One Smile

(I recently read a novel “The Book of Negros” and a picture of an elderly black woman dressed for church, complete with hat, reminded me of the heroin. She was just entering puberty when she was stolen from her village and brought to America as a slave. From her story I got this poem).

One Smile

Yes, she’s a lady, a visible queen
Living in poverty
Giving her life to those around her
Praying one day they’ll be free

Free of the hunger, free to be children
Free to be fathers too;
Fathers who can provide for the families
As fathers are meant to do.

She prays for the mothers along the road
Who carry the sick and poor
Out to the missions hoping for mercy
Knocking on door after door.

She dreams of the people so far away
Who call to people well fed.
Down in the town square she speaks to us all
Stating we could be there instead.

Please open your eyes to a world that is hurting
And children alone in the dark.
One simple thought builds a bridge with all others;
One smile could be the spark,.

© 2012 Pam H. Murray

Plea to the Dragon

Silver dragon I need to see your face
And feel your magic in this gloomy place
The wind is icy, rain has come and gone.
Winter is heavy in the rising dawn.

I need your power to pass through the day,
Your wings to lift me, carry me away.
Here, as the battle rages everywhere,
I search the heavens and pray I’ll find you there.

People still whisper after all these years
And words are arrows causing lonely tears.
I hope you’ll see me and you’ll take me in
And give me solace, sheltered deep within

Your shining armour. Give me back my smile.
It seems Life’s passage held me for a while
Then quickly faded leaving me behind.
Please, silver dragon, show me you are kind.

© 2012 Pam H. Murray

a winter haiku

winter's icy presence,
sad little princess
tears falling from bare branches

© 2012 Pam H. Murray

A Prayer

Thank You Lord

Dear Lord, You placed a soul on earth
And through Your love you gave Jenn worth
As she lay in her mother’s arms.
Your plan revealed the baby’s charms.

But as time passed a shadow fell.
Your special soul became unwell
And shadows formed along her way
Until each day seemed cold and grey.

She learned of fighting off the pain
And sometimes felt an endless strain
Yet, with Your strength she fought it all.
Then we joined her and sent our call

In prayer to ask You intervene
And send some peace onto the scene.
We prayed she’d find what faith can give
Rest through the night, the will to live.

For all this time she’s carried on
Though sometimes wondering if the dawn
Would ever see her whole and free
To breathe, no pain and peacefully

To have the chance to live once more
With hope for what life has in store.
We thank You Lord as You bestow
Her brand new lungs a chance to grow.

© 2012 Pam H. Murray

My Soul is There

They speak to me, the ocean and the moon,
In endless motion out beyond the dune.
I lie awake and ride their endless sound,
The thunder of the waves on solid ground.

My soul is there upon that restless sea.
I feel its chill and hear it sing to me,
The moon’s bright glow a path across its face.
I fight against it even as I race

Across the sand to find a hidden stone
That forms a resting place. I sit alone
Until the moon has crossed that endless sky,
Then drift to sleep within its lullaby.

© 2011 Pam H. Murray

September Storm

I feel the earth
Trembling
Against electricity
And watch it sip
The first rain
As thunder sings
Its Autumn march
Demanding summer
Move along.

© 2011 Pam H. Murray

Comment from PFT:

Hi Pam -

I was going to say I love "watch it sip the first rain," and I do. I reread a few times and it is really the entire poem that is remarkable, wrapped up in Pam Murray's inimitable style. It seems so simple, the way poetry should be, but it contains the thoughtful brush strokes of a fine painter.

love,

Kathy

A Valentine

Framed in sunset’s golden tones
Upon the sea in love’s embrace
He gazes deep into her eyes
And runs his hand across her face

Then murmurs of his oldest dream
Of love and home; two hearts as one.
She hears his love within his words
And feels the magic of the sun

That brought them to this place and time.
For them a new world has been found
And memory will hold this day
When they met on this sacred ground.

She never thought a valentine
Would hold her name and let her know
In this world someone just like this
Could cherish her and love her so.

© 2012 Pam H. Murray