dance
dance in joy and in grief
in tears and in ashes
lift and carry
dance
dance
©2023, Patricia J. Franz
These poems are further reflection on the May Spiritual Journey prompt
from Chris Margocs and my response to it earlier this week.
night watch
more snow than forest floor
more winter than spring
I heard the verdin’s morning call
the Stellar’s Jays arrival
frosted waves whip
a swollen lake
wind gives up its fight
by nightfall
bundled in down jacket and jammies
a thousand million stars watch me watch
a sweet pup’s ginger steps,
relief and hope in the middle of the night
distant rush of water, tumbling
down a roadside ravine
snow melt, single-minded in purpose
to return home
I search the night sky, pierced heart
painful beauty, hope
suspended with each breath
willing myself to believe
she could be that old dog we long to love
©draft, Patricia J. Franz
It’s #PoetryFriday!
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This week’s round up is hosted by Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge
sharing glimpses of joy in her daughter’s first Mother’s Day and a beautiful haiku.
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
Patricia, thank you for those vivid images in “night watch”–<3
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Laura.
I don’t get to see that night sky of stars that you beautifully described, Patricia, but I have, out camping, driving out to the prairie here to see a full moon once in a while, then the stars. I love the voice in your poem, the yearning. Enjoy your weekend!
“The prairie”! I would love to someday stand in a prairie and see a full moon!
Oh, I love your work in progress, Patricia. We have been having cloudy skies but I relish those times we can wander out at night and see a “thousand million” stars winking back at us! I am also looking for a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Thank you for sharing – Wishing for a million more clear nights for you to enjoy!
Gosh, the Northern Lights would be a bucket list item for me! Someday!
Just gorgeous, Patricia – and I always love hearing about Stellar’s Jays, as we have plain old Blue Jays on my side of the country. Thanks, too, for the reminder to DANCE.
I love their bossy blue and they get quite annoyed with any dogs on their deck!
Beautiful poems again, Patricia. I can clearly see your images. I especially love and see the lines “frosted waves whip /a swollen lake/” and your personification in “wind gives up its fight/by nightfall.” I love all the lines in Nightwatch. Yes, hang on to hope. I also love your other poems, too.
Thanks, Gail!
ooooh, that morning call of the verdin is beautiful. That night sky is just delicious. Well done.
And I saw my first robin yesterday! Spring must certainly be on its way!
Simply beautiful!
Thank you, Mary Lee!
So many beautiful lines in your poems. I love thinking about frosted waves whip!
I can see the white caps from my window – like watching a toddler tantrum.
Love the image of a swollen lake. Your words are beautiful and your wishes endearing. “she could be that old dog we long to love” – prayers and hugs.
…that old dog, like Cyrus! Thank you, Rose.
These are beautiful Patricia. I especially loved the hope in ‘she could be that old dog we long to love’, hinting at a long union.
wishing and wishing and wishing
“lift and carry/dance/dance”–that is how we’ll make it.
I think you’re right.