Carry
your
sorrows
in your compassion.
Carry
your
regrets
in your forgiveness.
Carry
your
opinions
in your wisdom.
Carry
your
dreams
in your heart.
Carry
your
love
in your hands.
And
carry
your
steps
to the dance floor.
In every second
in every moment
The Maker lives in you.
Why not entertain
the music
with your graceful feet
on the belly of the heavens?
The moon won’t mind a few more footprints.
~a poem by Shelly Monte
Grace in a Toilet Bowl
Yes, you read that correctly.
I found grace in the most
inconspicuous places
like toilet bowls
and dirt-packed laundry.
Was there ever enough time
or clothespins?
Hardly….
bookkeeping with numbers
that multiplied
and vegetables
and weeds
and meals
as daylight
diminished.
Then one
evening, unaware
you staged
a Divine Ambush.
So ample life now,
and time.
Surely you heard my praises.
But tell me,
was I the first to thank
the toilet bowl
and pay homage
to the weeds
and laundry
as I clung
to your fringe?
Love abides in all
though some play hide-and-seek
finding places to
not be found
but you stand out
like a sore thumb
Monte sees you
through rose colored glasses
I always wear
you will always be found
no matter where
you hide.
Olly olly oxen free.
It’s a pokey
situation
searching for desert nectar.
The wise thing
anyone
can do
is follow
the
flicker.
Let’s not bring up the topic of…
You remember,
When you were once Poison Ivy?
Oh how rash
The decision
You made then.
Luckily,
You didn’t spread that around
Too much.
Weeds are fine.
We all need reasons
To bow.
Take time today
my Dear.
Unsee the things you see.
Unknow the things you know.
Especially, unhear them.
If seeing sneaks into
your trained eyes, close them.
If opinions sneak into your reason untie them.
If hearing causes you to unhear-
then dismiss the words.
At hand there is nothing
greater than unleashing these
in front of you
in truth, inside.
I risk a lot
even speaking of such
to you.
But this secret is a good one.
Keep nothing in mind.
See without seeing.
Unhear all that
clutters the heart and robs your peace.
Suddenly you will see.
Suddenlly you will hear.
Suddenly you will understand.
Sip a
glass
of spirit.
One that tips
when topped.
Let’s hope our pleasant server
never
ever
stops.
Let’s fill
our glass
and sip it
down.
The spirit
will
surely
last,
far beyond
the
thirst,
far beyond
the
glass.
I say
the drink
delights.
I say
it sparks
with glee.
But all we’re
really drinking
is
something
made
for
free.
I’ll share a little secret
one I think you’ll heed
The bar tender is serving
a drink I think you need
A round has been given
the price completely free
only takes your effort
to tip the drink
like me
The bartender is generous
and never drops or spills
put your empty glass before him
it’s sure to meet your fill
bottoms up
and
down the hatch
it warms the heart
it’s free
given from the server
to the ones
like you
and me
We know
Christ has it right
as we move
toward
the light
so strap on your boots
or walk on blistered feet
just stay
the
narrow
it’s where the
light
you’ll
meet
I can’t speak for goats
lolling in the hay
but this
I can tell you
your heart
knows
just
the
way
it’s here
it’s patient
grace keeps
no score
and all
of the mercy
you’ll ever need
is
hidden
in
your
core
truth to tell 