
within vaporous evenings, I walk many places
peering at menacing eyes of half faces
unmuzzled are voices that scream at the night
peeling my skin in search of what’s right
times resembling a tainted vicious algae bloom
wicked demons escaping from their tomb
the full armor of God is my comfort and shield
my soul sanguine as a fertile planted field
still often, I weep for sadness like an old man
who has lost his home, his family, and land
time moves forward like a fierce wreaking ball
a deaf world naive of nature’s piteous call
moisture on a morning glory maybe God’s tear
for we exist sightless in wrath and in fear
Holy Spirit, my comfort, dwelling deep within me
as archangels fly, keeping watch by the sea
Ephesians 6:11-17
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I really like your poems reminiscent of days gone by, yet resonating within our time.
Thank you so much Tim. Your words touch me deeply this morning. I am glad you feel that in my words as that means I am doing something right. It seems I am always reminiscing about something while still engaged in our world, nature, and God always. My love to you both, Joni ❤️🤗🦋😘🎼🎶🎸
Without that full armour of God, Joni, we would be so vulnerable. You’ve written the perfect words for the times.
Oh thank you Francisco I feel the same. These are difficult and testing times but we have God on our side and by our side always. Sending love to you both. I hope the sunshine finds the perfect light for your studio today and those beautiful colors you have been painting in. ❤️🤗🦋😘🌹🌹
Thank you so very much Joni!
You are so welcome. You two have an amazing day. ❤️🤗🦋🎼👨🎨👨🎨❤️
Always a pleasure Joni, you both too 🌸
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A beautiful and powerful poem Joni!
Thank you so much Ingrid for your very kind words. Hope your day is filled with beauty. Hugs 🤗 Joni
I hear you.. so deaf to nature.. the angels must tremble.. hugs <3
Thank you so much for reading. Yes we are so untouched by so many horrors happening all around us. It is sad. We are so blessed to have God in our lives. Sending you love ❤️ Joni
I have to be with and in nature every day.. go into her stillness the world is on over-drive hyper insanity mode a lot of the time so few people know how to be really open receptive and still in my experience.. <3
I do understand. I have companionship and the more I stay in the less I want to go out. You stay safe and blessed. Love you, Joni
If I had a loving companion life would be like that too mind you I have Jasper. its good to nest. <3
Yes, nesting is nice. Jasper is a wonderful name. Sending love to you. ❤️🤗🦋😘
Apparently it means Mastee of The Treasure in Persian..hus treasure us my heart I adore this little fella. 🐶❤🐶
Oh how sweet. Is that your little doggie. I have a little one I call Esther after both my mother and of course Esther in the Bible. She stays by my side and I love her very much. They are such a blessing. What a precious name. Dogs are a real special gift. Sending you and Jasper my love. ❤️🤗🦋💕
Thats a beautiful name Joni what a sweetie she sounds. Yes my pupster is Jasper they bring so so so much joy don’t they? Hugs to you and Ester from us both.
Hugs to you and Jasper too. Yes they give unconditional love, something that is truly impossible for us humans. Only Jesus love that way. Hugs to you two. 🤗❤️🦋💕😘😘
True
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That includes me at times too. I am trying to attune more these days.
I understand my sweet friend. ❤️🤗🦋💕
Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
Thank you John for the kind reblog. Hope all is well with you. Sending you my love and a warm hug. ❤️🤗🤗Joni
You are very welcome. I am making it.
Making it is better than not making it. It is hard to be alone during these crazy times. I wouldn’t do well if I was alone. I go out very little but I have company, my husband. I hope you have friends or family around. Remember I am part of your community my friend and glad to be so. Have a good sleep. Love and hugs and prayers. ❤️🤗🦋💕 Joni
Thank you very much. I have some I communicate with.
I am glad to hear it my friend. Hope that you have a blessed weekend John. Sending love and prayers. ❤️🤗🙏🙏
You too.
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This is such a heart touching poem my dear Joni! Gorgeous metaphors and lines❤
“still often, I weep for sadness like an old man
who has lost his home, his family, and land”
This is so beautifully expressive!
