From my sister, Betty Nick, received in e-mail and posted by permission. She wrote this when she was a pre-teen.
Christmas is a happy time
With loved ones near;
God must feel sad to have
Another Christmas come
With so many of His children,
So content down here.
* “No!” yelled Evelyn at the apparition. “No! You’ve got it all wrong!” “As I was saying,” the ghost intoned, “you will be visited by three spirits.” “Yes, I know. Christmas past, Christmas present, Christmas future. Everybody knows that. It’s been done and redone. But it doesn’t apply to me.” The ghost looked mildly disturbed,…
Why? Why? … says Jacob. … asks Israel. My Lord doesn’t even notice As justice slinks away. Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? Eternal God, Creator of the Universe Doesn’t tire Doesn’t wear out. Just try to find something God doesn’t understand! Giving strength to the weary Great power to the powerless Even the young…
A path goes by Along a gas line bare. Short grass grows or dies. Garbage gathers. The pole stands alone. Does the pole dream of rows of poles carrying telegrams then phone calls or perhaps electricity? Does the pole wonder why gas flows below why a person walks by why a truck dumps trash why…
Having imbibed a fair amount of pro-small-town prejudice in the form of Hallmark Christmas movies (which I actually find relaxing in spite of this), I thought I’d retaliate with a link to my short story About Those Small Town Values, first posted in 2010.
A scrap of road Flung upon a prairie Ending Starting. After-man stops And looks, wondering Where from? Where to? Someone made it Wanted it to last Why? How? Someone used it Followed it to finish Something Somehow. Somewhere needed it Gave it purpose, ending Gone. Lost.
This is the result of my having fun with my morning devotions and then mixing it with thinking about translation theory. Anyone up to produce Psalm 46 in another poetic form? I’m particularly interested in playing with translating into fixed forms. I’m safe with God my strength, my shield, my friend. In danger he is…
