Bucketful Of Hope

—Poems by James Lee Jobe, Davis, CA
—Photos Courtesy of James Lee Jobe
 

The sound of the wind. Tree branches rubbing together. Dried leaves blowing across the ground. Listen harder. From somewhere in the distance is the sound of one bird singing. Tiny moments, sweet and small, rest in the quiet corners of being alive.

O sad world, cheer up.
The world today is dragging
Its feet in the sand as it walks.
It looks dejected.
The world keeps its eyes
On the ground as it moves around,
Ignoring the sky and the sun
And the birds and the trees.
Ignoring everything lovely or sweet.
Something in me
Wants to console the world,
To cheer it up a little.
It's going to be OK, world.
You're going to be just fine,
I promise.

_______________

The stream knows that the way to the river is downhill, and likewise does the river find the sea. It doesn’t matter if it is day or night, the journey continues. And you? Where are you going, and how will you get there? Follow your heart.

Open yourself to your life
The way a window opens
To let in light and air.
To welcome life
Is to meet that which is divine.
That which is divine opens her arms
And holds you like a lover.
Friend, that which is divine is a lover.
Open yourself to your life.
Don’t wait any longer.

Like blood on the hands of a policeman, like the screams of a beaten prisoner, a cat cries out in the night. It is the sound of my life spreading out in the darkness. It is the sound that says, “Now. At last.” I cannot swallow this midnight with my mouth bound by a gag. I cannot breathe from behind this choke-hold. The cat cries out again and again. The night drags on like a life sentence in a cold, cold prison.

Love and hope walk together
Down the same street.
Sunset, sunrise, midnight;
It doesn’t matter.
Step by step they walk, arms linked.
Strength and faith nurture each other.
People could learn from this example.
There is strength in faith,
And through faith, one can find
Immense strength.
Love. Hope. Strength. Faith.
Open your heart, open your arms,
Open your eyes.
We are the universe, and the universe is us.
Go now, live your life.

__________________

Today’s LittleNip:

That I never fail to see that even mistakes are grace. That I seek the equal, middle ground with everyone. That I always value commitment, support, and stability. This I pray.

__________________

Thank you, James Lee Jobe, for this morning’s recipe of hope in the Kitchen! We can all use a bucketful of that during this cloudy season. Besides, how can you be sad with all those mules grinning at you?

Tonight from 8-10pm at the Calif. Stage on 25th St. in Sacramento, Ladies of the Knight will present a full-length staged poetic show with music. Also tonight, at Sac. Poetry Center: Poetry & Prose Debut Reading from the 10th chapbook by Team Haag: Soul of the Narrator, at 7pm with Jan Haag. Scroll down to the blue column (under the green column at the right) for info—and tickets—about these and other upcoming poetry events in our area—and note that more may be added at the last minute.

—Medusa, celebrating the good which can come from this season ~

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