Swimming 

In college swim class we shared the pool

with a class of elderly women.

I would look at the wrinkled faces and sagging skin

 and imagine each bobbing lady  as she once was: 

Young and vibrant, fresh and lovely.

My friend would laugh at my imaginings.

But now at middle age,

with my own son off to college,

I see that the young person you were

disappears long before the wrinkles set in,

becoming a peculiar stranger.   

   And you begin to realize

a far more valuable and lasting beauty

as you continue,

 treading in the wake.

© 2016 Deborah Therese de Jong

              





Goodbye to Summer 

Through my open window on this bright September morning
the sun warms my face, but a slight chill is in the air.

I inhale the familiar blend of grass, decay and smoky autumn.

On the distant hills
I see the miniature paragliders
 floating down
 like colorful little leaves

as I breathe deeply and, once again,
I say goodbye to summer.                    © 2016 Deborah Therese de Jong



Hope

If you think hope is green 

And love is blue,

But you find this life confuses you,

You should know there’s a God whose love is true,

 He is light, and in him there is no darkness.

We all must live with our troubles and fears,

Good times come then they disappear,

But there is a God who is always near,

He is love and in Him there is no darkness.

So don’t expect worldly theories to suffice,

Turn to Jesus, God’s sacrifice;

In Him you will find the truth for your life,

He’s the Way,

For in Him there is no darkness.  
          
                                                                      © 2016 Deborah Therese de Jong

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­                                                                                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

State of Being

My deaf cat Saul is the noisiest

Of my three cats,

Rattling through the house

With a repetitive, ringing

Meow!  Meow!  Meow!

(my son calls this

The “sonar meow”)…

              

  As if to prove to his catty self

What his intact senses

Have failed to confirm:

“I exist!”

“I am here!”

“Meowwww!”

© 2016 Deborah Therese de Jong

"Text Dad"