September Haiku

The Harvest Moon

Lunar veil transcends,
the autumn equinox-
bellowing abundance
.

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#September #AutumnEquinox #Moon #HarvestMoon #Haiku #Poetry #IandThouReflections

July Haiku

The Buck Moon

Rhythms of the moon,
Gently whisper to velvet crowns,
Rise antlers, rise with pride.

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Please comment and “like” this post if you feel led to.
Thank you for your encouragement.

#July #Moon #Bucks #Antlers #Haiku #Poetry #IandThouReflections

A Father’s Day Tribute

My Dad, A Faithful Servant

A God-fearing man.
Quiet.
Steady.
Consistent.
A faithful servant was he.

Dad was Dad—
Meek, mild, and even-tempered,
day in
and day out.
A faithful servant was he.

He rarely told me what to do.
Sometimes, I listened,
and other times,
I didn’t.
A faithful servant was he.

He tolerated my fashion shows.
Twirling and dancing,
he turned newspaper pages.
Gazing up each time
with an ooh and an ahh.
A faithful servant was he.

Dad held my hair back when sick.
Cool cloths blotted
neck and forehead,
hand held
tenderly.
He was there for it all.
A faithful servant was he.

“Dad, can you drive me here,
there, everywhere?” I pleaded.
Off we would go.
Ice-skating, sledding, roller-skating.
A faithful servant was he.

As nutmeg and cinnamon
filled the air,
a rolling pin and flour
lay on the counter.
There stood Dad,
donned in an apron
and
chef’s hat.
A faithful servant was he.

Peering through
the oven door’s glass.
Waiting patiently
for the pies
and fruit cake
to bake.
A faithful servant was he.

Work clothes each workday.
Coffee.
Apple.
A Bible tucked in his lunchbox.
A faithful servant was he.

Jack of all trades,
His tools lined up on the pegboard.
Played music by ear,
sang solos at church.
A faithful servant was he.

He lived by faith,
walked in grace,
and loved as best he could.
Not perfect, yet steadfast.
Well done, good and faithful servant.

Dad’s 70th Birthday Celebration
Circa 1988

Happy Father’s Day!

#Father’sDay #Parenting #Faith #MothersandParenting

A Mother’s Day Tribute

It was Mother’s Day.
Decades ago.
I told my mom I would have a baby, too!

Here is a poem she wrote after she found out..

Our Baby

Our baby’s having a baby –
We can’t believe it’s true!
Seems like only yesterday,
We were diapering you.

Our baby’s having a baby –
We’re excited as can be.
Grandchild number five
Is added to our “tree.”

Our baby’s having a baby –
A bundle in pink or blue;
A little girl or a little boy,
With features from each of you.

Our baby’s having a baby –
Isn’t it exciting?
For the dad’s side, it’s number four;
As we welcome soon one more.

~Connie Walton, 1992
1924 – 2017

Here is my tribute to her, written today for Mother’s Day 2025…

My Mom, The Rock

She never told me what to do
and didn’t map the road ahead.
She listened.
Quiet.
Steady.
Like a rock.

As I poured out my thoughts,
Not once did she say, “You should…”
She only nodded and stayed silent.
Like a rock.

And when I stood in that kitchen,
telling her I’d be a mother too,
she didn’t give advice,
she beamed from ear to ear.
As if she already knew.
Like a rock.

Although I swear I saw a tear,
A tear of joy was shed for me.
Listening was the lesson.
Her warmth, her knowing glance,
Blanketed me with comfort.
Like a rock.

Love wasn’t in instructions or advice,
but in her presence, that was real.
At two o’clock in the morning,
she would answer my email
in the stillness of the night.
Like a rock.

My mom’s face was like a book.
She proudly wore her emotions.
Steady.
Loving.
Like a rock.

A solid rock, was she,
Secretly rooting for me each day.
I know deep inside my heart,
She lives on through me.
Like a rock.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

#Love #MothersDay #Poetry #Mom #Baby