“moisture on a morning glory maybe God’s tear” Such a beautiful comparison. Love it😍
Sending plenty of love and hugs. Hope you are healing well after the medical procedures🥰 Love💕 Ishita
I am dear Ishita. Your kind words touch my heart this morning like the tender touch of a friend. That touch, emotion expressed takes the land and waters between us and makes them but words for poems. Your kindness inspires me. Thank you Ishita, and I am sending you lots of love, hugs and blessings for you and your family. Love ❤️ you, Joni
Oh, it is absolutely my pleasure dear. I am happy to know you are well. “Your kindness inspires me.” Oh no no, it is you who inspires me to be more kind and loving❤
Thank you for the love and blessings dearest Joni💕
xoxo…
Bless your heart. Thank you Ishita. You be safe too. You are very welcome. Sending more love right back. 🤗❤️🤗❤️🦋🦋🌹🌹🌺🌺
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Powerful stuff, Joni, and beautifully written. Well done.
Thank you Tim that means a lot to me. Hope you have a day full of love. 🦋🦋Joni 🌹
🙂
Words evoking a time past, but still valid in todays’ world of conflict. How can one not be both fierce and sad at what humanity has become? Thanks for sharing Joni. Have a great week. Allan
I really appreciate your support and very thoughtful comment Allan. It is true, these are troubling times which call for strengths and issues that create sadness. I hope you have an amazing week full of blessings. Hugs, Joni
Wowww!! My beautiful Cinderella, I truly loved it very much..! Whenever I saw your post my eyes will become like this”😍”..! You’re a sweetheart dear..! Such a powerful and brilliant write..! Amen..! Keep shinning my sweetie..! Have a peaceful day..!🤗🤗💖
Hello my friend Filarance it is nice to hear from you. I hope you are doing well. Thank you sweetie. Have a lovely evening and thanks for the sweet comment. Love, Joni ❤️🤗🦋😘🌹🌺
Yeah my dear..! You’re welcome my sweetheart..! Its so fabulous to hear from you my dear joni..! Sending you lots of love and hugs..!🤗🤗🤗💕💖😘
You too sweetie. Hope you have an amazing weekend. ❤️🤗🦋🌹🥰💕
Yes I have my dear..! Hope you too have a joyous weekend my sweetheart..!💐🌺🤗🤗💖💕💕😘
Sending lots of love to you sweet Filarance. ❤️🌹🌹🌺💕🌷🌷🎈
Woww!! Sending tons of love to you my princess..!💖💖💖💕💕💕🤗🤗🤗😍😍💐💐😘😘😘
You too. ❤️🤗🦋🌹
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This is beautiful, sad, and also about the world we live in; how it is changing for the good for some and not so good for others. But it is beautiful nevertheless!
Oh thank you Brenda. How are you doing girl and what are you up too? It is time to go in and see. Thank you for your very kind comment and for reading. Love ya ❤️❤️Joni
If I could just figure out what I want to do when I grow up it would be good. We are thinking of buying a house in Yuma. Working on a sequel to my Spirited One. Love
Good for you. It takes so much work to write a book. Yuma sounds fun. Are there bidding wars going on there. We were looking close to Asheville,NC for a smaller house with some land and made offers but we had agreed we would not get caught up in a bidding war. I thought you were likely very busy doing something. Sending you love. ❤️🤗🦋 Good luck with the house hunting. ❤️
Some how I just deleted your last comment. I am having problems the last two day. So many people I have followed for over a year says I am not following. I too am being forced to your blocks and I do not like them. Sorry sweetie I don’t know what happened. I love ya and glad to see you are rolling along at a hefty speed. Love it. Love you Brenda. ❤️🤗🦋🌹🥰
Yes, there are bidding wars, but I also won’t be caught up in them. We are looking for retirement so want small but nice with a little room to relax. If we decide on one, will post pictures. I am also blogging, writing, looking for houses, trying to figure out how to set up wooCommerce. Mostly meeting myself coming and going. Take care and stay safe.
Wow, you go girl. Sounds exciting. You stay safe too. Love to you and your family. ❤️🤗🦋
There are so many words that I want to talk about, this is another amazing piece, Joni! “I walk many places peering at menacing eyes of half faces” and, “unmuzzled are voices that scream at the night
peeling my skin in search of what’s right”. Damn girl!!! I don’t have words.🥰💕👍😲
You are such a kind Tiffany and lift me up. Thank you for being so thoughtful. You know some times I feel like God just puts a piece in my lap. Other times I really work hard on a piece and it feels forced. I kind of have a sense that you are a bit the same from your interview. You move intuitively and flow with what ever comes. I particularly found the circle part of your interview interesting. I had wondered about the circles and the small squares which I really like. I especially like the piece with the many moons on the left side, stunning.
