surprise

There are clues, but then, one day - all of a sudden -
you awaken on uproarious, clattering
birdsinging. Overnight, wispy willowfronds waft
under spiritstirring, cleansing, bracing breezes,
which powerfully transform water and sunlight
into an eyedazzle of diamonds popping.

Blessed hope blooms like a staunch little daffodil.
A tired sky turns blue. The whole world grows green again.
Oh, the very air you breathe becomes sweet with life.
Pack away coats and boots. It’s time to quit the fire.
Jubilantly rush - rush! Rush headlong toward freedom.
It’s Spring! It’s spring, yes! I NEED a new Pink! lipstick.

heights

Perils are pearls.
Risk to excel.
Venture to fail.
Love rock. It’s real.

mother’s quandary

Beware the danger, dear.
Don’t let the stranger near -
but if it’s your Dad
or my own brother -
I don’t want to hear.
I can’t face your fear.

Protect you, child? I do!
Molest you, child? Say who -
but not your teacher,
or our Church pastor -
tell me that’s not true!
Don’t break my heart, too.

Lie down to sleep as though
the Lord will keep your soul.
Eyes wide in the dark?
Panic at your bath?
I just don’t want to know.
I can’t believe it’s

Rise!

You can teach love
or you can teach fear.
Teach yourself.

Don’t just dream. Be.
Love. Be loving. Be
worthy, love.

Be your hero.
Be open to pain.
Leave the past.

Find your strength. Find
your love in quiet
lonliness.

phant-a-see

I revel in stories of exciting places
like Jakarta, Shanghai, Geneva, and Paris.
I dream going someday, on ship or plane,
to see what I can see.

I picture myself in photographs of mountains,
and clouds, and waterfalls, and green tropic forests.
I dream napping midst rainbows of birds and
orchids, my senses full.

Behind the dark of a window in nowhereland,
I watch crystalline trees return random sunlight,
and in silence born of billowed white snow,
I dream the warmth of you.

Same Old Song

with apologies to Ms.Browning

I love you a most unusual way.
I love you like I’ve known you all my days,
and I will love you always.

I love you like starlight breaks the vast mystery.
I love you playful and childlike, even silly.
I love how easy you get close to me,

and I love you like some great new surprise
whenever I catch your heart in your eyes.
I will love you till I die.

from CHAINS (see cheriljones.com)

Real love sees painful
truth - its hardness, its weakness -
then loves, and loves still.

Peace in the Valley

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
But, I want off this bluff. It’s dark. It’s steep.
I want warmth. I want quiet. I want sleep.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
Through a savage wind we escaped in shock
to crouch, and clutch at safety on this rock.
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
Bombs fall like rain, sound like thunder tonight,
and Dresden afire burns an eerie light.
He restoreth my soul.
Day dawns on devastation and debris.
Pilots and bombardiers fly away free.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake.
At streetcorners, mounds of corpses are stacked.
They wait for wagons, wait to be repacked.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
Limbs jolt queerly jerking along the road.
Gaunt horses, spotted cows strain with their load.
I will fear no evil for thou art with me;
Like the stench of death, even in such cold -
like glaring eyes of guards - like guns guards hold.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Lust for vengance - fury, hatred, anguish -
feed the hunger, the desire to punish.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presesce of mine enemies;
Endlessly, we’re fed where this scene we face:
a mother with her child, seared in embrace.
Thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
The soup is rancid, the bread hard and dry.
Too starved to vomit I chew, swallow, cry.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
However long the memory I’ll keep.
I still pray for peace. I still dream of sleep.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

from VIOLATIONS, a series of poems in progress

free others
free yourself