job 36:5, AMP

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5, NKJV

‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’ Isaiah 41:10, AMP

Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty! Psalm 93:4 ESV

*23Then they came to Marah, but they could not drink its waters because they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah (bitter). 24The people [grew discontented and] grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we going to drink?” 25Then he cried to the LORD [for help], and the LORD showed him a tree, [a branch of] which he threw into the waters, and the waters became sweet. Ex 15:23-25

*And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. Ex 14:21, KJV

*From a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet…

11The sun and moon stood still in their place
at the light of your arrows as they sped,
at the flash of your glittering spear. Habakkuk 3:11, ESV

*The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, in accordance with the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.
I King 17:16, AMP

For the LORD your God is a merciful and compassionate God; He will not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. Deut 4:31, AMP

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.
Psalm 116:5, NKJV

*Some who were raised from the dead (aside from Jesus): (https://www.learnreligions.com/people-raised-from-the-dead-in-the-bible-4109363

Widow of Zarephath’s son, Shunammite woman’s son, Widow of Nain’s son

Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, Tabitha/Dorcas, Eutychus