Be blessed have a great day and sending you a great big hug. Love ❤️ ya, Joni
“wicked demons escaping from their tomb” — wrenching words. The past often rears its ugly head for abuse survivors. Like you, however, I rely on the armor of God. May He continue to protect and encourage you, dear friend. I hope all the medical procedures you recently had to endure are successful in relieving your ills. May God grant you health and strength, along w/ love. <3 <3 <3
Thank you so much dearest Anna. God bless you for thinking of me with so much to deal with, you are such a blessing.
I believe there is wickedness all around us now and that we really do have to stay close to God.
The devil is very cleaver. We really do need the Armor of God. Thank you Anna. I am sending my love to you and your sweet family. Prayers going out to you, Retha and the kids. Love you ❤️💕🤗🦋
Wow, Joni you have taken one of my favorite verses and turned it into an image of dazzling words to paint a whole other picture of what it means to “put on the whole armor of God” As we battle with the past, the present and what is to come . . . having on God’s armor will protect us, strengthen us and give us the courage to keep on keeping on . . . until such time He calls us home!
Have a victorious day with Jesus dear sister in Christ ❤ 🤗✝
Thank you Deborah. I am so glad you liked it. I believe in God’s protection and as a child I called to God out loud to him often, regardless of where I was.
Thank you for your very kind words Deborah. They mean a lot because you write about your faith to lift others up several times a week. Love you right back my dear sister in Christ. ❤️🙏🙏
Your poem is expressed with so much optimism, needed especially in this time and a wonderful reminder to put on the armour of God.
Thank you so much. God is always with me. I was just looking at your beautiful post where you talk about Nelson Mandela, it is such a lovely post. ❤️🤗🦋😘love Joni
I always feel the love on your posts Joni & the positive feedback. It lifts my spirits up each time. I’m thankful you invited me to view your poems & read them & the replies. Such a positive experience. I love you
Thank you for all your kindnesses Janette. You can always joined the community. Everyone loves your photography. You could also just talk about life. I love that you read my work and the comments people send. It sweet how it warms your heart because it not only shows me how much you love me but what a tender hearted beautiful inside and out woman you are. I love you back. Let’s talk soon. ❤️🤗🦋😘
What a great poem. You nailed the half faces staring back. A foreign feeling , Unnatural!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate your support. 🤗🤗
our world ever changing Joni as we struggle to find light and you said it some well to put our faith and heart into the divine. hugs and love🤗❤️
Thank you so much for reading my dear Cindy. What happened on posting on Tuesdays only. Hehe. It is hard to be away isn’t it? You miss your buddies I know I do. Thank you so much for your kind comments sweetie. Love you 😘🦋🤗❤️Joni
you’re sooo welcome my dear. soooo busy right now so I posted last Wed (1 day).. it may be like that for a while.. so much to keep up with. I do know for sure. xoxoxo love you 💖💖💖
I hear you my dear friend. No one is going to forget you. Your followers love you and it is obvious with the number of followers and comments you get. You are precious to me and one reason you are is you don’t forget me even if it has been a while. You just genuinely love people and you are very loved.
I also appreciate your post on your loving healthy family. Those post make me smile deep down. I can still see in my head that picture of your daughter smiling and looking like she is throwing cookies or something you two were making together. It is nice to see such a loving happy family together.
Please no need to respond to my response I know you are liking trying to catch up. I am sending you lots of positive thoughts and prayers. ❤️🤗🌺💕Joni
Exquisitely beautiful, dear Joni. I love the flow and message of this profound piece. Is so beautiful. xoxo 🥰
Thank you Jeff. I really appreciate all your kind words. I am glad you enjoyed it. Sometimes I have to remind myself not to be fearful and if I can picture a shield knowing God is by and with me it really helps. Sending you and your family my love. ❤️🤗🦋😘
You’re most welcome, Joni. Always my pleasure to read your lovely work. Ah, yes, indeed, and agreed. Thank you, and love to you and yours, my friend. ❤🤗❤🤗😘
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So much courage and strength in this post!
Thank you so much for your kind comment and for your support. Sending you hugs 🤗 and hoping you have an amazing Sunday. 🤗❤️🦋