Category Archives: Poetry

Lord’s Day Afternoon

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Doc Arnett

Such are the chances taken
when the temporary lies of temperature
tempt us into thinking we can escape the season.
Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Family, Gardening, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged relaxing, shade, spring afternoon, trees | Comments Off

Finishing Touches

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Doc Arnett

Two months ago,
our grey roan Foxtrotter mare
seemed more than ready
for another season of trails
and training grandkids to groom and ride.
Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Farming, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged disease, euthanasia, euthinizing horse, foxtrotter, mare, old horse, putting down horse, vet, veterinarian | Comments Off

Re-Work

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Doc Arnett

This is not a world
that is always supportive
of our plannings and plantings
but faith willing to show itself in work
Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Farming, Gardening, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation, Work | Tagged mulch, re-seeding lawn, sowing, straw mulch, wind | Comments Off

Of Wind and Work

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Doc Arnett

On the morning of her last day,
I tried to mulch the newly seeded lawn
on the west side of the house Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Gardening, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, Work | Tagged Betty Prescher, landscaping, mulching, seeding grass, straw | Comments Off

Parable of the Pear and the Pair

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Doc Arnett

The Bradford Pear is in full bloom now,
thirty feet of boughs and branches
covered with false promises,
white as heaven, each blossom a little lie: Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Farming, Gardening, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged bearing fruit, being fruitful, fruit of Christ, fruit of the Spirit | 1 Comment

It was surreal to see the white clustered shapes of Bradford Pears nearly disappear against the sudden backdrop of snow. Fallow fields showed pure white. The northern edges of bare-branched trees starked white-boned sketches against the hills. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged alternate perception, appreciation, beauty, contrary, late snow, Midwest, snow in April, snow storm, unpopular | Comments Off

Gettin’ Ready

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Doc Arnett

I’ve held the hands
of those whose final hours
were upon them,
prayed with their families
in that time of groaning and grieving. Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Metaphysical Reflection, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged acceptance, comfort, grieving, loss | Comments Off

The Pastor’s Visit

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Doc Arnett

She’s in remarkably good health for a dying woman:
nothing really hurts,
everything else works
with both mind and body.
Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged lung disease, lung function, pastoral counseling, shut-in | 1 Comment

Faith, Fear & the Nearness of Eternity

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Doc Arnett

In the howling chillness of the night,
a thin skin of ice formed
un-smoothly on the surface
of the rainwater tub. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged attitude, bombing, Boston, Boston Marathon, choices, fertilizer plant explosion, response, self-pity, Texas, West | Comments Off

Boston Marathon, 2013

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Doc Arnett

Shards of smoke and fire,
a burning blasting of glass and metal,
yells of horror:
a shock wave of disbelief Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Metaphysical Reflection, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, Sports | Tagged aid, bomb, Boston Marathon, courage, helping, love, marathon, response, running, terrorism, triage | Comments Off