Grandmother Prayed
(1.21.2004)
I know why Grandmother prayed.
It wasn’t ‘cause dust had settled in her house
from off the feets of strangers.
‘Long as she could buy a broom,
and she already had plenty dustin’ rags,
dust couldn’t mount to nothing more
‘cepting what it is.
It wasn’t ‘cause the weeds growning in her garden.
She pulled them away as best’d she could.
‘Sides that, she knew the earth was her friend.
She was glad for the fruits it had given.
I know why she prayed though.
It wasn’t ‘cause the things they said either.
She paid no mind to talk from way ‘cross town.
‘Sides that, she never thought her life so
important as to pay attention to.
But now she can tell her grandchilren,
that talk don' made her famous.
Grandmother prayed.
It wasn’t ‘cause despair,
lurking like oversized shadows
hiding in empty corners
where even rats had refused to nest,
trying to steal her spirit…
…but she wouldn’t let it go,
couldn’t let it go.
‘Cause like the tears she saved up,
prized and precious,
it was all she had.
Grandmother prayed ‘cause of what she couldn’t understand,
‘cause them the things seemed bigger than her,
and them the things she couldn’t fix.
She prayed ‘cause the children she born,
they has to learn and grow past her front yard,
find their own way no matter how hard,
and she has to let them.
She prayed ‘cause o’ empty arms, empty tables and empty dreams…
the loneness of living her convictions.
She prayed ‘cause being who she was
sometimes took a whole lot o’ forgiving.
But mostly, Grandmother prayed ‘cause she just love God
and wanted to be with Him at the end of the day.
by Shirley Davis, ©2004, all rights reserved
Recycle
Take something old and make it new;
Ideas, old friends, a favorite thing or two;
Fine tune it, rekindle it…what was left from old times.
Look inside, go deeper still…
what do you see?
A glow, a fire, a mystical rhyme?
An opportunity to relive a precious dream?
This time follow through, no matter how unreal it seems.
A second chance given to but a few,
to take something old and make it new.
By Shirley Davis © 1991, all rights reserved
Gift Of A Lifetime,
1983
If you dream it,
get ready and go get it.
When you reach it,
be sure to touch it.
Really take time to feel it.
Massage yourself from head to toe in it.
Bathe in it. Wear it.
Some how, you must come to know it.
Eat it. Sleep in it. Drink it.
Make sure you do what you can to cherish it.
Breathe it.
To see it for all it’s worth,
you must love it,
take care of it,
nurture it.
Feed it with all your energy.
You must sense it.
Be good to it.
Guard it.
Make it sacred by giving thanks to God for it.
It took a life time to find it,
so make sure you do all you can to keep it.
By Shirley Davis
© copyrighted, 2005. Reproduction of any portion of this document in any form is strictly prohibited, without expressed permission from the author.
A Moment In Time
Shirley Davis
2014
We have just a moment in time
to define and refine
the substance on which we hang our hat;
…that which we ultimately become.
To carefully consider who we are,
what we want and their contributions
to the outcome.
We have only a moment to dream giant dreams,
chase them down, realize their worth
and discover that we are the secret heroines
and heroes to their legendary outcomes.
We only have a moment to study and not fret;
to pace and not tire,
to know our own roles, honor our worth;
do good deeds or make amends;
to know when to seek inspiration and guidance
as well as understand when to inspire and guide;
Endure hardship without losing capacity to express joy,
and to celebrate even the smallest achievement.
We have only a moment to savor love,
that elusive alchemy which makes one forget their self,
only to find a greater Self.
To dream dreams that have yet been dreamt,
with openness and strength
and with enough faith to truly be grateful
for a moment in time.
A Mystic's Eye