looking at trees
I remember prayers
of friends
Christmas CDs
playing with the volume low
in the fields
the beauty of harvested
corn in snow
new year
on the horizon
simple lines
of barns and trees
in the fog

looking at trees
I remember prayers
of friends
Christmas CDs
playing with the volume low
in the fields
the beauty of harvested
corn in snow
new year
on the horizon
simple lines
of barns and trees
in the fog
Poems From Oostburg, Wisconsin
P romises of
S erenity
A nd
L ove
M editations and
S trength
The Psalms have been with me for as long as I can remember. I wrote the acrostic in 2010.
The Psalms are ever-new – they apply to whatever life is asking of me – yet also are comforting because I have been reading a long time.
Thou tellest my wanderings:
put thou my tears into thy bottle:
are they not in thy book?
Psalm 56: 8 (KJV)
Thy statutes have been my songs
in the house of my pilgrimage.
Psalm 119: 54 (KJV)
The Psalms inspire me to write poems.
reading Psalms
in the sunroom
fragrance of daffodils
rereading Psalms
colors of leaves
a deeper gold
Wait on the Lord:
be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 (KJV)
The image is from Crafter’s Cornucopia and…
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You are welcome to reprint my poems with proper credit. Ideas include bulletin boards in classrooms, libraries, hospitals, nursing homes – places where a short poem may be an encouragement to someone or help with a poetry lesson. Thank you.
summer
early sun fills
a bouquet of flowers
summer sun
thrift store bowl painted
with leaves and fruit
Friday morning
fresh water
for the daisies
Saturday morning
so happy with the plants
we bought on sale
early Sunday
raindrops in some light
on evergreen branches
early morning
hosta flowers grow
above the windowsill
peaceful morning
a prayer from childhood
still with me
Ellen Grace Olinger
all these years
the gift of seeing
how evergreen
branches
frame the stars
During a difficult time with my health, I read:
And I will give thee the treasures of darkness,
and hidden riches of secret places . . .
Isaiah 45: 3 (KJV).
In 2018, I experienced a second major health challenge. Health and chronic illness are my great teachers. I am grateful for my Care Team, and work daily on my recovery, which is going well.
And life has changed, which I accept.
Blogs work so well, and I receive so much from many people.
Thank you.
It is interesting to read some past posts, and remember lessons learned, and apply them again, one day at a time.
The Easter story is real for me. There are losses, and then renewal – not the same for me at this age, or before, but always beauty, hope, and the language arts. I am indeed grateful. There is a lot of rest around my creative work.
I know, for example, that my experience with illness young created deeper empathy, and helped me know how to help my mother in her old age. I had less energy, and sitting with her for hours was something I could do. I am blessed.
So much more creative work . . . in a new way, with help from others.
June 2015 and March 2019
1,000 Posts Review
These are some of the photos I was able to take in 2018 and this year so far, as I began with the camera again.
Lake Michigan
June 2018
Ellen Grace Olinger
for a moment
I pause from reading
the Psalms
in a Bible that
has kept me company
in my living room,
my little study,
a hospital and
nursing home
with Mom –
on sunny days
and all days
to tape a few more pages
back together
Ellen Grace Olinger
March 2013
1,000 Posts Review
Quiet Christmas Poetry is both a site and a large print chapbook.
Some examples of poems:
family dinner
memories span decades
in minutes
reading old letters
reflections of Christmas lights
on the water
Northern sun
shines on frozen beach
still the days grow shorter
shadow of poinsettia
on the wall
new year
on the horizon
simple lines
of barns and trees
in the fog
Please visit Quiet Christmas Poetry for more information.
Ellen Grace Olinger