when it's raining

i'm smelling woodsmoke
in the air
feeling drops upon my skin
a thousand piercing sensations
remind me of a place i once called home.
how did it come to this
when did i think i could
figure it out
make it work
be loved
the ache in my side
like rainy arthritic pain
but younger fresher throbbing
what's missing in the fall
verdant gardens barred

i'm seeing blurred faces
hearing the soft pitter-patter
on my windshield
the myriad of memories
burning home the truth.
when i found Him i could
lay my hopes on His
strong shoulders and know
rain comes and goes
His love endures all heartache
those buried dreams
missing in colder days
waiting behind a gate
i've yet to walk through
still ahead

so bring on the drops
i'm laughing precipitously
the day will come
when all is made clear

the scent of spring

awakening
it's a well-worn descriptor of the time of year
when the cherry blossoms abound and all
the world seems fresh and new and the
mountains tower up grand and sudden as
though the earth had burst open and thrust
their snowy peaks into being just yesterday
when in reality they hide always behind the
usual smoggy air except in spring when the
awakening
of their freshly anointed heights shines bright
and the world smells like life in all its dirty
growing with fresh earth and smoky leaves
the time when winter shakes off the darkness
and the sun runs north again and things seem
possible even though they were buried some
months ago it's coming now closer and with
expectation that dreams can come true as
awakening
His voice calls forth breath and drinking deep
the world begins to spin right side up
as smells, sights, sounds of hope come out
and gratitude wells up within that another
year is starting full of endless memories to
be made but most of all full of now when
He can be known and adored and all will
be well as the journey starts today with
awakening