Home At Last
Cuddled under my favorite purple afghan,
(“When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple”)
contemplating the months just passed;
dreaming of the year to come…
How did it happen that we landed in Madison?
These people, who see me not as troublesome,
but a graying sprite with her feet solidly on earth
(even as her mind lags, or revs – or does somersaults).
A faith community of solid citizens
who know that worship is not some game
of collecting brownie points with God,
because God always grades on a curve.
Our choir sings with gusto.
The bell choir rings sweetly.
The praise band brings it,
makes the Spirit spring within us.
Was it luck that landed me here in this state
of Badgers and Packers, a hundred varieties
of cheese, and even more kinds of beer? This
hearty stew of politics and action and reaction,
as we fly toward the audacious goal of
booting the Guv back to his Brothers Koch?
Students who actually live downtown near
the university? Poetry readings and buskers?
What brought me here? I’m in heaven, yet all I did
was follow the love of my life to a new church,
a new ministry. (Wither thou goest, I shall go…)
It wasn’t luck – it was God. And it was love.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Brenda Warren’s Sunday Whirl gave us a dozen words to weave into a poem: year, fly, earth, happen, citizen, luck, states, dream, trouble, purple, lag, and game. Check out The Whirl and give it a try!
Sharp Little Pencil 
vivinfrance
How you always manage to create a proper poem with a story out of these words never ceases to amaze me!
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, I have to laugh, because your last couple of go-rounds have expressed frustration while artfully including the words! Brenda must laugh so hard when your posts come in… All I do is sit and look at the words, and pretty soon, a few connections are made. By the end of the process, it looks like a chart of constellations! Peace, Amy
Laurie Kolp
I love this, Amy… especially the third stanza.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Laurie. We feel so blessed to be here… Peace, Amy
Kim Nelson
And that is heaven… love… support… compassion… community… with judgment left to God… 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Amen, sister! Peace, Amy
zongrik
nice little poem about getting old in WIsconsin
Sharp Little Pencil
That’s what we’re aiming for. Except I’m 55 and still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!
Debbie
I never would have guessed you were writing this to include specific words. It just brought tears to my eyes at what He does, because He loves. Merry Christmas!
Sharp Little Pencil
Like we always say, “If God brings you to it, God will get you through it.” Amen. Love you! Amy
magicalmysticalteacher
“What brought me here?” is what I regard as one of life’s unanswerable questions (at least for me), yet you have begun to formulate an answer that satisfies your questing spirit.
A Whirl of Haiku
Sharp Little Pencil
What a fascinating comment, Mag. And yet, the journey will continue… regardless of location, right? Coming to see you now. Peace, Amy
booguloo
Happy to see that you are settled into your new Ministry and home.
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, we are… and now we are moving to a different apartment!! Actually, renting a condo in hopes of eventually owning. This would be a new one for me and for Lex, both in our 50s but never having owned a home! Kind of daunting to these lifelong renters…
MiskMask
I love the idea that God grades on a curve. Very clever.
Sharp Little Pencil
Another little thought that sort of “squeenied” onto the page. Another way of expressing God’s forgiveness, I suppose! Thanks, Misk, and peace! Amy
Susannah
I love this Amy.
Real, warm and honest writing that would give no clue to the wordle words within it.
I really liked – “These people, who see me not as troublesome,
but a graying sprite with her feet solidly on earth” 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
You know, Brenda is a genius. She keeps making me look good by presenting words that blend well together. For me, this is a wonderful compliment, and one I often share with others: I didn’t “feel” the Wordle words. It works best when they don’t seem shoehorned in for the sake of using them, but that sometimes makes for a longer poem… Thanks! Peace, Susannah, to you and yours… Amy
Altonian
Great sentiments, and great designs, incorporated in an admirable poem.
Well done all round, and a very Merry Yuletide to you and yours.
Sharp Little Pencil
The same to you, Leigh. We are hoping for a nice snow, but not too much, so people can come to church and not risk their lives. Peace, Amy
Paul Andrew Russell
A lovely poem, Amy.
A hundred varieties of cheese? Wow, that certainly sounds like heaven to me. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Here’s the scenario: Aged Wisconsin Cheddar (7 year), slices of Macintosh apples, wheat crackers, and a cold Spotted Cow (nice, light beer). I’m telling you, it’s heaven on earth, yes indeedy!
Daydreamertoo
Beautiful. So good to see your love, happiness and contentment.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, DD. I’m loving our lives here in Madison… Peace, Amy
brenda w
Soul searching, and satisfied… you got it going on, girl! Purple afghans are a necessity.
Sharp Little Pencil
You won’t believe it, but “purple afghan” is also a type of marijuana! Just to be clear, I AM speaking of the blanket. Thanks so much, Brenda, and keep ’em coming. The Whirl is one of my favorite prompts. Like getting a new jigsaw every week!
seingraham
OH Amy – this a great! A real testimonial to where you live now – I almost feel like yelling out, “can I get a witness” – I’m so glad Madison seems to be agreeing with you and you with it …really wonderful use of the whirl words also
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks on both counts, Sharon. Yes, we love it here, would like to retire here if that’s in the Plan. (We plan, God giggles.) Madison is a special town, a college town, filled with history and warm people. We are blessed. Peace, Amy
Monica
Amen! You are no where near a bother but a gift.
Sharp Little Pencil
Bless your heart, Monica, and thanks so much for leaving this comment! Peace to you, Imagin… Amy
kaykuala
Amy,
Horrors! My colored slides deteriorated and some were beyond salvation.After some years they turn mouldy. I hope I can salvage those of Madison over the hols. Happy hols and Merry Christmas!
Hank.
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, a whole lot more has deteriorated on my side of the fence than mere slides, hee hee. Sorry your slides aren’t what you were hoping they’d be. Merry Christmas to you, too! Peace, Amy
Lindy Lee
Red matches nicely with purple, too. Concurrence with vivinfrance, a proper poem story…
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv and I often hit the same note; ditto RJ Clarken and Laurie Kolp. Funny. And yes, red matches almost anything!! Thanks, Lindy. Amy
Traci B
Beautiful tribute to your husband, his ministry, and your adopted home.
Any of those buskers hoopers? 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Traci, thanks for the fine words. You truly connected with the love I feel for this place and its people.
Don’t understand the busker/hooper connection. Tell me more! Amy
Renee Espriu
Sometimes the path that takes us there is not known to us until we arrive. Beautifully written, my friend.
Sharp Little Pencil
It’s all about the journey, right? You TOTALLY “got” this one, Renee, and thanks. Peace, Amy
Mary Mansfield
Love where the wordle words took you in this poem! I for one am quite glad God grades on a curve. Merry Christmas!
Sharp Little Pencil
I’m glad, too, considering some of the stuff I did years ago… and now, every day! God is not a grumpy Gus. Thanks for stopping, Mary! Peace, Amy