Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category
March 29, 2019
We’ve been going there since the late 60s
Red plush seats
Ivory-colored walls
Ornate with sculpted shapes
Patterns
Faces and vases
Gold-leaf highlights
As the hour approaches
Far below
On the stage
Instrumentalists
Move into sections
Concert Master appears
An A is sounded
Tuning begins
Then silence
Audience awaits
Tuxedoed conductor emerges
Taking the podium
Cues the orchestra
Magic and wonder fill the room
I often feel
On those evenings
Nothing else exists
Hurtling through the universe
Alone in this space
Unique in its own timelessness
Creations of those long departed
Made present
©2019 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:Art, music, peace, poetry, Religion
Posted in gratitude, music, Personal, Poetry, St. Louis Symphony, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
March 26, 2019
He was difficult
A challenge
Not very enjoyable to visit
Extreme ideology
A Christian Identity adherent
Vocal, preachy
But I hung in there
He enjoyed the company
Confined to his room
Alone
Dying
In the prison infirmary
©2019 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:death, personal, poetry, prison
Posted in Ministry, Personal, Poetry, Prison Ministry, Social Justice, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
October 5, 2018
With the early morning fog
All was white-gray
Seeing nothing for more than 100 yards
Islands were not to be seen
Nor the far shore
Silence
Well, not quite
Soft, gentle movement heard
Water caressing the rock-strewn
Beach
I was thinking, for me,
This is a new experience
And certainly so
On this day, in this place
At this age
Who I am today is new
What I experience today is new
All I see and all I hear, new
The me of now
Has never existed before
I’ve never been this me before
I should be in awe of everything
Tired of nothing
Open to the grace
Of all things
©2018 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:Nature, personal, poetry, serenity, Solitude, spirituality, theology
Posted in Faith, gratitude, Minnesota, Nature, Personal, Personal Growth, Poetry, Solitude, Spirituality | 5 Comments »
December 11, 2017
Going through boxes and boxes of stuff in preparation for downsizing during the next decade, or so.
I was quite young when I wrote this. Perhaps it was 55 years ago. Nevertheless, here it is
If I could choose
Tags:faith, Nature, personal, poetry, spirituality
Posted in gratitude, Nature, Personal, Poetry, Spirituality, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
October 4, 2017
Gilt by a setting sun
Trees
Golden
Across the lake
On the shore
A window on an unseen cabin
Angled just right
Ablaze with reflected light
This side, this shore
Could seem gloomy here in the woods
At the foot of the hill
No sunlight on grass or leaves
But tomorrow’s coolness of morning
Fresh sparkle of sun’s rising
Brings a new day
A new beginning
©2017 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:Nature, poetry, Solitude
Posted in Minnesota, Nature, Personal, Poetry, Solitude | Leave a Comment »
August 24, 2017
Heartache
Emerges unsummoned
From the subconscious
Takes up residence
Down low
In the stomach
Until
Nothing else matters
A simple question,
“What’s wrong?”
Brings a flood of tears
Washing away
Much of the ache
Leaving behind
Deep sorrow
Confusion, longing
©2017 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:family, personal, poetry
Posted in Family, Health, Homelife, Marriage, Personal, Poetry, Spirituality | Leave a Comment »
