It Takes a Lifetime

Move over soon ~ the young need space to grow.

It’s getting time to pass the torch . . .

And you must pass it on, don’t worry . . . you just

have to let go!  And when you do . . . go find your way

to the top of a hill. Stand there and look out far. 

See how your one life has blessed the earth,

this beautiful earth that has been your home.

Sing your song to the wind ~ let it fly wild once more.

Touch the earth with your hands and feel the pulse

of the soft mother under foot.  This has been your time.

In the span of creation, what footprints will you leave?

How many paths have you carved through the mountain

of struggle?  How many trees have you marked so that others

might find their way?

Then come down and walk on the stones you have laid.

Tell your stories and the things you have learned. 

Tell of the Great Spirit who lit your way so many times

through the dark nights, till you finally opened your eyes.

Tell the Young Ones of hope, and the journey, and not to despair

for it truly does take a lifetime to make a human heart.

Joanne Cucinello© 2016

It Comes Again

Disaster

rains

pellets of fear

on the

unsuspecting.

After all, who of us

wants to believe

devastation

is on its way?

Yet, it does come

again and again

as centuries pass

and the winds grow

colder

The earth

is growing old

but she is

bound to us

like a Mother and

her child.

And so, we learn

the truth of

her great compassion

with each survival

and each tomorrow

when

a patch of grass

turns

green again.

~

Joanne Cucinello

2013

This Life

Do not take for granted this life

or this face that greets you

tonight in the mirror.

All that you know and believe

can change in an instant

and be no more.

Do not think you are privileged

even though

you may be greatly loved.

Jesus himself was greatly loved

by the Father and yet

he became the womb of suffering

for all mankind.

We cannot truly, or ever,

understand how love can allow this.

We cannot truly, or ever understand why

we are here on this earth

with such uncertainty

so vulnerable to sin and its thorns.

I myself have seen life change

this day, in an instant

and what was once a stone upon my mantle

shatter and blow away like broken glass.

And so, what shall any of us do with this dilemma?

Continue to live, believing something kinder awaits us?

Love . . . even though these embers will die one day?

Yes, and forgive . . .

Let us not cling to the suffering

Love . . . while this moment is ours to live.

Love . . . even though we may never unravel its mystery.

Joanne Cucinello   

Suzie’s Sister Blue

And she came forth on this

new day

wearing bows in her hair

and bells on her ankles

proclaiming a word . . .

that was simply a lie,

and I believed her . . . .

not because it sounded true

but just because

I remembered

long ago

how much I loved

to hear those bells

and see her smile

and tie the

ribbons round

her curls

and think that she

was mine.