After the Spirit

Eight years old,
I lie in my bed,
the first gray light
of a snow-covered
January morning
breaks through
my window
with a new
knowledge
about life.

My father
now resides
solely
in my heart
and the world
I know trembles
in thoughts
of losing
my mother too.

She realizes
and feels
my horror
and quietly
my mother
slips into bed
beside me
pulls up
warm blankets
around us
and whispers
“We will
be alright.
I promise.”

nannette rogers kennedy June 2012
photo by nannette 

“Stupid,” “dumb,” “idiot”
reach their sinister tentacles
into the intellect
and drench
the bullied child
with fear and rage
and minus signs.

Right hook stupid

left jab dumb

straight punch idiot

Phonetics
pound black-blue,
scar-wounds deep.

A wicked dance
splashes drain
and doubt
into the mind
like indelible ink
on crinkled paper.

An audio tape
hooks in a loop,
and the words sting
and re-sting
even with effort
to quit
the cacophony.

In a miniscule space

between

ruminated rhythm,
the mother of the child
hears
the Voice inside whisper
“Walk the labyrinth again~
this time with Me.”

nannette rogers kennedy

New Year’s eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

With great gratitude to all my friends and family for being part of my life this year, years before and years to come ~ for each one of you have brought me gifts that without, I would not be who I am.

Let this be the year that marks the beginning of real peace. Begin at home, then to take it to your neighbors and friends ~ if each us does this all the circles will overlap and we will see change in 2010 ~ every day is a holiday; every day is a new start. Get out of bed in the morning and greet the world with hope, love and peace ~ and every night be grateful for all that you have ~ and the hours in between learn to forgive ~ it is a double gift.

Happy New Year ~ love, nannette