Scotty’s favorite poem in my new book, A Smile from the Cosmos:
Husband Says
“Haikus confuse me.
Too often they make no sense.
Hand me the pliers.”
– Karen Molenaar Terrell
Well, this is cool! There is a bookstore in Minneapolis that’s selling my book online: https://www.magersandquinn.com/…/SMILE-FROM…/29025340
And the Amazon link: Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Smile-Cosmos-Poetry…/dp/B0GHQBQZ9G/
His words angered the bigots,
the bullies, the hateful, and greedy.
When he forced them to look
at themselves and see their own flaws,
he triggered their hate.
When he told them to love
their neighbors, feed the hungry,
welcome the stranger, and heal
the sick, they accused him
of all the evil they saw in themselves.
He agitated their egos,
stirred the stagnant waters,
brought cleansing sunlight
to the mold of their thoughts.
And their little egos were not happy
about this.
“What have we to do with thee?
Leave us alone!” they cried.
But he loved them too much
to be silent and let them be.
His unyielding love for all God’s
children exposed their own hate
and incensed them.
He was spat on, struck, ridiculed,
and crucified for his love.
But he rose on the third day
and made breakfast
for those who loved him.
Because Love always wins.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell
“If you venture upon the quiet surface of error and are in sympathy with error, what is there to disturb the waters? What is there to strip off error’s disguise?
“If you launch your bark upon the ever-agitated but healthful waters of truth, you will encounter storms. Your good will be evil spoken of. This is the cross. Take it up and bear it, for through it you win and wear the crown.”
– Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 254
“The “still, small voice” of scientific thought reaches over continent and ocean to the globe’s remotest bound. The inaudible voice of Truth is, to the human mind, “as when a lion roareth.” It is heard in the desert and in dark places of fear. It arouses the “seven thunders” of evil, and stirs their latent forces to utter the full diapason of secret tones. Then is the power of Truth demonstrated, – made manifest in the destruction of error.”
Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 559
I’m living in a soggy Christmas
just like the ones I’ve known before
where toddlers jump in puddles
and puppies give wet cuddles
and muddy boots are lined up by the door.
Oh, I’m living in a sloshy Christmas
with a fire burning in the stove
and my tea is steaming
and Christmas movies are streaming
and family’s here for a good coze.
I’m living in a soggy Christmas
with every Christmas card I write,
“May the raindrops pitter-patter
and our dreams for peace matter,
and may all our Christmases be bright.”
Karen Molenaar Terrell
We are words in the same poem.
We are notes in the same song.
We are cells of the same body.
We are rays of the same sun.
We are brushstrokes in the same painting.
We’re all a part of the One.
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
We sit at a table outside the restaurant
and chat and watch people pass by
and there is magic out there!
A young man with a bright smile
walks by, holding a small bouquet.
I smile at him and point to the flowers,
and he grins and says, “A first date.”
“That’s so sweet!” I say, and his smile
gets even brighter.
A little chap of three or four walks by
with his mom and he turns and looks
at me and I wave. He waves back,
serious about our exchange – a little man.
My heart melts.
A woman passes by with her grandbaby –
she sees our grandma faces light up
and brings her little one to our circle
so we can share in her grandmother-joy.
She is not called “Grandma” she tells us –
she is “Nanna” and she is enjoying
her last days with her grandbaby
before he moves to the east coast
with his parents. All of our grandbabies
live out of state and we understand
what she’s feeling right now.
“Enjoy these precious moments,” I say,
and she nods and smiles and hugs
her grandbaby close before moving on.
At the table next to us there is a baby
in a stroller and she smiles at me and gives
me high fives with both her feet and hands
all at once. A high twenty!
Such joy!
And now the man who’d had the bouquet
walks by on the other side of the street.
He is with his date and they are laughing
and chatting and getting to know each other.
He sees me watching and waves and grins
and I wave back.
Magic everywhere!
-Karen Molenaar Terrell
I feel the shadow of depression
moving in and I’m filled
with dread and fear –
my instinct to turn and flee.
But instead I pause, take a breath,
and face the shadow – see
it for what it is – just a cloud
floating by. It will pass.
It won’t last.
