Having Fun Now

We're having fun now, my friends -
No matter that sometimes we're pained
By niggling concerns or constraints
Or hills that seem too high to face

We're having fun here, let's admit
We signed on for this cruise, after all
Each new port we land in informs us
Each day out at sea brings us rest

We're having the times of this life
Let's remember, when things seem the darkest
And our cruise turns instead to a wild river ride
All the fun is in shooting the rapids

So indeed, we are having fun now
And when all of the hills are behind us
We'll look back on the climbs we accomplished
And remember the joy in the climbing

Copyright (c) 2009 Mary Beth Watt. All rights reserved.

InisOirr

Here is another poem from my trip to Ireland. We visited the Aran Island of InisOirr (Inishere) on a spectacular day and took a pony cart ride around the island. Just as we were leaving, another cart driver asked if we wanted a ride. Here is my poem.

InisOirr

The craggy shores of InisOirr drew nearer as we sailed

Upon a silken sea beneath white clouds

As we drew up to the dock the magic island beckoned

Its spider web of stone walls called us forth

We met a thousand dreams, some ancient, some brand new

But each one sang to us enchanted songs

The island dogs served escort as wanderings led to wonders

Everyplace we stopped called to our souls

And lives are lived in full there in peace and simple pleasure

The best of all the ages holding fast

Yet too soon departure called and as reluctantly I answered
A cart man pitched a ride about his land
"The sun is here," he said, "it shines here every day"
He smiled to let me in on his small jest
My hand went to my heart as I answered him in kind
"It shines in here, that's good enough for me."

Copyright (c) 2009 Mary Beth Watt. All rights reserved.

Symphony of Peace

I wrote this poem in response to a challenge from Robert McDowell, whose own wonderful book, Poetry as Spiritual Practice, I highly recommend. Robert is suggesting that those of us who want to might enjoy participating in a new movement for world peace started by a friend of his, Rich German. I have visited the web site and will now receive a daily meditation for world peace. If you would like to know more, please visit www.richgerman.com/worldpeaceintro.html. Also, you can visit Robert McDowell's web site at http://www.robertmcdowell.net/.

Anyway, here is my poem about peace.

In a small house in Virginia
A young mother comforts a child
With a lullaby learned at her own mother's side

At an army base near Kabul
A soldier sits at a computer
Laughing at emailed jokes from his son

Near a village west of Nairobi
Six women search for fruit
Singing together to welcome a new day

Everywhere, voices rise
People join in laughter
Harmony brings smiles

Moments of peace playing
A symphony for God's hearing

Copyright (c) 2009 Mary Beth Watt. All rights reserved.