Sanctuary of love

As the day drifts by,
I sit alone,
lost in the land
of blackened stone.

But the air is clear,
and the sky is blue,
and it’s the glory of this place
that sees me through.

If I’m stranded knee-deep,
stuck in regret,
this is my chosen place
to toss my net.

Then I sit and wait
for my mind to lift;
a gentle breeze
allows my thoughts to shift.

My quest for answers
consumes my brain,
but sitting here stills
what my body can’t tame.

Then I forget the years
and the people I know
and allow the earth
to choose where I go.

Whispers of peace
tickle my ears,
reminding me to let go
of all of my fears.

And the day carries on
as I jump to my feet,
seeing the good
in everyone I meet.

Blessed for the time
I’ve had in this place,
a sanctuary of love
filled with grace.

© 2022 Michelle Cook

Life, will I ever?

Life,
it moves us along
at record speed.

I try to dangle
delicately,
occasionally letting
my feet scrape
against the ground.

And as I swing under
my beloved canopy,
I notice the poor old oak
has seen better days.

Brittle bark scatters
like tarnished snowflakes,
and the bough dips
against the weight
of my sways.

But do I stop?

No, I continue on
in careless destruction,
marring my protector
all while biding my time.

I’m still a child; after all,
I do not recognize
my mistakes;
will I ever?

© 2022 Michelle Cook


Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-swing-playground-trees-6722023/

Only One Earth

I walk upon your rugged valleys;
I dance upon your golden shores.
Your unwavering resplendence
is what compels me to explore.

You’re a spinning top of wonder,
a creation whose pleasing to the eye,
and during my many excursions,
I’ve often stood in awe and cried.

Words just can’t describe you;
the heart of you cannot be explained.
And those who notice your glory
tend to stop and rollick in your rain.

Some seek to protect your beauty,
and yet others see a never-ending chore,
but those who truly love you
would do anything to make you more.

The magnificence of your vastness,
the provisions you supply the world for free,
are never taken for granted
by those who consider all they see.

You are everyone’s big ball of brilliance,
your grandeur spills out over the land,
and you will always be protected
by those who are willing to take a stand.

Written by, Michelle Cook


Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/earth-solar-sun-moon-universe-1281025/

*Written for World Environment Day in response to the campaign slogan for 2022, “Only One Earth.”

Earth

I’ve trudged along your rocky outcroppings
and gathered your weathered body in my fist.

I’ve seen the many layers of you erode over time
and sought solace in the beauty of your unexplainable existence.

I’ve discovered all I am in the vast valleys of your heart
and stood in awe as your snow-capped peaks towered over me.

And there’s never been a single day that I haven’t wept in your glorious presence
because your divine nature pulls all my sorrows right out of my soul.

© 2022 Michelle Cook


Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/beach-red-hot-heat-extreme-desert-3444038/

The sound of serenity

The lazy days of summer
are by and by, fading away;
I hear it as the breeze
sashays through the trees.

Wind chimes join the waltz,
each elegant note
sounding the arrival
of crisp fall days ahead.

The sweet serenade
brings inner peace
and infuses my spirit
with the sound of serenity.

© 2021 Michelle Cook


Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/sunset-sun-sky-fields-grass-4329161/