But I will.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell
T’was two weeks afore Christmas and all through Eff Bee
not a creature was stirring not a she, he, or me
We were prostrate and spent from the holiday bustle
not a twitch could be seen from the teeniest muscle.
We lay all unblinking in our respective beds
while visions of gift-wrapping swirled through our heads
And clad in our jammies and our way cool madcaps
we had the vague hopeful hope our bodies would take naps.
Holiday jangles and jingles pinged through our brains –
Presley, Crosby, and Mathis taking us down memory lanes –
and would we remember every member to be gifted?
We mentally went through our lists, hoping none were omitted
There were homes to be decorated and cards to be sent,
parties, caroling, and cookie-making, and we hadn’t made a dent.
But with a collective sigh we remembered there and then
that it’s really about good will to all creatures, women, and men.
And so our thoughts finally settled and our bodies relaxed
as we thought of those we love and a world festooned in pax.
With our hearts wrapped in kindness and the world as our ‘hood
We’re all brethren and sistren – and verily, It’s all good!
Karen Molenaar Terrell
(excerpted from The Madcap Christian Scientist’s Christmas Book)
Xander Terrell, who descends from a noble and spectacular lineage (ahem, he’s my son) is offering his book, Artful Living, for free on Kindle for the next five days. If you don’t own a Kindle… what’s WRONG with you?… No, just kidding, I’m sure you’re a fine and upstanding citizen of the world… but if you don’t own a Kindle you can bring Kindle to your computer or mobile by downloading the Kindle Reading App.
Link to his book: Artful Living
Link to Kindle Reading App: Kindle Reading App
And if you want to follow Xander on his blog (and who wouldn’t, right?!) go to xanderterrell.wordpress.com and join his legion of followers.
And now a poem from Artful Living:
Where Happiness Lives
Golden lights
and the deepest shadows.
Smiling faces illuminated by life.
A commodity where I come from.
An inherent condition here.
Where joy runs rampant,
like that one naked man who,
in the presence of a police officer,
streaked across the town in the wake
of the city-wide party,
the officer laughing in mutual enjoyment
before calling the man by his first name,
as a friend and a neighbor,
to get his shit together.
-Xander Terrell
If you enjoy Artful Living, please write a review and let your friends know about the book. The management thanks you. 🙂
I do not like Black Friday, sir
I do not like the brrr, grrr, whirr
I do not like to fight over socks,
I do not like to get crammed in a box
store, you will not see me at the Mall
I do not like it, no, not at all.
The crazy, scrambling, hunter’s race
Doesn’t fit my ambling, gatherer’s pace
I like to feel, I like to sniff
I like to take my time and if
I take more time than Sally and Sam
It’s the way I shop, and it works for me, ma’am.
So you will not find me camped outside the store
You will not find me standing at dawn at the door
You will not find me wedged in the mall’s lot
Or crammed in traffic, with wares newly-bought.
For I do not like Black Friday, friend.
Well, except online shopping maybe – they’ll send.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell (originally published on humoristianity.wordpress.com on 11/21/2012)
Opening to The Madcap Christian Scientist’s Christmas Book –
T’was Two Weeks Afore Christmas
T’was two weeks afore Christmas and all through Eff Bee
not a creature was stirring – not a she, he, or me
We were prostrate and spent from the holiday bustle
not a twitch could be seen from the teeniest muscle.
We lay all unblinking in our respective beds
while visions of gift-wrapping swirled through our heads
And clad in our jammies and our way cool madcaps
we had the vague hopeful hope our bodies would take naps.
Holiday jangles and jingles pinged through our brains –
Presley, Crosby, and Mathis taking us down memory lanes –
and would we remember every member to be gifted?
We mentally went through our lists, hoping none were omitted
There were homes to be decorated and cards to be sent
parties, caroling, and cookie-making, and we hadn’t made a dent.
But with a collective sigh we remembered there and then
that it’s really about good will to all creatures, women, and men.
And so our thoughts finally settled and our bodies relaxed
as we thought of those we love and a world festooned in pax.
With our hearts wrapped in kindness and the world as our ‘hood
We’re all brethren and sistren – and verily, It’s all good! 🙂
– Karen Molenaar Terrell, excerpt from The Madcap Christian Scientist’s Christmas Book
Adventures of the Madcap Christian Scientist 